Maxwell – This Woman’s Work Lyrics Meaning

Alright, let’s unpack “This Woman’s Work” lyrics meaning, a song by Maxwell. Originally a Kate Bush song, Maxwell’s version brings a soulful and emotional touch that hits you right in the heart. The song is raw, reflective, and deeply personal. It’s about regret, love, and the heavy emotional labor of both men and women, especially in moments of crisis.

This Woman’s Work Lyrics Meaning

Intro
Pray God you can cope
I’ll stand outside
This woman’s worth
This woman’s world

The song starts with a prayer of sorts. He’s hoping for strength—for the person he’s singing to and maybe even for himself. “This woman’s worth” acknowledges the immense emotional and physical effort that women often carry, especially in situations like childbirth, loss, or struggle. Most probably, it symbolises the pain a woman goes through while child delivery in pregnancy.

Verse 1
Oh it’s hard on a man
Now his part is over
Now starts the craft of the father

Here, Maxwell reflects on the challenges of being a man in a relationship or family. He feels helpless, especially when the responsibility shifts to nurturing and supporting—a role he might not feel fully equipped for. It’s a moment of vulnerability, showing that emotional labor isn’t easy for him either.

Chorus
I know you’ve got a little life in you left
I know you’ve got a lotta strength left

This line is repeated, almost like a mantra. It’s a mix of encouragement and pleading. He’s trying to lift her up, reminding her of her resilience and strength, but at the same time, he’s desperate for her to keep going—for her own sake and maybe for his, too.

The Regret
I should be cryin’ but I just can’t let it show
I should be hopin’ but I can’t stop thinkin’

Maxwell’s vulnerability really shines here. He knows he should express his emotions, but he’s holding back, stuck in his own head. He’s consumed by regret, thinking about all the things he didn’t say or do. It’s that painful realization of missed opportunities when you can’t go back and fix things.

Missed Moments
All the things we should’ve said that are never said
All the things we should’ve done that we never did
All the things we should’ve given, but I didn’t

This part is gut-wrenching. Maxwell is haunted by everything he left unsaid and undone. It’s a brutally honest confession of falling short, of not showing up the way he should’ve.

The Plea
Give me these moments
Give them back to me
Give me your little kiss
Give me your…

He’s begging for a chance to relive those precious moments, to hold onto something that’s slipping away. The incomplete line, “Give me your…”, feels like he’s choked up, unable to even finish the thought. It’s a raw, emotional cry for connection.

Strength and Love
Give me your hand baby
(I know you’ve got a lotta strength left)

He’s reaching out, both physically and emotionally. It’s a plea for closeness, for her love, and for her to keep fighting. He knows she’s strong, but he also knows how much she’s been through.

Outro
All the things we should’ve given, but I didn’t
Oh darlin’, make it go away now,
Just make it go away.

The song ends with Maxwell still stuck in his regret, wishing he could erase the pain and mistakes. It’s a heartbreaking conclusion, full of unresolved emotions and longing for redemption.

The Big Picture

Songwriters: Kate Bush

Album: MTV Unplugged
Released: 1997
Artist: Maxwell
Genres: Funk, Classic Soul, Classic R&B

“This Woman’s Work” sings of love, regret, and the weight of emotion that comes with being human. Maxwell’s interpretation adds a new, soulful intensity that makes the song feel achingly personal. It’s a salute to the strength and resilience of women, but also a kind of reconciliation with his own failures as a partner.

The very essence of the song tells us to appreciate our loved ones, to speak our truth, but most importantly to not take those “little moments” for granted.