Learn the meaning behind The Message Behind the Music: Understanding the lyrics of Break My Soul by Beyonce to gain a deeper understanding of the song.

“Break My Soul” is about casting off the metaphorical chains that bind folks to their dreary jobs. Beyonce says that “… she sleeps real good at night” after leaving a toxic situation. Her chief point is that it’s better to build something new for yourself rather than putting a job, where your bosses couldn’t care less about you, first in your life, before friends, family, and self. It’s a powerful message to everyone, but it’s especially relevant for women.

The Meaning According To Beyonce and More

Beyonce’s partner in this video is Big Freedia. Recently, she commented on the June 21, 2021, release date of the song. She said that it was a summer anthem about not letting things get you down. She also referenced the song’s dance rhythm as perfect for the moment, saying that she was thrilled to be a part of the video with Beyonce.

Beyonce herself paid homage to Robin S., whose song “Show Me Love” she quotes in part of the backing track. She feels that such collaboration is key to the success of charts in today’s music world. For her part, Robin S. told BET that she felt joy that her voice, vibe, and overall sound were inspirational to Beyonce.

Big Freedia said in a concurrent YouTube video that her line in the song about releasing anger, mind, time, and job is all about empowerment. It seems, too, that the release date so near to the summer solstice, Juneteenth, Black Music Month, and Pride Month is all about empowerment not only of Black folks and LGBTQ2IA+ folks but also women. The song is also concurrent with the concept known as “The Great Resignation,” which is where disaffected employees have, basically, quoted Johnny Paycheck in their messages to their bosses. Even former First Lady Michelle Obama said recently that the themes of this song are exactly what we need right now.

Additional Context

The television program “The Best Man: The Final Chapters,” a 2022 comedy-drama with an 88% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, features the song in its series finale. The show is a sequel to “The Best Man Holiday” from 2013, which was itself a sequel to “The Best Man” from 1999. Because the series is about a dysfunctional set of friends, and the fact that Beyonce’s hit features in the finale, it is reasonable to assume that the theme of breaking free from bad situations that hold one back is meaningful to the characters as well as the viewers.

The song “Break My Soul” by Beyoncé is from her album Lemonade, and was also featured in Season 1, Episode 8 of The Best Man: The Final Chapters.

I’m ’bout to explode, take off this load
Spin it, bust it open, won’t ya make it go (come on)
Yaka, yaka, yaka, yaka
Yaka, yaka, yaka, yaka
Yaka, yaka, yaka, yaka
Yaka, yaka, yaka, yaka (release ya wiggle)
Yaka, yaka, yaka, yaka
Yaka, yaka, yaka, yaka
Yaka, yaka, yaka, yaka
Yaka, yaka, yaka, yaka (release ya wiggle)

Ahh (release ya anger)
La-la-la-la (release ya anger)
La-la-la-la (release ya mind)
La-la-la-la (release ya job)
La-la-la (release the time)
La-la-la-la (release ya trade)
La-la-la-la (release the stress)
La-la (release the love, forget the rest)

You won’t break my soul
You won’t break my soul
You won’t break my soul
You won’t break my soul
I’m tellin’ everybody (ohh, let’s go, let’s go)
Everybody (ohh, let’s go, let’s go)
Everybody
Everybody

Now, I just fell in love
And I just quit my job
I’m gonna find new drive
Damn, they work me so damn hard
Work by nine, then off past five
And they work my nerves
That’s why I cannot sleep at night

I’m lookin’ for motivation
I’m lookin’ for a new foundation, yeah
And I’m on that new vibration
I’m buildin’ my own foundation, yeah
Hold up, oh, baby, baby

You won’t break my soul (na, na)
You won’t break my soul (no-no, na, na)
You won’t break my soul (no-no, na, na)
You won’t break my soul (na, na)
I’m tellin’ everybody, na, na
Everybody
Everybody
Everybody

Release ya anger, release ya mind (ohh, let’s go, let’s go)
Release ya job, release the time (let’s go, let’s go, let’s go)
Release ya trade, release the stress (ohh, let’s go, let’s go)
Release the love, forget the rest (ohh, let’s go, let’s go)

I’ma let down my hair ’cause I lost my mind
Bey is back and I’m sleepin’ real good at night
The queens in the front and the Doms in the back (ohh, let’s go, let’s go)
Ain’t takin’ no flicks but the whole clique snapped (ohh, let’s-)
There’s a whole lot of people in the house
Tryna smoke with the yak in your mouth
(Good at night) and we back outside
You said you outside, but you ain’t that outside
Worldwide hoodie with the mask outside
In case you forgot how we act outside

Got motivation (motivation)
I done found me a new foundation, yeah (new foundation)
I’m takin’ my new salvation (oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, new salvation)
And I’ma build my own foundation, yeah (oh, yeah, yeah, yeah)
(Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah) oh, baby, baby

You won’t break my soul (you won’t)
You won’t break my soul (break my soul)
You won’t break my soul (you won’t)
You won’t break my soul (break my soul)
And I’m tellin’ everybody (everybody)
Everybody (everybody)
Everybody (everybody)
Everybody, yeah

If you don’t seek it, you won’t see it
That we all know (can’t break my soul)
If you don’t think it, you won’t be it
That love ain’t yours (can’t break my soul)
Tryna fake it never makes it
That we all know (can’t break my soul)
You can have the stress and not take less
I’ll justify love
We go ’round in circles, ’round in circles
Searchin’ for love (’round in circles)
We go up and down, lost and found (’round in circles)
Searchin’ for love (yeah, yeah)
Looking for something that lives inside me
Looking for something that lives inside me

You won’t break my soul
You won’t break my soul
You won’t break my soul
You won’t break my soul
I’m tellin’ everybody (let’s go, let’s go, let’s go)
Tellin’ everybody
Everybody (ohh, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go)
Everybody

You won’t break my soul
You won’t break my soul, no, no
You won’t break my soul
You won’t break my soul
And I’m tellin’ everybody (motivation, oh, yeah, yeah)
Everybody (oh, yeah, yeah)
Everybody (I done found me a new foundation, yeah)
Everybody (oh yeah, yeah)

I’m takin’ my new salvation (hey, yeah-yeah)
And I’ma build my own foundation, yeah (yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah)
Got motivation (motivation)
I done found me a new foundation, yeah (new foundation)
I’m takin’ my new salvation (new salvation)
And I’ma build my own foundation, yeah (own foundation)

Release ya, release ya, release ya wiggle
Release ya anger, release ya mind (ohh, let’s go)
Release ya job, release the time (let’s go, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go)
Release ya trade, release the stress (ohh, let’s go, let’s go)
Release the love, forget the rest (ohh, let’s go, let’s-)

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Adam Pigott / Allen George / Beyoncé Knowles / Christopher Stewart / Fred McFarlane / Freddie Ross / Shawn Carter / Terius Nash

Listeners of music from the 2020’s, might also appreciate the song Cracker Island by Gorillaz.

Editor’s Note: This article was first published October 8th, 2022 and last updated April 5th, 2023.

The Message Behind the Music: Understanding the lyrics of Break My Soul by Beyonce

The Meaning According To Beyonce and More

Additional Context

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