Kenny "Dope" Gonzales loaned out the name Masters At Work to Todd Terry who released two singles (Alright Alright and Dum Dum Cry) in 1987 under this moniker.
Backfired
Masters at Work Lyrics
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Backfired when you least expected them to
My man, your plans
Backfired now that I'm rejecting you
My love, your kiss
No longer seems to be to satisfy
My love, my tears
I can't cry a river 'cause the well has run dry
(Backfired) I'll no longer play the fool
(Backfired) I'll no longer take your abuse
(Backfired) You said baby we are through
(Backfired) I don't need your bad news
Oh, oh your bad news, oh oh
My man, your games
Backfired at you when you broke all the rules
You played yourself
That now my love is coming back to you, oh
Go lie somewhere else
I don't ned ya knocking at my door, oh
Stay by yourself
I don't need ya, I can't take no more
(Backfired) I'll no longer play the fool
(Backfired) I'll no longer take your abuse
(Backfired) You said baby we are through
(Backfired) I don't need your bad news, no no
(Backfired)
I'll no longer play the fool (Backfired)
I'll no longer take your abuse (Backfired)
You said baby we are through (Backfired)
'Cause I don't need you
I could have gave you lovin' just like you wanted
But you'll never do right by me
(Never do right by me)
Instead you felt the need to hang on and pretend
So now I've gotta set you free
I claim the victory
It backfired, yes it did
You know it backfired, oh oh
Gave you lovin' just like you wanted me to
I could have gave you lovin' just like you wanted
But you'll never do right by me (Never do right by me)
Instead you felt the need to hang on and pretend
So now I've gotta set you free! (Set you free!)
I claim the victory (Backfired)
(She's got the victory)
(Backfired)
(She's got it, she's got it)
(Backfired)
(She's got the victory)
I don't need to, I don't need to cry about it
(This time it, this time it, this time it Backfired)
I'm gonna laugh about it, haha
(This time it, this time it, this time it Backfired)
Oh, Backfired
(This time it, this time it, this time it Backfired)
Oh, Backfired
(This time it, this time it, this time it Backfired)
Backfired on you
You see, you played yourself
Back when you knew I was the only one for you
I'll no longer take your abuse
Oh, baby we are through
It Backfired
(It Backfired baby) x11
It Backfired
(I wanna set you free, I wanna set you free)
Oh baby, babe (I wanna set you free)
I just can't take it no more (I wanna set you free)
It's over now, over now (I wanna set you free)
I don't wanna take no more, no more, from you
(I wanna set you free) Oh baby (I wanna set you free)
No bad news
My love, my tears
I can't cry a river, the well has run dry
(Backfired)
And I don't need to sacrifice
(Backfired)
Anything
(Backfired!)
After been, for you
(Backfired)
(It backfired baby)
Oh baby
(It backfired baby)
And now I say to you
No longer will I cry
No longer will I try
No longer will I sacrifice
And no more lies and alibies
I'll no longer play the fool
Oh baby
It backfired (Oh, oh oh) x 15
It did, it backfired on you (Oh, oh oh)
I claim the victory
Claim the victory
The song Backfired by Masters At Work feat. India is about a woman rejecting the advances of a man who played games with her emotions. She is tired of his abuse and insincere affection and has realized that his plans have backfired since she no longer wants him. The chorus repeats the theme of her no longer accepting his mistreatment and lies. The lyrics suggest that the woman was willing to give the man love and affection, but he never reciprocated genuinely. Instead, he chose to "play himself" and now has to face the consequences of his actions.
The song has a victorious tone, with the singer claiming that she now has the upper hand and has emerged victorious from the situation. The lyrics convey a message of empowerment, encouraging listeners not to tolerate abuse in relationships and stand up for themselves. The repetition of the phrase "It backfired" emphasizes the theme of the man's actions having negative consequences for himself.
Line by Line Meaning
My man, your plans
Your plans as my man backfired.
Backfired when you least expected them to
Your plans as my man failed when you weren't expecting it.
My man, your plans
Your plans as my man backfired.
Backfired now that I'm rejecting you
Your plans as my man have failed because I'm rejecting you.
My love, your kiss
Your kiss as my love.
No longer seems to be to satisfy
Your kiss as my love is no longer satisfying.
My love, my tears
My tears as my love.
I can't cry a river 'cause the well has run dry
I can't cry anymore because I'm all cried out.
(Backfired) I'll no longer play the fool
I'm no longer going to be a fool and let you hurt me.
(Backfired) I'll no longer take your abuse
I won't take your abuse anymore.
