Its lyrics are taken from the perspective of a woman who is aware of her boyfriend's infidelity and in turn cheats on him in an effort to appease her need for affection. Lead vocals are performed by TLC member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins.
In the documentary The Last Days of Left Eye, TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes said she was 100% against the release of "Creep" as a single, and threatened to wear black tape over her mouth in the music video. She thought that when a girl finds out that her man is cheating on her, the girl better leave rather than cheat back.
There were three music videos made for this song between June and August 1994, with the third video being released on September 16, 1994. The video features each girl individually in front of a color background wearing silky pajamas, though it was only Chilli who had two different pajamas that were gray and pink, with T-Boz in blue and Left Eye in red. There are other scenes featuring T-Boz singing into a microphone with Omar Lopez, a previous dancer for Janet Jackson, with an open shirt, playing trumpet behind her and flirting with her. There are also black and white shots of them rehearsing dance moves, being silly and hanging out.
The song was nominated for two Grammys at the 1996 Grammy Awards: Best R&B Song (for songwriter Dallas Austin) and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, winning the latter.
Creep
TLC Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Creep) oh ah, oh ah, oh ah yeah
(Creep) oh ah, oh ah, oh ah yeah
(Creep) oh ah, oh ah, oh ah yeah
(Creep) the twenty second of loneliness
And we've been through so many things
(Creep) I love my man with all honesty
But I know he's cheating on me
(Creep) look him in the eyes
But all he tells me is lies to keep me near
I'll never leave him down though I might mess around
It's only 'cause I need some affection, oh
So I creep, yeah
Just creepin' on the down low 'cept nobody is supposed to know
So I creep, yeah, 'cause he doesn't know what I do
And no attention goes to show, oh
So I creep
The twenty third of loneliness
And we don't talk, like we used to do
Now this is pretty strange
But I'm not buggin' 'cause I still feel the same
Yeah, yeah
I keep giving loving 'til the day he pushes me away
Never go a stray
If he knew the things I did, he couldn't handle me
And I choose to keep him protected, oh
So I creep, yeah, just creepin' on the down low
'Cept nobody is supposed to know
So I creep, yeah, 'cause he doesn't know what I do
And no attention goes to show, oh
So I creep (I creep, yeah) yeah,
Just creepin' on the down low
'Cept nobody is supposed to know (but you know, I'm gonna need some attention)
(Yeah, yeah) so I creep, yeah, 'cause he doesn't know what I do
And no attention goes to show
So I creep, oh ah, oh ah, oh ah
So I creep, oh ah, oh ah, oh ah, yeah
So I creep, oh ah, oh ah, oh ah
Baby, oh ah, oh ah, oh ah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
So I creep (I creep around), yeah
Just creepin' on the down low
So I creep (I creep around), yeah
(Because I need attention) 'cause he doesn't know what I do
I don't mess around with my affection
So I creep (oh ah, oh ah, oh ah), yeah
Just creepin' on the down low, yeah (oh ah, oh ah, oh ah)
So I creep (oh ah, oh ah, oh ah), yeah
'Cause he doesn't know what I do (yeah, oh ah, oh ah, oh ah)
So I creep, yeah
Just creepin' on the down low
'Cept nobody is supposed to know
So I creep, yeah
The lyrics of TLC's song "Creep" speaks about the conflicts that arise in relationships when there is a lack of honesty and trust. Throughout the song, the singer describes feeling lonely and neglected in her relationship. Even though she loves her partner, she suspects he is cheating on her, and she feels the need to seek affection elsewhere. The singer is torn between feelings of love and betrayal, and she chooses to keep her actions a secret so as not to lose the love of her life. The repeated line "so I creep" highlights the shame and secrecy attached to her actions, and she continues to justify her behavior by suggesting that she only cheats because she needs attention and validation.
The song speaks to the complexities of human emotions, especially in relationships. It highlights the importance of trust and the consequences of betrayal, as well as the desire to seek emotional gratification outside of a relationship. The repetition of the refrain "oh ah, oh ah, oh ah yeah," suggests a sense of longing and desperation, as the singer struggles to regain the attention and affection of her partner, even as she seeks it outside of their relationship.
