Styles performed the song before its release during his first performance at the annual Coachella music festival on April 15, 2022.
In the interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, Harry talked about working on the song:
"“Boyfriends” was written right at the end of "Fine Line". I fineshed the album and we touched on a last time, there was like an extra week growing to write some stuff […] we were recording “Lights Up” […] and at the end of that session everyone left, and I started writing “Boyfriends” and it almost felt like “Ok, there’s a version where we get this ready to put on [Fine Line]”, and I think there was something about that just felt like “It’s just gonna have its time, so like, let’s not rush to get it done.” And we did so many versions of it, you know, it was as like, vocal and acoustic, and then vocal and this with that, you know, electric guitar and then this and then that. […] We did the harmonies on everything […] and in the end it was like “Ok, we need, like, there’s something that it has to be, to be what it should be” and Ben Harper played on it, it’s his hands playing that guitar. And it’s like the guitar where he wrote his first three albums. And he’d gifted it to his daughter, and had to ask for it back to borrow to play it on the [song], but he didn’t tell her what it was for, so I believe now will be her finding out where he played it. But thank you for letting us borrow it. It was just like a singular moment I think for all us, we’re such big fan of him as well and it just fell like a really special moment."
In the same interview, Harry told a little about the meaning of the song:
"I think the good part of [“Boyfriends”] is that it is everything. It’s both acknowledging my own behavior. It’s looking at behavior that I’ve witnessed. I grew up with a sister, so it’s watching her date people and watching friends date people, and people don’t treat each other very nicely sometimes. It was one of those really quick, just say what you think of boyfriends."
Boyfriends
Harry Styles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Niaga ti ta kcab er'uoy, loof
Boyfriends
They think you're so easy
They take you for granted
They don't know they're just misunderstanding you
You, you're back at it again
Weakened
When you get deep in
He starts secretly drinking
It gets hard to know what he's thinking
You love a fool who knows just how to get under your skin
You, you, you still open the door
You're no closer to him
Now you're halfway home
Only calling you when
Don't wanna be alone
Oh, and you go
Why? You don't know
Boyfriends
Are they just pretending?
They don't tell you where it's heading
And you know the game's never ending
You, you lay with him as you stay in the daydream
You feel a fool
You're back at it again
Ooh
The song "Boyfriends" by Harry Styles talks about a person who is in a complicated and confusing relationship. The lyrics suggest that the person's partners perceive them to be easy to take advantage of and they don't really understand them. The song goes on to describe the ups and downs of the relationship, including the partner secretly drinking and the difficulty in understanding their thoughts. Despite all the complexities, the person keeps going back to their partner, even though they know the game never ends.
The chorus of the song talks about the person's confusion and questions whether their partners are just pretending or leading them on. The lyrics "Are they just pretending? They don't tell you where it's heading" show that the person is uncertain about the future of their relationship. The song ends with the person feeling like a fool for staying in the relationship despite knowing that it's not good for them.
Overall, "Boyfriends" talks about the confusion and uncertainties that come with relationships. The lyrics describe the complexity of human emotions and the difficulties of navigating through them. The song shows how people can get lost in relationships, making it hard for them to see things from a clear and objective perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
They think you're so easy
People perceive you as someone who is easily taken advantage of
They take you for granted
They do not appreciate your worth
They don't know they're just misunderstanding you
They have misconceptions about your true nature
You, you're back at it again
You find yourself repeatedly falling into the same patterns
When you get deep in
When you immerse yourself in a relationship
He starts secretly drinking
He begins to conceal his excessive drinking habits
It gets hard to know what he's thinking
You have trouble understanding his thoughts and emotions
You love a fool who knows just how to get under your skin
You have feelings for someone who deliberately bothers you
You, you, you still open the door
You continue to let him back into your life
You're no closer to him
You are not making progress in your relationship
Now you're halfway home
You are at an intermediate stage in your journey
Only calling you when
Only contacting you when he needs something
Don't wanna be alone
Does not want to be by himself
Oh, and you go
You leave the situation
Why? You don't know
You are unsure of your own reasons for leaving
Are they just pretending?
Are they faking their intentions?
