The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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)
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
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I agree with corsaiir, I've never dated a thug ether. Personally I hate guys who act like thugs, it's kind of obnoxious. However I do think that this poem doesnt represet all guys, cause some are generally nice.
So relax guys who take this song offensively, every girl knows in her heart that there is a good guy out there. And if you take this song so offensively maybe it's because you've been guilty of one or two of these things to begin with.
Also I do agree that girls do cause problems to and can act like this as well. However the reason there are more songs about it from a girls perspective than a guys is because girls can express themselves that way. When guys get this from girls theyre more likely to just get mad and break it off. A girl is more emotional and can put more into a song like this.
Just my opinion