Yo, 'member back on the bully when cats used to harmonize like
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)? Yo, yo
(Check out expression) yo
My men and my women
Don't forget about the deen, Sirat al-Mustaqim
Yo, it's about a thing, uh, yo
If you feel real good wave your hands in the air (yo, yo, what? What? What?)
And lick two shots in the atmosphere (uh)
(Yeah, yeah) put 'em up, put 'em up
(Uh, uh, uh, put 'em up, put 'em up) yeah, a-yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, a-yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (yeah, yeah)
Yeah, a-yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (yeah, yeah)

It's been three weeks since you were looking for your friend
The one you let hit it and never called you again (uh)
'Member when he told you he was 'bout the Benjamins? (Uh-huh, yeah)
You act like you ain't hear him, then give him a little trim
To begin, how you think you're really gon' pretend (pretend)
Like you wasn't down and you called him again? (Again)
Plus, when (when) you give it up so easy you ain't even foolin' him (him)
If you did it then, then you'd probably- again (again)
Talking out your neck, sayin' you're a Christian
A Muslim, sleeping with the gin
Now that was the sin that did Jezebel in
Who you gon' tell when the repercussions spin?
Showing off your ass 'cause you're thinkin' it's a trend
Girlfriend, let me break it down for you again
You know I only say it 'cause I'm truly genuine
Don't be a hard rock when you really are a gem
Baby girl (girl), respect is just a minimum (minimum)
N- and you still defending 'em (defending 'em)
Now, Lauryn is only human (human)
Don't think I haven't been through the same predicament (I been in)
Let it sit inside your head like a million women in Philly, Penn
It's silly when girls sell their souls because it's in
Look at where you be in, hair weaves like Europeans
Fake nails done by Koreans come again

Yo, a-win, win, come again (yeah, yeah)
Uh, bredrin come again (yeah, yeah)
My friend come again (yeah, yeah)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, uh, yo)
Yeah, yeah

Guys you know you'd better watch out (yeah, uh)
'Cause girls, some girls are only about (some guys, some guys are only)
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing (one thing, one thing)
(Yo, yo)

The second verse is dedicated to the men (men)
More concerned with his rims and his Timbs than his women
Him and his men come in the club like hooligans
Don't care who they offend, poppin' yang (like you got yen)
Let's stop pretend, the ones that pack pistols by they waist men
Cristal by the case men, still in they mother's basement
The pretty face men claiming that they did a bid men
Need to take care of they three or four kids (man)
And they facin' court case when the child support late
Money taking and heart breaking, now you wonder why women hate men
And the sneaky, silent men
The punk, domestic violence men
And quick to shoot the semen, stop acting like boys and be men (be men)
How you gon' win, when you ain't right within? (How you gonna win?)
How you gon' win, when you ain't right within? (Bredrin)
How you gon' win, when you ain't right within? (Be men)
Uh, uh, come again, uh (uh, uh)

(Come again)
Yo, yo, come again (yeah, yeah)
Yo, bredrin come again (yeah, yeah)
And sistren come again (yeah, yeah)
(Yeah) yeah, yeah

Watch out, watch out
Look out, look out
Wa-watch out, watch out
Look out, look out
Watch out, watch out
Look out, look out
Wa-watch out, watch out
Look out, look out

Girls you know you'd better watch out (uh, huh)
Some guys, some guys are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing
Guys you know you'd better watch out
'Cause girls, some girls are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing

Girls you know you'd better watch out (some guys, some guys are really not ready)
Some guys, some guys are only about (yeah, some girls, some girls are only, uh)
That thing, that thing, that thing (we taking it back, yo, way back, yo)
That thing, that thing, that thing

Ayy, we got some very intelligent women in here, man
Do you think you're too young to really love somebody?
(No, no, no, no, I don't think that)
I say it for me, uh, I'm an adult I say, wait
"You're too young to be in love, this is silly
You infatuated, whatever, he got nice jeans
He wear fancy Adidas"
I mean, it might be something I don't know (chill)
Bet
It's the difference from loving somebody and being in love with somebody
Well, you tell me, miss, what's the difference?
(Okay) what's the difference?
Okay, so, you-you can love anybody
But when you're in love with somebody
You're looking at it like this
You taking that person for what he or she is
No matter what he or she look like or no matter what he or she do
(God, she preaching right?) Aight
Well, if you fall in love, you can fall out of love (true that)
(But it's worth it to just love somebody)
Sure you might stop being in love with them
But you is not gon' stop loving that person
Maybe sometimes they never been loved before (yeah, true)
Or they've been in love before
Or they never-, they don't know what the feeling is to be loved
Uh, she poetic (I know that's right)
She killed it, we could end that conversation with that, right?


