The single performed moderately on charts. "Green Light" peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 46 in Ireland. The Freemasons remix of the track peaked at number 18 on the Dutch Top 40 chart. Its accompanying music video is inspired by Robert Palmer's 1985 music video "Addicted to Love". Beyoncé considered the video, which is her second to feature her all-female tour band Suga Mama, her toughest shoot.
Green Light
Beyoncé Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give it, give it
Give it to mama, mama (oh)
Give it
Give it to mama, mama
For some strange reason (huh)
You done pleasin' me like it's okay (oh, oh, oh)
The result is it just won't take (oh, oh, oh)
(I can see) now it's all coming so clear to me now
(I can see) misinterpreted all of my naiveness
Was just thinking if I had no you that I can't do
My stock just went up over two million
So if you want to (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
So if you want to (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
So if you want to (want to, want to) (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
So if you want to (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
Give it to mama
Go, go, go, go oh oh oh
Go, go, go, go oh oh
Go, go, go, go oh oh oh
Go, go, red light
(Ah) green light
Some see me, say I should be trophied
'Cause it gets no stronger (oh, oh, oh)
Ladies, y'all know (yeah, girl, y'all know)
This pimp-ish gets no older
Is that a threat? (what's another threat?)
Yep (that's another threat)
I'm immune, you can't get no cold, yeah
You got the green light (whoa)
You the king, right? (whoa)
You holdin' up traffic, green means go
Go, go, go, go oh oh oh
Go, go, go, go oh oh oh
Go, go, go, go oh oh oh
Go, go, red light, green light (I said you're holdin' up traffic, green means go)
So if you want to (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh) (you got the green light baby)
So if you want to (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
So if you want to (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh) (if you want to)
You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
So if you want to (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
(Give it to mama)
Ain't no problem, you can go
I will find somebody else
It's alright, I'll move along
You got the green light, so you can go
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go (red light, green light)
I gave all I could give, my love
My heart (my heart)
Now we're facing the end (the end) of what you did from the start
My love
(You're holdin' up traffic, green means go)
So if you want to (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
So if you want to (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
So if you want to (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
So if you want to (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
(Give it to mama)
Ain't no problem, you can go
I will find somebody else
It's alright, I'll move along
You got the green light, so you can go
Go, go, go oh whoa oh (red light, green light)
In Beyoncé's song "Green Light," the singer urges her significant other to take action in their relationship. She tells him that he has the "green light" to move forward and pursue their love. The lyrics imply that the relationship has been stagnant and the singer is frustrated with her partner's lack of action. The line "You done pleasin' me like it's okay" suggests that the singer has been unhappy with the current state of the relationship and is ready for a change. She compares the situation to a perm that has been left too long and is now burning, indicating that things have been left unresolved for too long and are now causing pain.
Throughout the song, Beyoncé portrays herself as confident and in control, referring to herself as "mama" and asserting that she is not easily swayed by the actions of her partner. She also makes references to her the success of her career, stating "My stock just went up over two million." Overall, "Green Light" is a song about taking control and demanding action in a stagnant relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Give it to mama
Asking for more love and attention.
For some strange reason (huh) You done pleasin' me like it's okay (oh, oh, oh)
Feeling unsatisfied with the level of affection received from the partner.
Now it's all coming so clear to me now Misinterpreted all of my naiveness
Realizing that her innocence was taken advantage of.
My stock just went up over two million
Feeling more confident and valuable after leaving the toxic relationship.
So if you want to (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh) You got the green light (uh, uh, huh, uh, uh)
Giving the partner permission to leave if they want to.
This pimp-ish gets no older Is that a threat? (what's another threat?) Yep (that's another threat)
Not afraid to leave and find someone better.
You got the green light (whoa) You the king, right? (whoa) You holdin' up traffic, green means go
Confirming that the partner has the freedom to leave.
Ain't no problem, you can go I will find somebody else
Accepting the situation and moving on.
I gave all I could give, my love My heart (my heart) Now we're facing the end (the end) of what you did from the start My love
Realizing that the relationship was doomed from the beginning and the end is near.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Beyonce Knowles, Pharrell L. Williams, Sean Garrett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pynksiddity
This was Beyoncés first visual album. B’day was an ERA.
@jessiemerrill11
That was the first visual album ever...
@newman58352
The deluxe was better!
@pynksiddity
Newman & Beyond THATs the ONLY bday album that matters 😂😂😂 we only address deluxe albums only
@andrealp2899
The song is straight trash.
@joaofelipedasilva337
Yeah!!!!!
@tnargtnarud
"For some strange reason you're done pleasing me like it's okay."
Best opening verse, ever.
@tnargtnarud
*****
It's not a sarcasm. I actually do like that line. haha
@lau3673
I agree
@antiskilled
I love the "You ready" in Crazy in Love because we all weren't ready for what she grew into.