Work It Out
Beyoncé Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

How ya doin', honey baby?
You know I don't ask for much
But for a girl spendin' time alone can be pretty rough

But I get a knock on my door
I know it's yours for sure
We can't wait for the bedroom, so we just hit the floor
[Chorus]
Is y'all all right?
I don't know, but I know what's happened to me, girl, hey
Is y'all all right?
Uh, break it down now
He gotta work it out
He gotta work it out
A brother gotta work it out
Whoa, whoa

Child, blow your horn now
Come on, child, blow your horn now

So we're shakin' back and forth now
Just keep it comin', babe
Treat my body like a guitar
You gotta, you gotta keep on strummin'

But in the back of my mind
Is it gonna be the last time?
Well, if it ain't about lovin' and you gon' keep it comin'
Well, baby, with me that's fine

[Chorus]

Child, blow your horn now
Come on, child, blow your horn now

I like this
Oh, oh, hey
Uh
Look-a here
Bring it

So, baby, hold me like you don't want to let go
I'm feeling foxy 'cause, boy, you're workin' it out
My love, you've given me a taste of your honey
I want the whole beehive
I'm gonna call you my sugar to fly high
The sweetest time

You gotta work it out
You gotta work it out
Brother gotta work it out
Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh

I like it when the horn go
I like it when the horn go
I like it when the horn go
I like it when the horn go

Austin better work it out
Foxy better work it out




AP3 better work it out
AP3 better work it out

Overall Meaning

In Beyoncé's song Work It Out, she talks about her desire for companionship and physical intimacy, which she finds in a lover who comes knocking at her door. The song is a celebration of physical pleasure, with the lyrics urging the listener to "treat my body like a guitar, you gotta keep on strummin'." Beyoncé seems to be suggesting that this kind of connection is necessary for her wellbeing in the lyric "for a girl spending time alone can be pretty rough." But there's also a sense of uncertainty about the nature of the relationship, as the lyric "is it gonna be the last time?" suggests that this could be a one-time encounter.


The chorus of the song, "Is y'all all right? I don't know, but I know what's happened to me, girl, hey," could be seen as a call for approval from those around her, or perhaps a way of asking herself if she's doing the right thing. But ultimately, the song seems to be about giving into physical pleasure in the moment and not worrying about what comes next. The horn section in the song adds to the celebratory tone.


Line by Line Meaning

How ya doin', honey baby?
Beyonce is asking her partner how they are doing while also calling them honey baby to show affection.


You know I don't ask for much
Beyonce is reminding her partner that she is not high maintenance and does not require a lot from them.


But for a girl spendin' time alone can be pretty rough
Beyonce is acknowledging that being alone can be difficult for her and she values the time she spends with her partner.


But I get a knock on my door
Beyonce's partner has come to visit her and she is excited to see them.


I know it's yours for sure
Beyonce recognizes her partner's knock and is certain that it is them at the door.


We can't wait for the bedroom, so we just hit the floor
Beyonce and her partner cannot wait to be intimate in the bedroom, so they have decided to have sex on the floor.


Is y'all all right?
Beyonce wants to make sure that everyone is ok.


I don't know, but I know what's happened to me, girl, hey
Although Beyonce is unsure of others' well-being, she knows how her partner has made her feel.


Uh, break it down now
Beyonce wants the beat to drop and the music to intensify.


He gotta work it out
Beyonce's partner needs to put in physical and emotional effort to make her happy.


A brother gotta work it out
Beyonce is referring to her partner as a 'brother' and reinforcing the idea that he needs to work hard to please her.


Child, blow your horn now
Beyonce is instructing someone to blow a horn because she enjoys the sound.


So we're shakin' back and forth now
Beyonce and her partner are moving their bodies in a rhythmic manner.


Just keep it comin', babe
Beyonce wants her partner to continue pleasing her and keeping her satisfied.


Treat my body like a guitar
Beyonce wants her partner to handle her body delicately like one would with a guitar.


You gotta, you gotta keep on strummin'
Beyonce's partner needs to keep putting in physical effort to keep her satisfied, just like the way one would strum a guitar's strings.


But in the back of my mind
Beyonce is having some doubts or concerns in the back of her mind.


Is it gonna be the last time?
Beyonce is unsure if this moment will be their last intimate encounter.


Well, if it ain't about lovin' and you gon' keep it comin'
Beyonce is fine with the relationship solely being about sexual pleasure as long as her partner continues to please her.


Well, baby, with me that's fine
Beyonce is reassuring her partner that it is ok if their relationship is based purely on physical pleasure.


I'm feeling foxy 'cause, boy, you're workin' it out
Beyonce is feeling confident and sexy because her partner is making an effort to keep her satisfied.


My love, you've given me a taste of your honey
Beyonce has experienced how sweet and satisfying her partner can be sexually.


I want the whole beehive
Beyonce wants to continue to experience the sweet pleasure that her partner can provide.


I'm gonna call you my sugar to fly high
Beyonce is referring to her partner as 'sugar' because they are giving her a natural high of pleasure.


Austin better work it out
Beyonce is encouraging Austin to work hard to either keep up with her or stay relevant to their relationship.


Foxy better work it out
Beyonce wants Foxy to put in physical and emotional effort to please her.


AP3 better work it out
Beyonce wants AP3 to work hard to make their relationship successful.


AP3 better work it out
Beyonce repeats that AP3 needs to work hard to keep their relationship thriving.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAL DAVIS, DONALD E. FLETCHER, CHAD HUGO, WELDON DEAN PARKS, PHARRELL WILLIAMS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Ciclopea2

One of the funkiest most underrated Beyoncé songs, she stood out as an original and set trends instead of following them, a unique Diva, love this era.

@jackdalton3246

Ciclopea2 you heard of Tina turner? That’s her style right there.

@chinonyeezeamii4221

CICLOPEA2, Big lie. She copied Tina Turner to the max in this video. Useless video with that thrusting scene.

@steflondon88

seems very Tina Turner here.

@tmn8547

You guys are spot on in this comment section. I’d like to add that she was also inspired greatly by the legendary Pam Grier during this era as well. From the afro to the character “Foxy Cleopatra “ to the kick and punch that she does in this video. In fact, Pam Grier did the same kick and punch in the 1970s iconic blaxploitation film “Foxy Brown”. Just take a look at the opening scene. I remember Beyonce saying that she studied Pam Grier’s work before filming this movie. Although I’m a millennial, I believe in studying the architects and pioneers in the business.

@oshane6923

@@lasurratt
How could she copy Amerie when her record dropped years before Amerie even started producing her album?
Don't try to rewrite history without at least getting the facts.

35 More Replies...

@xrystal89

This woman really went through an entire range of styles and musical genres-and NAILED every one of them.

@OhthatsAlisha

Straight facts!!! 🙌🏾

@byroncash9606

We’d be happy je

@alanduran-gonzalez8060

Except the part where more twerkin was needed to make dem video more ghetto fabulous jejeje 😹

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