They don't tell you where it's heading
They are not open about the direction of the relationship
And you know the game's never ending
You are aware that this pattern will continue
You, you lay with him as you stay in the daydream
You have an idealized version of the relationship in your head
You feel a fool
You feel foolish for being in this situation
You're back at it again
You are repeating the same mistakes
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Harry Edward Styles, Thomas Edward Percy Hull, Tobias MacDonald Jesso, Tyler Sam Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martasousa2052
Harry Styles - Boyfriends
Boyfriends, they think you're so easy
They take you for granted
They don't know, they're just misunderstanding
[Refrão]
You
You, you're back at it again
[Verso 2]
Weakened, when you get deep in
He starts secretly drinking
It gets hard to know what he's thinking
[Refrão]
You
Love a fool who knows just how to get under your skin
You
You, you still open the door
[Verso 3]
You're no closer to him
Now you're halfway home
Only calling you when
Don't wanna be alone
Oh, and you go
Why? You don't know
[Verso 4]
Boyfriends, are they just pretending?
They don't tell you where it's heading
And you know the game's never ending
[Refrão]
You
You lay with him as you stay in the daydream
You
Feel a fool, you're back at it again
Ooh
@araflyrics
LYRICS:
Boyfriends, they think you're so easy
They take you for granted
They don't know, they're just misunderstanding
You
You, you're back at it again
Weekend, when you get deep in
He starts secretly drinking
It gets hard to know what he's thinking
You
Love a fool who knows just how to get under your skin
You
You, you still open the door
You're no closer to him
Now you're halfway home
Only calling you when
Don't wanna be alone
Oh, and you go
Why? You don't know
Boyfriends, are they just pretending?
They don't tell you where it's hеading
And you know the game's nevеr ending
You
You lay with him as you stay in the daydream
You
Feel a fool, you're back at it again
Ooh
@voyd0
Lyrics:
Hoo!
Niaga ti ta kcab er'uoy, Loof!
Boyfriends
They think you're so easy
They take you for granted
They don't know they're just misunderstanding you
You, you're back at it again
Weakened
When you get deep in
He starts secretly drinking
It gets hard to know what he's thinking
You love a fool who knows just how to get under your skin
You, you, you still open the door
You're no closer to him
Now you're halfway home
Only calling you in, don't wanna be alone, no
But why you don't know
Boyfriends
Are they just pretending?
They don't tell you where it's heading
And you know the games never ending
You, you lay with him as you stay in a daydream
You feel a fool, you're back at it again
@JohnWickzs
Lyrics:
Boyfriends
They think you're so easy
They take you for granted
They don't know they're just misunderstanding you
You, you're back at it again
Weakened
When you get deep in
He starts secretly drinking
It gets hard to know what he's thinking
You love a fool who knows just how to get under your skin
You, you, you still open the door
You're no closer to him
Now you're halfway home
Only calling you when
Don't wanna be alone
Oh, and you go
Why? You don't know
Boyfriends
Are they just pretending?
They don't tell you where it's heading
And you know the game's never ending
You, you lay with him as you stay in the daydream
You feel a fool
You're back at it again
Ooh
@saraabella4633
Letra:
Novios
Novios
Ellos piensan que eres tan fácil
Te dan por garantizado
Ellos no saben que solo te están malinterpretando
Tú, tú volviste a regresar a eso
Debilitada
Cuando lo llevas adelante
Él empieza a beber a escondidas
Se hace difícil saber lo que él está pensando
Tú amas a un tonto que sabe cómo hacerte sentir mal
Tú, tú, todavia tú abres la puerta
No estás más cerca de él
Ahora estás en la mitad del camino a casa
Él solo te llama cuando no quiere estar solo
Oh, y te vas
Pero el porqué tú no sabes
Novios
¿Ellos solo están fingiendo?
No te dicen a dónde eso se dirige
Y tú sabes que los juegos nunca terminan
Tú, te acuestas con él mientras te quedas en un sueño
Te sientes una tonta
Tú volviste a regresar a eso
Ooh, ooh
@tpwk9118
my life will be complete once boyfriends gets released
@leacueva
so true
@corasessions2267
yesh ma'am
@chowderismyfishson
Poem
@GriffinZambia
Dont read my name😑
@JeffBuckleysEyebrows3
Same girly
@andreabelen.
These lyrics are so painful yet the melody and his voice is so calm; makes me feel like someday this loop of trust issues will end. Congrats on such a beautiful song!
@nathanwolfe6698
Makes me feel bad for being this kinda boyfriend when i was in relationships.
@haz929
kulchong
@Plantbasedsudeshna
Who's the songwriter