If I Were a Boy Lyrics
If I were a boy
Even just for a day
I'd roll out of bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted and go
I'd drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls
I'd kick it with who I wanted
And I'd never get confronted for it
'Cause they'd stick up for me
[Chorus]
If I were a boy
I think I would understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a, a better man
[Verse 2]
If I were a boy
I would turn off my phone
Tell everyone it's broken
So they'd think that I was sleeping alone
I'd put myself first
And make the rules as I go
Oh, 'cause I know that she'd be faithful
Waiting for me to come home
Oh, to come home
If I were a boy
I think I would understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a, a better man
And I'd listen to her
'Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
'Cause he's taking you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed
[Bridge]
It's a little too late for you to come back
Say it's just a mistake, think I'd forgive you like that
If you thought I would wait for you
You thought wrong
[Chorus]
But you're just a boy
You don't understand
How it feels to love a girl
Someday you'll wish you were a, a better man
Oh, you don't listen to her
And you don't care how it hurts
Until you lose the one you wanted
'Cause you've taken her for granted
And everything you had got destroyed
But you're just a boy
About
This song explores a role reversal of the traditional gender expectations in Western culture. When the narrator is cheated on by her (male) significant other, she comments that, as a man, his flirtations and behavior are overlooked, but if she, as a woman, were to do the same, it would be considered unacceptable.
Obviously, this is not true for every community and in every case, but Western society as a whole finds mens' promiscuous behavior more acceptable than womens', to the point where the man in the song expects the narrator to forgive him and take him back even after he’s cheated on her.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
On the last time she made a music misstep:
There was a time that I [covered Beyoncé’s] “If I Were a Boy.” We had done that for [Unplugged on CMT in 2010], and the record label really wanted me to record it and put it out as a single. I didn’t feel real good about it. It wasn’t that successful. The people in the music industry, they’re professionals, and sometimes you have to go with the team. It just didn’t work out.
Via Billboard
- 2.If I Were a Boy
- 4.Cry
