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Bootylicious
Destiny's Child Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Kelly, can you handle this?
Michelle, can you handle this?
Beyoncé, can you handle this?
I don't think they can handle this!

Barely move, we've arrived
Lookin' sexy, lookin' fly
Baddest chick, chick inside
DJ, jam tonight
Spotted me, a tender thang
There you are, come on, baby
Don't you wanna dance with me?
Can you handle, handle me?

You gotta do much better
If you're gon' dance with me tonight
You gotta work your jelly
If you're gon' dance with me tonight

Read my lips carefully, if you like what you see
Move, groove, prove you can hang with me
By the looks I got you shook up and scared of me
Buckle your seat belt, it's time for takeoff

I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this
'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, babe

I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this
'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, babe

Baby, can you handle this?
Baby, can you handle this?
Baby, can you handle this?
I don't think you can handle this

I'm about to break you off
H-town goin' hard, read my hips
Slap my thighs, swing my hair
Squint my eyes

Lookin' hot, smellin' good
Groovin' like I'm from the hood
Over my shoulder I blow you a kiss
Can you handle, handle this?

I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this
'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, babe

I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this
'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, babe

Move your body up and down
Make your booty touch the ground
I can't help but wonder why
Is my vibe too vibealacious for you, babe?

I shake my jelly at every chance
When I whip with my hips you slip into a trance
I'm hoping you can handle all this jelly that I have
Now let's cut a rug while we scat some jazz

I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this
'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, babe

I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this
'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, baby

I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this
'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, babe

I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this
'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, babe

I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this
'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, babe

I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this jelly
I don't think you're ready for this
'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, baby

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Destiny's Child's "Bootylicious" are all about confidence, sass, and self-assurance. The song is essentially a challenge to anyone who doubts the girls' dance skills, sex appeal or overall awesomeness: "Can you handle this?" they repeatedly ask. The verses describe a scene in a club where the ladies are turning heads and attracting attention. They're "lookin' sexy, lookin' fly" and "groovin' like I'm from the hood." The chorus emphasizes just how incredible their bodies are: "I don't think you're ready for this jelly / 'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya."


The second verse shows the girls getting even bolder, insisting that anyone who wants to dance with them has to work hard and prove themselves: "You gotta work your jelly / If you're gon' dance with me tonight." The bridge functions as a challenge to anyone who might doubt them, or who might think they're too much to handle. "I don't think you're ready for this jelly" becomes a kind of taunt, as they repeatedly insist that their bodies are too amazing for anyone to handle.


Overall, "Bootylicious" is an upbeat, fun, and unapologetically sassy dance tune. Its themes of confidence and self-assurance make it a great anthem for anyone who wants to feel good and impress others on the dance floor.


Line by Line Meaning

Kelly, can you handle this?
Kelly is challenging someone to see if they can handle her dance moves.


Michelle, can you handle this?
Michelle is challenging someone to see if they can handle her dance moves.


Beyoncé, can you handle this?
Beyoncé is challenging someone to see if they can handle her dance moves.


I don't think they can handle this!
The trio doesn't think their challengers can handle their dance moves.


Barely move, we've arrived
The trio has arrived and looks confident.


Lookin' sexy, lookin' fly
The trio looks attractive and stylish.


Baddest chick, chick inside
Each member of the trio is the best at what they do.


DJ, jam tonight
The DJ is playing music for everyone to dance to tonight.


Spotted me, a tender thang
Someone has noticed one of the trio.


There you are, come on, baby
The trio is inviting someone to come dance with them.


Don't you wanna dance with me?
The trio is trying to persuade someone to dance with them.


Can you handle, handle me?
The trio is challenging someone to see if they can handle their dance moves.


You gotta do much better
The trio is telling someone they need to improve their dance moves.


If you're gon' dance with me tonight
If someone is going to dance with the trio tonight, they need to step up their game.


You gotta work your jelly
The trio is telling someone to work their hips and booty while dancing.


Read my lips carefully, if you like what you see
The trio is hinting that they are interested in someone and trying to get their attention.


Move, groove, prove you can hang with me
The trio is telling someone they need to move and groove with them to prove they can handle their dance moves.


By the looks I got you shook up and scared of me
The trio's attractive appearance is intimidating to someone, making them nervous around them.


Buckle your seat belt, it's time for takeoff
The trio is ready to start dancing and the person watching needs to prepare themselves for what's about to happen.


I don't think you're ready for this jelly
The trio doesn't think their challengers or onlookers are prepared for their impressive dance moves.


'Cause my body too bootylicious for ya, babe
The trio's dance moves and confidence are too much for some people to handle.


Move your body up and down
The trio is instructing someone to move their body while dancing.


Make your booty touch the ground
The trio is instructing someone to dance in a way that involves their booty touching the ground.


I can't help but wonder why
The trio is questioning why some people are intimidated by their dance moves.


Is my vibe too vibealacious for you, babe?
The trio is asking if their energy is too much for some people to handle.


I shake my jelly at every chance
One of the members of the trio likes to show off their dance moves whenever they can.


When I whip with my hips you slip into a trance
One of the members of the trio is so skilled at dancing that they can mesmerize people with their hip movements.


I'm hoping you can handle all this jelly that I have
One of the members of the trio is challenging someone to see if they can handle their dance moves.


Now let's cut a rug while we scat some jazz
The trio is telling someone they're ready to dance and groove to some jazz music.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Beyonce Knowles, Rob Fusari, Falonte D. Moore, Stevie Nicks

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@venusflytrapyt

Destiny's Child is literally the best girl group to ever do it. Beyonce with main vocals, kelly on background, michelle with ad-libs and harmonies. They could drop an album today and id be here for it. And yet we were still never ready...













for fish jellly... 0:57



All comments from YouTube:

@BGK8345

Fun Facts: Bootylicious was the last Billboard Hot 100 #1 song by a female group!

@SumthingFrench

noooooooooooooo!! (sarcasm) dont we all know that.

@badbitch7676

creeperdragon actually everyone dont know it

@ilyesbey4386

+creeperdragon no...we don't

@BGK8345

mmm ppp Don't cha went #2

@badbitch7676

mmm ppp and buttons went #3

58 More Replies...

@adolfoarias6857

Never expected this song to appear in a Disney movie... Like, ever 🤩

@jennyhoek561

I need Lady Marmalade to appear in a PG animated film
But I know that song is more explicit

@Heraldo_Del_Mar

Me neither. 😁 And yet they pulled it off.

@kevinanthony3142

what movie

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