(Backfired) You said baby we are through
You said we are through, but I was the one who ended it.
(Backfired) I don't need your bad news
I don't need your bad news or negative energy.
My man, your games
Your games as my man.
Backfired at you when you broke all the rules
Your games as my man backfired because you broke the rules.
You played yourself
You played yourself and now you're paying the price.
That now my love is coming back to you
Now my love is returning to you after you lost it.
Go lie somewhere else
Go away and leave me alone.
I don't ned ya knocking at my door, oh
I don't need you knocking on my door.
Stay by yourself
Stay away from me and be by yourself.
I don't need ya, I can't take no more
I don't need you and I can't take it anymore.
(Backfired) I'll no longer play the fool
I'm no longer going to be a fool and let you hurt me.
(Backfired) I'll no longer take your abuse
I won't take your abuse anymore.
(Backfired) You said baby we are through
You said we are through, but I was the one who ended it.
(Backfired) I don't need your bad news, no no
I don't need your bad news or negative energy.
I could have gave you lovin' just like you wanted
I could have given you love just the way you wanted.
But you'll never do right by me
You will never do the right thing for me.
(Never do right by me)
You never do what's right for me.
Instead you felt the need to hang on and pretend
You felt the need to hold on and pretend that everything was okay.
So now I've gotta set you free
Now I have to let you go and set myself free.
I claim the victory
I claim the victory for myself.
It backfired, yes it did
It backfired on you, just as I planned.
Given you lovin' just like you wanted me to
I gave you love just the way you wanted.
But you'll never do right by me (Never do right by me)
You will never do the right thing for me.
Instead you felt the need to hang on and pretend
You felt the need to hold on and pretend that everything was okay.
So now I've gotta set you free! (Set you free!)
Now I have to let you go and set myself free.
I claim the victory (Backfired)
I claim the victory that comes with your plan backfiring.
(She's got the victory)
I have the victory now.
(Backfired)
Your plan has backfired.
(She's got it, she's got it)
I have got the victory.
(Backfired)
Your plan has backfired.
(She's got the victory)
I have the victory now.
I don't need to, I don't need to cry about it
I don't need to cry about it anymore.
(This time it, this time it, this time it Backfired)
This time your plan backfired.
I'm gonna laugh about it, haha
I'm going to laugh about it instead of crying.
(This time it, this time it, this time it Backfired)
This time your plan backfired.
Oh, Backfired
Your plan backfired on you.
(This time it, this time it, this time it Backfired)
This time your plan backfired.
Backfired on you
Your plan has backfired on you.
You see, you played yourself
You played yourself and now you're paying the price.
Back when you knew I was the only one for you
Back when you knew that I was the only one for you.
(Backfired) I'll no longer take your abuse
I won't take your abuse anymore.
Oh, baby we are through
We are through, baby.
And now I say to you
And now I'm telling you.
No longer will I cry
I won't cry anymore.
No longer will I try
I won't try anymore.
No longer will I sacrifice
I won't sacrifice anymore.
And no more lies and alibies
And no more lies or excuses.
It backfired
Your plan backfired.
I claim the victory
I claim the victory.
Claim the victory
Claim the victory.
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: LINDA CABALLERO, LUIS FERDINAND VEGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dennis DeMille
In my opinion, this is one of the greatest house music songs ever created. Its simply a work of genuis. If you just listen for all the layers, such as the sutble use of the brass section, strings and perfectly placed harmonies (Jocelyn Brown!!!). The Drums are on point and the bass playing on this track is off the scale. That moment when the song breaks down then builds back up with the choir is so uplifting its almost heavenly and that bass riff that take us back into the song is just perfect. I really hope that nobody ever tries to cover this song as it is perfect.
PhysicsParty
You are absolutely correct. They subtletly of the production is it's genius. That bass 6.58 almost slips in and out but my god I love it. The choir is great. If I may be so bold could I recommend two other tracks: Serge Gainsbourg's Cargo Culte and Denis Wilson's River Song. I love a choir me. :)
Sir Ty Lattimore
I love anything with La India. She gives me them vocals!!!!!
graham ruddock
This version is sick!! Haven't heard it in a while had to play it few times having a little shuffle!!🤩🤩
Jimmy Hoffa
Never goes out of style! USA, Europe, Mediterranean 🎛️🎤🎶
DoddyTV
I love anyone who loves this song. Lets have a meeting in greece somewhere and have a party!
Theo Fotakis
DoddyTV you are so right!!!!
longzie1
Count me in!! 😁👍🏻
Minke UK
Akrivos mori!
Greetings from Sweden
Expresso Mixed
I'm with that!!!