Overall, TLC's "Creep" is a powerful and introspective portrayal of the struggles and challenges that come with relationships. The song speaks to the importance of honesty and trust, and the consequences that come with betrayal. It also highlights the complexities of human emotions, and the desire for love and validation that often drives our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
(Creep) oh ah, oh ah, oh ah yeah
Repeating the song title as the chorus
The twenty second of loneliness
Feeling alone and desperate for attention
And we've been through so many things
Enduring hardships together, but still feeling unfulfilled
I love my man with all honesty
Truly caring for her partner, but feeling neglected
But I know he's cheating on me
Realizing that her partner is unfaithful
Look him in the eyes
Confronting her partner about his infidelity
But all he tells me is lies to keep me near
Her partner manipulating her with false promises
I'll never leave him down though I might mess around
She won't leave her partner, but may seek affection elsewhere
It's only 'cause I need some affection, oh
Desperately craving love and attention
So I creep, yeah
Sneaking around behind her partner's back
Just creepin' on the down low 'cept nobody is supposed to know
Trying to keep her actions secret
And no attention goes to show, oh
Her partner doesn't notice her lack of fulfillment
The twenty third of loneliness
Feeling even more isolated and unloved
And we don't talk, like we used to do
Communication has deteriorated in the relationship
Now this is pretty strange
Finding the situation unusual and abnormal
But I'm not buggin' 'cause I still feel the same
Despite the changes, still feeling stuck in the same unsatisfactory relationship
I keep giving loving 'til the day he pushes me away
Continuing to give love and attention, even if it's unreciprocated
Never go a stray
Remaining loyal, even in a stagnant relationship
If he knew the things I did, he couldn't handle me
Her partner wouldn't be able to handle the truth of her actions
And I choose to keep him protected, oh
Not wanting to hurt or upset her partner
Baby, oh ah, oh ah, oh ah, yeah
Using a term of endearment to refer to her partner
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Expressing frustration and dissatisfaction
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dallas Austin, Lisa Lopes, Marcel Hall, Marlon Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SoulKidVids
That's because that was the Golden Age era. The 90s & Early 2000s was the Golden/Silver age. It's no coincidence all the music videos from that era have so much LIFE and COLOR and SOUL in them. Life felt like you were in another Dimension back then like Heaven on Earth. That's when the Realms were touched by the Heavens(God). Now we live in the Dark Age aka Last Days. I know how you feel but let's look at the Bigger picture. We will experience these days again, it's called ETERNAL LIFE. Let's be glad we have YouTube now and we can Time Travel like you said and bring those memories back. While sharing the same experiences with other people who remember the Golden Age days.
We were so spoiled and didn't know what we had, but when these days return we will KNOW what we have and we will be able to Appreciate it even more! You know what I mean? ETERNAL LIFE!
Sometimes I look back like "Where the hell am I?" this world sucks now and is full of fake robotic people who just wanna "Turn Up" and follow society and be lost like everyone else. I would of NEVER thought I would see the world like it is today back then. It's almost like the 90s was a Dream and I woke up and now I'm living in this damn Night Mare. It's like it was TOO GOOD to be TRUE. The 90s had so many Real and Special people around now you can't even find one, crazy!
It seemed like the Sun always shined those days. Life had a better VIBE to it, the air seemed PURE and FRESH. People knew how to LIVE back then. Friends and Family came together. Kids always played outside, the Economy was Good. Relationships were Real. No one hung out on Social Network sites. People were more Down to Earth back then. And it had nothing to do with being a kid either, we just happened to be kids during this Blessed millennium whether we were kids, teenagers, adults we would STILL miss the Golden/Silver age era.
We are in the Dark Age aka Last Days now. This illuminati Devil Reign era might seem like it's never gonna end, but it is. Every Beginning has an Ending. Remember, ETERNAL LIFE. When we get there it's gonna be WORTH IT!
By the way, I'm a 90s baby. I don't think being a 80s baby or 90s baby determines how well you can explain to Today's Generation how positively different times were back then. I mean if you look at my YouTube/Google+ page you can CLEARLY see that lol. It all comes down to who you ARE as a PERSON and what you REMEMBER. One things for sure, these days are definitely missed. But like I said, it's all good you know why? ETERNAL LIFE!
@bradstarzz2921
Sometimes I wish the 1990s lasted forever & never went out of style
@tamarebrown5321
Brad McNaughton same but we gon bring it back
@ThatLeoKidd
Tamare Brown itll come back im a rapper ill do my best to bring back the 90s music with a 2017 generation style thts my goal...music is gettin out of control nowadays and folks worldwide needa know what real music is
@Eblim
Carly Rae Jepsen's song 'Call Me Maybe' is the closest modern song I can think of that's 90's-styled. Probably why that song was so popular. 90's so goodz tho
@genesysobey4170
love this songs
@shawnmeade
Word!
@mergingbutterfly
I'm honestly thinking to buy some silk pajamas just to dance to this song more properly
@theoldschooldiva374
YEEESSS 😂😂👏🏿
@jeanvuvu6900
👏👏👍
@-t8909
Also get a fan and 3X size.