Capitol Records issued the track as a free digital promotional single for the album. The song was registered onto Ferreira's BMI on July 12, 2013.
Boys
Sky Ferreira Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Boys, they're a dime a dozen
Boys, they ain't doin' nothin'
For me any longer
Might be getting stronger
Boys, a lot of women love you
But boys, they just make me mad
Ain't gonna make me sad
Then I saw one lookin'
At me from afar
Then I knew it was you all along (I knew it was you, I knew it)
I knew it was you all along (I knew it was you, I knew it)
Suddenly, I knew there was love (I knew it was love, I knew it)
Then I knew it was you all along
You put my faith back in boys
Back in
Boys, I always see you smilin'
Boys, you never take the blame
All the rotten things that you do
Always getting in my way
Then I saw one looking
At me from afar
Then I knew it was you all along (I knew it was you, I knew it)
I knew it was you all along (I knew it was you, I knew it)
Suddenly, I knew there was love (I knew it was love, I knew it)
Then I knew it was you all along (I knew it was you, I knew it)
You put my faith back in boys
Back in
Cross my heart and hope to die
Stick a needle in my eye
Cross my heart and hope to die
Stick a needle in my eye
I cross my heart and hope to die
Stick a needle in my eye
Then I knew it was you all along
I knew it was you all along
Suddenly, I knew there was love (I knew it was love, I knew it)
(I knew it was you, I knew it)
(I knew it was you, I knew it)
You put my faith back in boys
(I knew it was you, I knew it) back in
(I knew it was you, I knew it) back in boys
(I knew it was you, I knew it) back in
(I knew it was love, I knew it) back in boys
(I knew it was love, I knew it) back in
(I knew it was you, I knew it)
(I knew it was you, I knew it)
You put my faith back in boys
(I knew it was you, I knew it) back in
(I knew it was you, I knew it) back in boys
(I knew it was you, I knew it) back in
(I knew it was love, I knew it) back in boys
(I knew it was love, I knew it) back in boys
The song "Boys" by Sky Ferreira is a heartfelt commentary on the subtle ways in which love can surprise us. The opening lines express the singer's feeling towards boys, suggesting that they are a dime a dozen and that they are not doing much for her any longer. She notes that although many women love boys, they only make her mad because of the "rotten things" they do. However, the tone changes when she meets someone looking at her from afar. It is at this moment she realizes that despite her misgivings, she is in love. The chorus is a repetition of this realization.
The singer acknowledges that the person who caught her eye is responsible for restoring her faith in boys. This sentiment is emphasized by the repeated line, "You put my faith back in boys." The bridge of the song is cryptic yet memorable: "Cross my heart and hope to die / Stick a needle in my eye." The singer is willing to make a dramatic, dangerous promise that she is sure of her love, and it will not fade away. The final chorus echoes the previous one, with the addition of "I knew it was love, I knew it."
Overall, "Boys" is a poignant song about the surprise of falling in love after a period of disillusionment with the opposite sex. It shows how love can come out of left field and change one's life with a single look.
Line by Line Meaning
Boys, they're a dime a dozen
Boys are ubiquitous and easy to find.
Boys, they ain't doin' nothin' For me any longer
Boys aren't fulfilling anymore.
Might be getting stronger
Despite the lack of fulfillment, the singer is growing stronger.
Boys, a lot of women love you
Many women are attracted to boys.
But boys, they just make me mad
The artist's personal experience with boys causes anger.
All the little things that you do
The small actions of boys.
Ain't gonna make me sad
These actions don't affect the singer emotionally.
Then I saw one lookin' At me from afar
The artist catches a glimpse of a boy staring at her from a distance.
Then I knew it was you all along (I knew it was you, I knew it)
The artist realizes that the boy she saw is someone she already knows.
Suddenly, I knew there was love (I knew it was love, I knew it)
The realization of who the boy is leads to feelings of love.
You put my faith back in boys
The boy in question restores the singer's faith in the male gender.
Boys, I always see you smilin'
Boys have a tendency to smile often.
Boys, you never take the blame
Boys have a pattern of avoiding taking responsibility.
All the rotten things that you do
The negative actions of boys.
Always getting in my way
These negative actions impede the singer's life.
Cross my heart and hope to die, Stick a needle in my eye
An affirmation of the artist's commitment to the truth.
You put my faith back in boys
Reiterated from earlier in the song, the boy the artist has seen restores her faith in boys.
(I knew it was you, I knew it)
An affirmation of the singer's recognition of the boy staring at her.
You put my faith back in boys (back in)
The boy's presence restores the singer's trust in boys.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Sky Ferreira, Justin Louis Raisen, Ariel Zvi Rechtshaid
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind