"Selfish" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from the deluxe editi… Read Full Bio ↴"Selfish" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from the deluxe edition of her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale (2011). It was written by Ester Dean, Traci Hale, Sandy Vee, and the production duo Stargate. The latter two also produced the song with vocal production handled by Kuk Harrell. The song received renewed interest in popularity in 2024, thirteen years after its original release, due to a campaign by fans of Spears to undermine the release of her ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake's comeback single of the same name. These efforts resulted in the song charting at number five on Billboard's Digital Song Sales chart and number 12 on the Dance/Electronic Songs chart.

Selfish
Britney Spears Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Okay, the shoe is going on the other foot tonight,
La, la, la
I'm 'bout to turn you into my very own flight tonight
La, la, la
Okay, you think you got me where you want me
I'mma show you tonight
La, la, la
That I'm a girl and you're a boy

And tonight you gon' be my be my man

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
Tonight I'm gonna be a little selfish
Be a little selfish
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
Tonight I'm gonna be a little selfish
Be a little selfish
Boom, boom, baby
Pick you up in my Mercedes
I'mma be a little selfish
Be a little selfish
Boom, boom, baby
Pick you up in my Mercedes
I'mma be a little selfish
Be a little selfish

Just lay right there and don't you move
I'm in control tonight
La, la, la
Lock you up in my room
Be my prisoner of love tonight
La, la, la
Shut up, sit down
Who's the boss now?
I'm 'bout to show you now
La, la, la
That I'm a girl and you're a boy
And tonight you gon be my be my man

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
Tonight I'm gonna be a little selfish
Be a little selfish
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Tonight I'm gonna be a little selfish
Be a little selfish
Boom, boom, baby
Pick you up in my Mercedes
I'mma be a little selfish
Be a little selfish
Boom, boom, baby
Pick you up in my Mercedes
I'mma be a little selfish
Be a little selfish

Tonight I'm feeling sexual
Come on and play inside my love below
Strip down and give me my own private show
I'm gonna be a little selfish
Be a little selfish
Tonight I'm feeling sexual
Come on and play inside my love below
Strip down and give me my own private show
I'm gonna be a little selfish

Boom, boom, baby
Pick you up in my Mercedes
I'mma be a little selfish
Be a little

Boom, boom, baby
Pick you up in my Mercedes.
I'mma be a little selfish..
Be a- be a- be a...

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Tonight I'm gonna be a little selfish
Be a little selfish
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Tonight I'm gonna be a little selfish
Be a little selfish
Boom, boom, baby
Pick you up in my Mercedes
I'mma be a little selfish
Be a little selfish
Boom, boom, baby
Pick you up in my Mercedes

I'mma be a little selfish
Be a little selfish

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Britney Spears's song Selfish speak to a woman's desire to take control and be the initiator in a sexual encounter, in contrast to the common societal expectation for men to take the lead. With lines like "the shoe is going on the other foot tonight" and "just lay right there and don't you move, I'm in control tonight," the singer asserts dominance over her male partner. She wants to show him that she can be in charge and be a little selfish when it comes to her own pleasure.

The lyrics continue to emphasize this theme of female empowerment in the bedroom, with lines like "shut up, sit down, who's the boss now?" and "strip down and give me my own private show." The singer is unapologetic in her desire to indulge in her own sexual desires and takes pleasure in turning the tables on her partner. The chorus echoes this sentiment, with the singer acknowledging that she's going to be "a little selfish" and "pick [her partner] up in her Mercedes."

Overall, the lyrics to Selfish celebrate female sexual agency and empowerment in a way that was unusual for mainstream pop songs at the time of the song's release. As a female artist known for her sexually charged image, Britney Spears was uniquely positioned to deliver this message, and the song remains a standout in her catalogue to this day.

Line by Line Meaning

Okay, the shoe is going on the other foot tonight, La, la, la
I am taking control of the situation tonight and turning the tables on you.

I'm 'bout to turn you into my very own flight tonight, La, la, la
I am going to make you feel like you are flying and take you on a journey of my choosing tonight.

Okay, you think you got me where you want me, I'mma show you tonight, La, la, la
You may think you have control over me, but tonight, I am going to show you otherwise.

That I'm a girl and you're a boy, And tonight you gon be my be my man
I am going to take charge and let you know that I am a woman and you are going to be my partner tonight.

Just lay right there and don't you move, I'm in control tonight, La, la, la
I am taking on the dominant role tonight, and I want you to stay still and let me take the lead.

Lock you up in my room, Be my prisoner of love tonight, La, la, la
I want to take you to a place where we can be alone, and I can make you feel loved and wanted in my arms.

Shut up, sit down, Who's the boss now? I'm 'bout to show you now, La, la, la
I want you to be quiet and let me take control, as I am the one in charge now and I am going to prove it to you.

Tonight I'm feeling sexual, Come on and play inside my love below
I am in the mood for intimacy and want you to explore my body and pleasure me tonight.

Strip down and give me my own private show, I'm gonna be a little selfish
I want you to take off your clothes and give me a private show, as I am feeling a little selfish tonight and want to be the center of attention.

Boom, boom, baby, Pick you up in my Mercedes, I'mma be a little selfish
I am going to pick you up in my expensive car and focus on my own pleasure tonight.

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, Tonight I'm gonna be a little selfish, Be a little selfish
I am embracing my desire to focus on myself and my own pleasure tonight.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ESTHER DEAN, TRACI COLLEEN HALE, MIKKEL STORLEER ERIKSEN, TOR ERIK HERMANSEN, SANDY JULIEN WILHELM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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