The single spent ten consecutive weeks at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States behind Eminem's huge hit "Lose Yourself" (about this Elliott confessed: "I just wanted to die those ten weeks, I mean, it wasn't cool"), and reached number one for five weeks on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song is tied with Foreigner's 1981 hit "Waiting for a Girl Like You" as the longest-running U.S. number-two single that did not reach number one. "Work It"'s music video was directed by Dave Meyers. A remix of this song features 50 Cent. The end of the song samples "Peter Piper" by Run-DMC, and the synth pattern in the rhythm track samples the intro to "Heart of Glass" by Blondie.
Work It
Missy Elliott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm on the request line
This is a Missy Elliott one-time exclusive (Come on)
Is it worth it, let me work it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
If you got a big, let me search it
And find out how hard I gotta work ya
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
I'd like to get to know ya so I could show ya
Put the pussy on ya like I told ya
Gimme all your numbers so I could phone ya
Your girl actin' stank then call me over
Not on the bed, lay me on your sofa
Phone before you come, I need to shave my chocha
You do or you don't or you will or won't ya
Go downtown and eat it like a vulture
See my hips and my tips, don't ya
See my ass and my lips, don't ya
Lost a few pounds and my whips for ya
This the kinda beat that go ra-ta-ta
Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta
Sex me so good I say blah-blah-blah
Work it, I need a glass of water
Boy, oh, boy, it's good to know ya
Is it worth it, let me work it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
If you got a big, let me search it
And find out how hard I gotta work ya
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
(Come on)
If you a fly gal get your nails done
Get a pedicure, get your hair did
Boy, lift it up, let's make a toast-a
Let's get drunk, that's gon' bring us closer
Don't I look like a Halle Berry poster
See the Belvedere playin' tricks on ya
Girlfriend want to be like me, never
You won't find a bitch that's even better
I make you hot as Las Vegas weather
Listen up close while I take it backwards
I'm not a prostitute, but I could give you what you want
I love your braids and your mouth full of floss
Love the way my ass go bum-bum-bum-bum
Keep your eyes on my bum-bum-bum-bum-bum
And think you can handle this gadong-a-dong-dong
Take my thong off and my ass go vroom
Cut the lights off so you see what I could do
Is it worth it, let me work it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
If you got a big, let me search it
And find out how hard I gotta work ya
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
(Come on)
Boys, boys, all type of boys
Black, white, Puerto Rican, Chinese boys
Why-thai,-thai-o-toy-o-thai-thai
Rock-thai,-thai-o-toy-o-thai-thai
Girls, girls, get that cash
If it's 9 to 5 or shakin' your ass
Ain't no shame, ladies do your thang
Just make sure you ahead of the game
Just 'cause I got a lot of fame supa
Prince couldn't get me change my name papa
Kunta Kinte a slave again, no sir
Picture black sayin', "Oh, yes a master"
Picture Lil' Kim dating a pastor
Minnie Me and Big Ren can out last ya
Who is the best, I don't have to ask ya
When I come out you won't even matter
Why you act dumb like "Uh, duh"
So you act dumb like "Uh, duh"
As the drummer boy go ba-rom-pop-pom-pom
Give you some-some-some of this Cinnabun
Is it worth it, let me work it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
If you got a big, let me search it
And find out how hard I gotta work ya
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
(Come on)
To my fellas
I like the way you work that
To my ladies
You sure know how to work that
Missy Elliott's Work It is a sexually charged song that encourages women to be confident in their sexuality and to use it to their advantage, while also celebrating men who are good in bed. The opening lyrics, "DJ please pick up your phone, I'm on the request line" set the tone for the song, which goes on to explore themes of pleasure, desire, and sexual agency. The chorus, "Is it worth it, let me work it, I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it" is a clever flip of words that challenges gender norms and expectations, and reinforces the idea that women can be in control in the bedroom.
Missy Elliott's verses are full of clever wordplay, sexual innuendo, and pop culture references. She raps about putting her "pussy" on a man and asking for his phone number so she can call him later. She also references Halle Berry, Las Vegas, and Kunta Kinte from the book and TV series "Roots". Her flow is smooth and confident, and her lyrics are delivered with a sense of playful irreverence that makes the song fun and empowering. The song's production features a sparse, bass-heavy beat that makes the lyrics stand out and adds to the song's overall energy and vibe.
Overall, Work It is a classic example of Missy Elliott's unique style and her ability to combine humor, sexuality, and wit in her lyrics. It is a song that celebrates the power and agency of women while also recognizing and appreciating the sexual prowess of men.
