Natalie
Bruno Mars Feat. Esperanza Spalding Lyrics

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Oh I never done this before
Never wanna do this again
Wrong turn on a dusty road
I did it to myself so I can't pretend
Well I learned just a little too late
Good God I must've been blind
'Cause she got me for everything, everything, everything, alright
Like my daddy I'm a gambling man

Never been afraid to roll the dice
But when I put my bet on her
Little miss snake eyes ruined my life
She better sleep with one eye open
Better make sure to lock her door
'Cause once I get my hands on her, I'ma oh

Natalie, she ran away with all my money
And she did it for fun
Natalie, she's probably out there thinking it's funny
Telling everyone
Well I'm digging a ditch for this gold-digging bitch
Watch out she's quick
Look out for a pretty little thing named Natalie
If you see her tell her I'm coming
She better run

The good lord better bless your soul
'Cause I done already cursed your name
Don't matter which way you go
Payback's gonna come your way
You'll be begging me, please please please
And now I look at you, and laugh, laugh, laugh
While you sit there and cry for me, cry for me, cry for me all night
I spend your lifetime in jail (yeah that's what I do)
I'll be smiling in my cell (yeah thinking bout you)
Can't nobody save you now
So there ain't no use in trying
Once I get my hands on you, I'ma oh

Natalie, she ran away with all my money
And she did it for fun
Natalie, she's probably out there thinking it's funny
Telling everyone
Well I'm digging a ditch for this gold-digging bitch
Watch out she's quick
Look out for a pretty little thing named Natalie
If you see her tell her I'm coming
She better run

I should've known better (I should've known better)
'Cause when we were together ('Cause when we were together)
She never said forever (She never said forever)
I'm a fool that played her game

Hey, Natalie, she ran away with all my money
And she did it for fun
Natalie, she's probably out there thinking it's funny
Telling everyone
Well I'm digging a ditch for this gold-digging bitch
Watch out she's quick
Look out for a pretty little thing named Natalie

If you see her tell her I'm coming
She better run

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Natalie" by Bruno Mars are about a guy who falls for a woman named Natalie, who initially seems to be into him but eventually runs off with all his money. The song starts with the singer explaining that he's never been in this situation before and never wants to experience it again. He admits that he made a mistake by taking a wrong turn down a dusty road, and now he's paying the price for it. The pre-chorus suggests that he sees the error of his ways but it's far too late. He was blinded by Natalie’s charm and ended up getting played.

The chorus is a warning to others that there's a woman named Natalie out there who is willing to take advantage of any man who comes her way. She's the type of person who will take your money and laugh in your face about it. The bridge of the song is a stern warning to Natalie that her actions will come back to haunt her. He has already cursed her name and is now waiting for the right moment to make her pay. In the end, he turns to a vengeful mood and sings about digging a ditch for her.

Interestingly, the song was reportedly inspired by a real-life encounter that Mars had with a woman who tried to scam him out of his money. The story goes that she called herself Natalie and claimed to be pregnant with his child, demanding $10,000 from him to terminate the pregnancy. Bruno Mars saw right through the lie and reported her to the authorities.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh I never done this before
Admitting to being inexperienced in this particular situation.

Never wanna do this again
Having a negative experience and deciding to avoid repeating it in the future.

Wrong turn on a dusty road
Taking a mistake while on a journey, causing detrimental consequences.

I did it to myself so I can't pretend
Acknowledging responsibility for the mistake committed and not trying to shift the blame.

Well I learned just a little too late
Recognizing the mistake after it has already caused damage and no time to rectify it.

Good God I must've been blind
Realizing that some mistakes are avoidable and erred in judgment leading to the mistake.

'Cause she got me for everything, everything, everything, alright
Being taken advantage of by someone and losing everything with no compensation or help.

Like my daddy I'm a gambling man
Comparing oneself to a parent and claiming to have the same qualities.

Never been afraid to roll the dice
Being courageous and taking risks in one’s life.

But when I put my bet on her
Trusting someone with something that one values.

Little miss snake eyes ruined my life
Referring to the other person's deceptive and negative qualities and how it affected one’s life in a significant way.

She better sleep with one eye open
Warning the other person to be cautious and watchful at all times.

Better make sure to lock her door
Advising the other person to take all required safety measures.

'Cause once I get my hands on her, I'ma oh
Deliberate and intentional threats towards the other person

Natalie, she ran away with all my money
The beginning of the chorus, recounting the other person's actions.

And she did it for fun
The other person taking advantage of the situation and finding pleasure in doing it.

Natalie, she's probably out there thinking it's funny
Speculating on the other person's thoughts and motivations.

Telling everyone
The other person boasting about their actions to others.

Well I'm digging a ditch for this gold-digging bitch
Describing the other person in derogatory terms and plan of action to harm them.

Watch out she's quick
Giving the other person the benefit of the doubt for being sneaky and skillful.

Look out for a pretty little thing named Natalie
Issuing a warning to be aware of the other person's appearance and traits.

If you see her tell her I'm coming
Making a direct threat to the other person and challenging them to face the consequences.

She better run
Advising the other person to avoid the danger and run away.

The good lord better bless your soul
Asking for divine intervention in the situation and for the other person.

'Cause I done already cursed your name
Expressing anger and resentment towards the other person and the actions they have committed.

Don't matter which way you go
Implying that the other person cannot escape the consequences of their actions no matter what they do.

Payback's gonna come your way
Stating that the other person will receive punishment for their actions.

You'll be begging me, please please please
Predicting the other person's reaction to the harm they have caused and how it can be prevented.

And now I look at you, and laugh, laugh, laugh
Finding humor and satisfaction in the other person's fate.

While you sit there and cry for me, cry for me, cry for me all night
Flipping the situation and imagining the other person suffering a similar fate.

I spend your lifetime in jail (yeah that's what I do)
Outlining the plan of action to imprison the other person for their actions.

I'll be smiling in my cell (yeah thinking bout you)
Pleasure in imagining the suffering of the other person and not feeling any remorse for their fate.

Can't nobody save you now
The other person’s current situation is beyond repair, and no one can help them.

So there ain't no use in trying
No amount of efforts can remedy the situation or absolve the other person of their guilt.

Once I get my hands on you, I'ma oh
The threat continues.

I should've known better (I should've known better)
Recognizing the possibility of this outcome and regretting for not being prepared.

'Cause when we were together ('Cause when we were together)
Recollecting the failed relationship with the other person.

She never said forever (She never said forever)
The other person never promised commitment or fidelity.

I'm a fool that played her game
Admitting to having fallen for the other person's deceptive ways, even though they were aware of the consequences.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER GENE HERNANDEZ, CHRISTOPHER BROWN, PAUL EPWORTH, ARI LEVINE, PHILIP LAWRENCE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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