Martha Redbone is a part Shawnee, African American, and Choctaw musician. S… Read Full Bio ↴Martha Redbone is a part Shawnee, African American, and Choctaw musician. She is an award-winning figure in contemporary Native American music. She grew up in Brooklyn and later rural Kentucky. Her music is seen as a mix of rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and Soul music influences.[1] Winner - 'Best Debut Artist' 2002 Native American Music Awards; 'Home of the Brave - Best Pop Album' 2004 Indian Summer Music Awards; 'Skintalk - Best Pop Album' 2005 Indian Summer Music Awards; 'Skintalk - Best RnB Album' 2006 Independent Music Awards. In 2005 Redbone was presented with a NHAP 'Red Ribbon Award for Outstanding Leadership' at a ceremony at the United Nations in recognition of her charitable work in the Native American community.

Boyfriend
Martha Redbone Lyrics

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Standing in a starbucks line,
He was sipping lemonade
He didn't give a damn about all the people or what they said
I ordered my coffee, strong and black and straight

We talked about love and garbage
And he told me that he was gay

I guess it's "c'est la vie", guess I should have known
Thought I'd found a lover, that's the way life goes
Said he'd like to know me, see me once again
Maybe we can hang...

[Chorus]
He said I've got a boyfriend
He said I've got a boyfriend, ooh
He said I've got a boyfriend
But I kinda like girls, too...

Even all the times we hung out on platonic dates
It was only then that I found out we were true soul mates
I was almost certain that he'd suit me to the tee
'Til I caught him wearing my dress and looking better than me

I guess it's "c'est la vie", guess I should have known
Thought I'd found a lover, that's the way life goes
Said he'd like to know me, and his feelings sometimes change
But I thought...what a waste

[chorus]

I guess it's "c'est la vie", guess I should have known
Thought I'd found a lover, that's the way life goes
Said he'd like to know me, see me once again
Maybe we can hang...

[Chorus: x 2]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Martha Redbone's song "Boyfriend" describe a situation in which the singer is standing in a Starbucks line and strikes up a conversation with a man who is sipping lemonade. The two of them start talking about love and garbage, and the man reveals that he is gay. Despite this revelation, the singer feels a connection with the man and hopes that they can see each other again. However, she later learns that the man has a boyfriend and also likes girls, which causes her to feel disappointed.

The lyrics convey a sense of disappointment at the loss of potential love and also address the complex nature of sexuality and relationships. While the singer is attracted to the man, his sexual orientation and his interest in both men and women ultimately means that they cannot be together. The line "Thought I'd found a lover, that's the way life goes" speaks to the idea that sometimes, despite our hopes and desires, things do not work out the way we want them to.

Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the complexities of attraction and the often unpredictable nature of relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Standing in a starbucks line,
It all started when I was waiting in line at a Starbucks.

He was sipping lemonade
I noticed the man next to me sipping on lemonade.

He didn't give a damn about all the people or what they said
Despite being surrounded by other people, he seemed indifferent to their presence or opinions.

I ordered my coffee, strong and black and straight
I ordered my coffee exactly how I like it: strong, black, and without any frills.

We talked about love and garbage
As we chatted, we discussed life and relationships, including the ups and downs.

And he told me that he was gay
During our conversation, he revealed that he was gay.

I guess it's "c'est la vie", guess I should have known
I suppose that's just the way things go, but I feel like I should have realized it earlier.

Thought I'd found a lover, that's the way life goes
I thought I had met someone with romantic potential, but I guess that's just how life works sometimes.

Said he'd like to know me, see me once again
Despite not having a romantic connection, he expressed interest in getting to know me better and potentially hanging out again.

Maybe we can hang...
He left the possibility of hanging out open, without making any concrete plans.

He said I've got a boyfriend
Eventually, he confessed that he was already in a relationship with someone else.

But I kinda like girls, too...
However, he also hinted that he is attracted to women, too.

Even all the times we hung out on platonic dates
Despite spending time together as friends, we never crossed the line into a romantic relationship.

It was only then that I found out we were true soul mates
Ironically, our lack of a romantic connection made me realize that we were actually very good friends and had a deep connection as soul mates.

I was almost certain that he'd suit me to the tee
Before learning about his sexuality and relationship status, I thought that we were perfect for each other.

'Til I caught him wearing my dress and looking better than me
However, I was thrown off when I caught him wearing my dress and pulling it off better than I ever could.

But I thought...what a waste
Despite our deep connection as friends, I couldn't help but feel like it was a shame that we didn't have a romantic spark.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARTHA REDBONE, AARON LEOPOLD WHITBY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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