Line by Line Meaning
DJ, please pick up your phone
Requesting the DJ to answer the phone
I'm on the request line
Announcing that she is on the request line
This is a Missy Elliott one-time exclusive (Come on)
Introducing herself and the track as a one-time exclusive
Is it worth it, let me work it
Asking if it's worth it and implying that she's going to make it worth it
I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it
Referring to her sexual prowess and how she can do things differently
Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I
Spelling the phrase 'I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it' backwards
If you got a big, let me search it
Asking for a well-endowed partner to please come forward
And find out how hard I gotta work ya
Determined to go to any lengths to please her partner
I'd like to get to know ya so I could show ya
Interested in really getting to know her partner and impressing them
Put the pussy on ya like I told ya
Referring to giving her partner a good time sexually
Gimme all your numbers so I could phone ya
Asking for her partner's phone numbers so she could contact them
Your girl actin' stank then call me over
If your girlfriend is acting difficult, call her to sort things out
Not on the bed, lay me on your sofa
Preferring to be intimate somewhere other than the bed
Phone before you come, I need to shave my chocha
Asking her partner to call her before coming over and then revealing the reason
You do or you don't or you will or won't ya
Asking her partner for clarity on their intentions
Go downtown and eat it like a vulture
Encouraging her partner to perform oral sex on her
See my hips and my tips, don't ya
Proud of her curves and body
See my ass and my lips, don't ya
Proud of her body and sexuality
Lost a few pounds and my whips for ya
Suggesting that she lost weight to please her partner
This the kinda beat that go ra-ta-ta
Referring to the beat of the music
Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta
Repeating the rhythm of the beat
Sex me so good I say blah-blah-blah
Enjoying the pleasure given by her partner to the point of being speechless
Work it, I need a glass of water
Asking for a break after the physical activity
Boy, oh, boy, it's good to know ya
Enjoying the company of her partner
(Come on)
Encouraging the audience to join her and enjoy the music
If you a fly gal get your nails done
Giving beauty advice to the ladies
Get a pedicure, get your hair did
Encouraging ladies to take care of themselves
Boy, lift it up, let's make a toast-a
Inviting her partner to lift something up and celebrate
Let's get drunk, that's gon' bring us closer
Suggesting that getting drunk will help bring them closer together
Don't I look like a Halle Berry poster
Confident in her beauty and appeal
See the Belvedere playin' tricks on ya
Referring to the effects of alcohol
Girlfriend want to be like me, never
Confident in her own uniqueness that others seek to emulate
You won't find a bitch that's even better
Vouching for herself as the best option
I make you hot as Las Vegas weather
Confident in her ability to turn on her partner
Listen up close while I take it backwards
Asking her partner to listen carefully to her directions
I'm not a prostitute, but I could give you what you want
Asserting that she is not a prostitute but still has the ability to please her partner
I love your braids and your mouth full of floss
Appreciating her partner's appearance and hygiene
Love the way my ass go bum-bum-bum-bum
Proud of her curvy figure
Keep your eyes on my bum-bum-bum-bum-bum
Encouraging her partner to admire her body
And think you can handle this gadong-a-dong-dong
Asking her partner if they are up for the challenge
Take my thong off and my ass go vroom
Implying that the removal of her thong makes her more attractive or powerful
Cut the lights off so you see what I could do
Asking to turn off the lights to showcase her talents
Boys, boys, all type of boys
Addressing boys of all types
Black, white, Puerto Rican, Chinese boys
Referencing boys of different races and cultural backgrounds
Why-thai,-thai-o-toy-o-thai-thai
Chanting nonsensical sounds for rhythm purposes
Rock-thai,-thai-o-toy-o-thai-thai
Chanting nonsensical sounds for rhythm purposes
Girls, girls, get that cash
Encouraging girls to earn money
If it's 9 to 5 or shakin' your ass
Regardless of one's job, financial gain is important
Ain't no shame, ladies do your thang
Urging women to be confident and do what they want
Just make sure you ahead of the game
Emphasizing the importance of being ahead of the competition
Just 'cause I got a lot of fame supa
Acknowledging her level of fame
Prince couldn't get me change my name papa
Asserting that she refuses to change her identity, even if Prince himself asked
Kunta Kinte a slave again, no sir
Referencing the character from Roots and the oppression that slaves faced
Picture black sayin', "Oh, yes a master"
Illustrating how slaves had to talk to their oppressors to avoid punishment
Picture Lil' Kim dating a pastor
Imagining a scenario where Lil' Kim, a rapper known for her explicit content, dates a religious figure
Minnie Me and Big Ren can out last ya
Suggesting her and her partner can outlast others
Who is the best, I don't have to ask ya
Confident in her own abilities and skills
When I come out you won't even matter
Asserting her dominance over the competition
Why you act dumb like "Uh, duh"
Questioning why her partner would act unintelligent
So you act dumb like "Uh, duh"
Repeating the same question to emphasize her point
As the drummer boy go ba-rom-pop-pom-pom
Referring to the beat of the music with onomatopoeia
Give you some-some-some of this Cinnabun
Implying that she will give her partner a taste of her 'goods'
To my fellas
Addressing the male audience members
I like the way you work that
Complimenting the men's actions
To my ladies
Addressing the female audience members
You sure know how to work that
Complimenting the women's actions
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Paul Simon, Darryl Matthews McDaniels, Joseph Ward Simmons, Melissa A. Elliott, Deborah Harry, Christopher Stein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ericlewis9078
There's no female rapper like missy. She's one of a kind.
@MkeKen67
There's no any kind of ra
@sarahaziz2011
Lil Kim smashes it though!
@itsAurora-zq8cb
She is ,love her
@ryanappleton3653
This was my introduction to Missy Elliot. Now be the fly gal you are get ya nails done get a pedicure and get ya hair did. Oh wait, stupid pandemic.
@chi-ut4sw
Tierra Whack is the younger version of Missy!!! U might disagree at first but if you listen to her then u will 4sure disagree
@linux_master_race
Missy was my neighbor for a number of years. Anytime we ran into her she was always super nice and everyone in town loved her.
@haych.594
REALLY
@daerk420666
@@haych.594 why would he lie?
@katherinewilson1853
She seems cool.