What are Chappell Roan's 'The Giver' lyrics about? The queer meaning explained

13 March 2025, 17:35

By Sam Prance

Chappell Roan's new lesbian country song 'The Giver' is a gay anthem in the making and here's what she's said about it.

Chappell Roan has just gone country and fans are living for the explicitly queer meaning behind her 'The Giver' lyrics.

Few artists have dominated pop culture as much as Chappell Roan in the past year. As well as taking over the charts with 'Good Luck, Babe!' and 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess', Chappell has also helped spark long overdue conversations about toxic fan behaviour and artist care. Oh and she won Best New Artist at the Grammys.

Last November, Chappell made her Saturday Night Live debut. First of all, she performed her 2020 single 'Pink Pony Club' and then she debuted a new song called 'The Giver'. Chappell's performance was instantly removed from the internet but she is finally releasing the song and it looks set to be one of her biggest hits yet.

What is 'The Giver' about though? Here's a breakdown of the song's lyrics and what she's said about the song.

• Read more: SNL’s Bowen Yang defends Chappell Roan Moo Deng skit following backlash

What does 'The Giver' mean?

Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan do the ‘I hope she plays’ trend

'The Giver' is Chappell's first full-blown country song. Channelling the spirit of Shania Twain, Chappell performed the song on SNL with her take on country attire. As for the song itself, it's a flirty, sexual song about how she can treat a girl better than any country boy can. It pokes fun at the fact that many men struggle to make women climax.

In the first verse, Chappell professes that she's more gifted than men when it comes to giving women pleasure: Ain't got antlers on the walls / But I sure know mating calls / The stalls in the bars on a Friday night / I know the boys may need a map / But I can close my eyes / And have you wrapped around my fingers like that.

Chappell then drives the point home in the chorus. Alluding to topping (giving) and bottoming (taking) in sex, she sings: It's just in my nature / So take it like a taker, 'cause, baby, I'm a giver. She adds: Ain't no need to help me, 'cause, baby, I deliver / Ain't no country boy quitter / I get the job done.

There's also a spoken word bridge in which Chappell says: All you country boys saying you know how to treat a woman right / Well, only a woman knows how to treat a woman right.

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A post shared by ･ﾟ: *✧ Chappell Roan ✧*:･ﾟ (@chappellroan)

Is Chappell Roan releasing a country album?

Discussing 'The Giver' on Instagram, Chappell said: "Dan Nigro and I wrote this together and it was so fun!!! We’ve never done a country song and I have such a special place in my heart for country music. I grew up listening to it every morning and afternoon on my school bus and had it swirling around me at bon fires, grocery stores and karaoke bars."

She added: "Many people have asked if this means I’m making a country album??? My answer is.. hmm right now I’m just making songs that make me feel happy and fun and The Giver is my take on cuntry xoxo may the classic country divas lead their genre, I am just here to twirl and do a little gay yodel for yall".

Chappell Roan - 'The Giver' lyrics

VERSE 1
Ain't got antlers on the walls
But I sure know mating calls
The stalls in the bars on a Friday night
I know the boys may need a map
But I can close my eyes
And have you wrapped around my fingers like that

PRE-CHORUS
So baby
When you need the job done
Call me "Baby"

CHORUS
'Cause you ain't got to tell me
It's just in my nature
So take it like a taker, 'cause, baby, I'm a giver
Ain't no need to help me, 'cause, baby, I deliver
Ain't no country boy quitter
I get the job done
I get the job done

VERSE 2
Girl, I don't need no pickup truck
Revvin' loud to pick you up
'Cause how I love is how I touch
And in the strip mall, town of dreams
Good luck finding a man who has the means
To rhinestone cowgirl all night long

PRE-CHORUS
So baby
If you never had one
Call me "Baby"

CHORUS
'Cause you ain't gotta tell me
It's just in my nature
So take it like a taker, 'cause, baby, I'm a giver
Ain't no need to help me, 'cause, baby, I deliver
Ain't no country boy quitter
I get the job done
I get the job done

BRIDGE
Na-na na-na na-na-na-na
Na-na na-na na-na-na-na
Na-na na-na na-na-na-na
Na-na-na (She gets the job done)
All you country boys saying you know how to treat a woman right
(Na-na na-na na-na-na-na, na-na na-na na-na-na-na)
Well, only a woman knows how to treat a woman right (Na-na na-na na-na-na-na, na-na-na)
She gets the job done
Na-na na-na na-na-na-na
Na-na na-na na-na-na-na (She gets the job done)
Na-na na-na na-na-na-na
Na-na-na

CHORUS
'Cause you ain't gotta tell me
It's just in my nature
So take it like a taker, 'cause, baby, I'm a giver
Ain't no need to help me, 'cause, baby, I deliver
Ain't no future for a quitter
I get the job done
I get the job done

OUTRO
I get the job done
I get the job done
Well I get the job done
Yes ma'am, yes I do
You're welcome

Read more Capital Buzz news here:

• Chappell Roan Explains Why She Told Paparazzi To "Shut The F- Up" In Viral VMAs Video
• Chappell Roan Responds To "Upset" Fans After Facing Criticism For Cancelling Shows
• Chappell Roan Calls Out "Predatory" Fans Behaviour After Backlash To Stalking Plea Video
• Chappell Roan Explains The Emotional Meaning Behind Her 'Pink Pony Club' Lyrics
• Chappell Roan Reveals The Actual Meaning Behind Her 'Hot To Go!' Lyrics

WATCH: Chappell Roan breaks down every song on The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

Chappell Roan Breaks Down Every Song On 'The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess' | Making The Album

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