Oh oh
It's a cold night
Beneath the street lights
There's a man whose pants are too tight
Oh no, his pants are too tight
(My pants are too tight)

He stands there
An empty stare
Trying to make enough money for his cab fare home
He'll have to walk home tonight
(Don't have enough for the ride)

The streets are cruel
He tries to act cool
He goes to work with only his work tool
You can put away your tool, Jermaine

You don't have to be a Prostitute
No no no no no
You can say no to being a man-ho
A male gigalow
You don't have to be a Prostitute
No no no no no
You can say no to being a night-looker, a boy-hooker a rent-boy bro-ho

He cannot see his way out
(I cannot my way out)
He can't see his way out
(Male prostitution seems to be my only option)
He can't see his way out
(I cannot see my way out)
He can't see his way out
No no no no no

He's selling cheap thrills
To pay expensive bills
But check your resume
You must have some other skills
Do you have any other skills
Like typing?

They see him, wanting to please them
Wanting to play him, but they don't even pay him
Oh no no
They don't think he's worth it at all

Though they are no one
He tries to bring them home
Maybe it'd be OK if he lived alone
Ooh you have a roommate, Jermaine
Don't bring them home

You don't have to be a prostitute
No no no no no
You can say no to being a man-ho
A male gigalo
You don't have to be a prostitute
No no no no no
You can say no to being a night-looker,
A boy-hooker a rent-boy bro-pro


Lyrics submitted by mutinyinheaven_x, edited by violethe

You Don't Have to Be a Prostitute Lyrics as written by Jemaine Atea Mahana Clement Bret Mckenzie

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

You Don't Have To Be A Prostitute song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

3 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    My Opinion

    Though you might call this a parody of Police's Roxanne, I'm sure it's more of a tribute.

    M!ke87on March 20, 2010   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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song: Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.” That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.