"Hell No!" is a song featured in the 2023 film The Color Purple with lyrics written by Stephen Bray, Allee Willis, and Brenda Russell. It is performed by Danielle Brooks as Sofia, a strong-willed woman who refuses to let her husband Harpo (Corey Hawkins) or anyone else abuse her. As a powerful anthem of female empowerment and self-respect, Sofia sings about her life of fighting against oppression and violence from men, and encourages Celie Harris Johnson (Fantasia Barrino), the main protagonist of the film, to stand up for herself and leave her abusive husband Mister (Colman Domingo). The song features a gospel-inspired chorus, with Sofia's sisters joining in to support her decision to leave Harpo and start a new life.
Lyrics[]
Sofia:
All my life I've had to fight
I had to fight my daddy
I had to fight my brothers
My cousins, my uncles too
But I never, never, never, never, never, never thought
I'd have to fight in my own house
I feel sorry for you, to tell you the truth
You remind me of my mama
Under your husband's thumb, nah
You under your husband's foot
What he say, go
Why you so scared? I never know
But if a man raise his hand
Hell no
Ensemble:
Hell, Hell, the Hell no
Sofia:
Hell no
Ensemble:
Hell, Hell, the Hell no
Sofia:
Girl child ain't safe in a family of mens, uh
Sick and tired old woman, still live like a slave
Oh, you better learn how to fight back while you still alive
You show them girls that beat back that jive
'Cause when a man just don't give a d---
Hell no
Ensemble:
Hell, Hell, the Hell no
Sofia:
Hell no
Ensemble:
Hell, Hell, the Hell no
Sofia:
No, no, no, no
Ensemble:
Hell, Hell, the Hell no
Sofia:
Hell no
Ensemble:
Hell, Hell, the Hell no
Sofia:
Oh, oh
When that man used to touch me
He'd climb on top and start to rock me away
Lord knows I still love him
But he tried to make me mind
And I just ain't that kind
Hell no
Ensemble:
Hell, Hell, the Hell no
Sofia:
Don't be no fool, don't waste your time
Ensemble:
Hell, Hell, the Hell no
Sofia:
Any man that hurt you ain't worth a dime
Ensemble:
Hell, Hell, the Hell no
Sofia:
No, no, no, you're too good for that man
Ensemble:
Hell, Hell, the Hell no
Sofia:
Hell no
Oh, you got to say
You need to say
You better say
You oughta say
Ensemble:
Hell
Sofia:
Hell, Hell, Hell, Hell, Hell
Hell no
Girl child ain't safe in a family of mens
Sick and tired how woman still live like a slave
Oh, we better learn how to fight back while we still alive
So all of us girls can beat back that jive
'Cause when a man just don't give a d---
Hell no, Hell, Hell no
No, no, no, oh no
My love, my love, Hell no
No, no, no
