C-I-A-R-A
Pull up your pants (just like 'em)
Take out the trash (just like 'em)
Gettin' your cash like 'em
Fast like 'em
Girl, you wanna act like he did (I'm talkin' 'bout)
Security codes on everything
On vibrate so your phone don't ever ring (never ring)
Joint account and another one he don't know about (hey)

Wish we could switch up the roles and I could be that
Tell you I love you, but when you call, I never get back (oh)
Would you ask them questions like me, like where you be at?
'Cause I'm out, four in the morning on the corner, rolling, doing my own thing

What if I, had a thing on the side
Made you cry?
Would the rules change up or would they still apply?
If I played you like a toy
Sometimes I wish I could act like a boy

Can't be getting mad what, you mad?
Can't handle that

Can't be getting mad what, you mad?
Can't handle that

Girl, go ahead and be (just like 'em)
Go run the streets (just like 'em)
Go home, missin' sleep like 'em, creep like 'em
Front wit' your friends
Act hard when you wit' 'em, like 'em
Keep a straight face when you tell a lie
Always keep an airtight alibi
Keep it hid in the dark
What he don't know won't break his heart (hey)

Wish we could switch up the roles and I could be that
Tell you I love you, but when you call, I never get back
Would you ask them questions like me, like where you be at?
'Cause I'm out, four in the morning on the corner, rolling, doing my own thing

What if I, had a thing on the side (what if I)
Made you cry? (made you cry)
Would the rules change up or would they still apply?
If I played you like a toy
Sometimes I wish I could act like a boy

Can't be getting mad what, you mad?
Can't handle that

Can't be getting mad what, you mad?
Can't handle that

Can't be getting mad what, you mad?
Can't handle that

Can't be getting mad what, you mad?
Can't handle that

If I was always gone
Let the sun beat me home (would you like that?)
Told you I was with my crew when I knew it wasn't true if I act like you (would you like that?)
Walked a mile up in your shoes (would you like that?)
Messing with your head again
Dose of your own medicine

What if I, had a thing on the side (what if I)
Made you cry? (made you cry)
Would the rules change up or would they still apply?
If I played you like a toy
Sometimes I wish I could act like a boy

Can't be getting mad what, you mad?
Can't handle that

Can't be getting mad what, you mad?
Can't handle that

Can't be getting mad what, you mad?
Can't handle that

Can't be getting mad what, you mad?
Can't handle that

R-A, go, here's the clutch

If I paged you (would you like that?)
Had friends (would you like that?)
Never call (would you like that?)
No, no, you wouldn't like that, no

What if I, made you cry? Would they still apply?
What if I, if I played you like a toy
Sometimes I wish I did act like a boy

(Can't handle that)


Lyrics submitted by Princess_1098, edited by beautiful24l

Like a Boy Lyrics as written by Candice Clotiel Nelson Ciara Princess Harris

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Like a Boy song meanings
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36 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I love this song! It shows what a girl goes through in a relationship, how it's "okay" for a guy to treat a girl like shit, but now she's giving him his own medicine.

    This song reminds me of "Can't Hold Us Down" by Christina Aguilera. You know? Explaining the double standard.

    -linds "why you getting mad?"

    ohitstragikXon June 18, 2007   Link

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