Lyrics submitted by me109cito, edited by rafjel

Doo Wop (That Thing) Lyrics as written by Lauryn Hill

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Doo Wop (That Thing) song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

18 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment
    This song is one for her best, hands down! And everything she talks about is everything I stand for. I LOVE HER! Her lyrics are deep and actually makes you think about what she is saying.
    live_love_laughon August 25, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    "baby girl! respect is just a minimum!!!!! nigga fucked up and you still defendin' him......" story of my life. i love lauryn. and my name's lauren. in seventh grade i tried to change my name to lauryn. that was 10 years ago, geez.
    ieatseedson February 14, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    lyric correction: "A Muslim sleeping with the jinn" jinns are evil spirits in Muslim/Arab folklore. the lyric is akin to sayig somebody's sleeping with the devil. i love this song. the imagery is is so vivid and convictng.
    raburnson March 13, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    i think this song is about how you should always keep sight of your morals and grils..HAVE SELF RESPECT!
    princess_4521on April 17, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    'That thing' is pretty obvious... I think that it has sexual connotations, or maybe it refers to second intentions in general. That my two cents!
    Littlemissdisasteron December 16, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    Remember back on the boogie when cats used to harmonize like (ooh ooh ooh oh ooh) My men and my women Don't forget about the deen Listen out the mustaqeem Its about a thing Feel real good wave your hands in the air admit two shots in the atmosphere
    Kiwi27on May 23, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    "...talking out your neck sayin you a Christian..." is my fav part of this song- i love the religious messages she puts into her songs~
    HannahOrange7on April 14, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this song describes our society today. lauryn hill is so genuine and fearless. she is an inspiration i cant wait untill her next album.
    potatoes4samon April 08, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song is so beautiful; I first heard in November of '98 when I was six (I'm almost 14 now). Me and Mom always listened to her album, The Miseducaton of Luryn Hill back then. Mom always thouht it was cute when I sang alog with the lyrics. Now I can listen to it on my iPod and sometimes I cry because it reminds me of my childhood carefree days.
    kyem2010on January 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    GREAT song my favorite song of lauryn hill I love this woman
    blythegunon February 08, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Alma Matters
Morrissey
The man has pseudo-friends who constantly criticize his actions. They moralize him, "teach" him and advise him to make a significant change in his life, because the way he is and what he does is not what they say it should be. They may find his life lame or immoral. They hold themselves up as role models. The man replies that he will make his own choices and decisions and he does not agree to unconditionally make himself under the influence of questionable quality advice. He justifies this by saying that there is always someone for whom he will be important, no matter what he does and no matter what he is. Although it is not said directly, I read it as meaning that he will always be important to himself in every way and he will always have his own support. "Everyone is different and maybe that's a good thing, but you exceeded that mark 1000 times" - I remember very well how sad the words I once heard (from my peers and it was in negative context) at school made me feel.
Album art
Still Luv
Kennedy Rd.
This standout song off her eponymously named album was produced by AVB & Itsashleetho and released on December 28, 2020.
Album art
Breathe
80vii
This standout song was released to close out the year and was produced in its entirety by 80vii. The track was released via major streaming platforms on December 27, 2020.
Album art
Part Of The Game
50 Cent
This track marks the first official collaboration between the artists. The track serves as the official soundtrack for the newest edition of the hit show Empire. It was released on December 30, 2020
Album art
CAP
Tink
This standout song of the rapper's latest studio album titled "A Gift and A Curse " was produced in its entirety by Honorary Members. The track was released via major streaming platforms on December 25, 2020.