Can't Go For That
Tamia Lyrics


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Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
(Yo, yo, yo uh)

Why you got an attitude?
(Uh-huh, yo)
Why you acting all foolish?
(Uh-huh, yo)
When you see me out in the street boy
(Ugh)
You want to embarrass me, call me names
Slap my face until
Until you see my friends come, ooh
Then you want to try to console me, oh
(Uh-huh, yo, yo)
But they already know boy
(They already know boy)
Cause for the last week I've been in the house
And I've cried and cried

[1 - ][Missy]
I can't go for that, no, no, no can do
I can't go for that, no, no, no can do
I can't go for that, no, no, no can do
I can't go for that, can't go for that
Can't go for that

Now you bring me flowers
(Uh, what?)
You say you got it together
(Uh, yo)
Soon as I let my guard down
(Ugh)
Oh there you go again
In my grill till I call the cops then
Then you want to chill out and say
(Ooh, say what?)
I'm the one who's buggin'
(Oh
But, no, no it's you, you see
(No, no, it's you, you see)
Every time I go out
You come grabbin' all over me

[Repeat 1]
[2 -] Why you trippin?
Get your hands off me
Why you illin?
I'm supposed to be your nubian queen

[Repeat 2]




I'm supposed to be your nubian queen, oh
Repeat 1 till end

Overall Meaning

In Tamia's song "Can't Go For That," she addresses a partner who is showing inconsistent behavior. She questions why they have an attitude and act foolish when they see her in public. The partner embarrasses her and calls her names, but when her friends come around, they try to console her. Tamia sees through this facade and mentions that she has been crying for a week in her house, making it evident that the partner's behavior has been going on for some time. Missy Elliott provides the chorus, where she says that she "can't go for that" behavior, implying that the partner's behavior is unacceptable.


Tamia calls out her partner for their behavior, questioning why they are grabbing her all over her every time she goes out. When the partner brings her flowers and tries to put up the facade that everything is okay, she has had enough of the inconsistent behavior. Tamia calls the police when the partner crosses the line again, and the partner then tries to turn the tables around, claiming that Tamia is the one who is "buggin'" and "illuminating." Tamia reasserts her power as a "nubian queen" and asserts that she "can't go for that" behavior. Missy Elliott's chorus repeats again until the end of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Why you got an attitude?
Why are you behaving rudely?


Why you acting all foolish?
Why are you acting foolishly?


When you see me out in the street boy
When you see me outside


You want to embarrass me, call me names
You want to shame me by calling me names


Slap my face until
Hit me on my face until


Until you see my friends come, ooh
Until my friends arrive and you stop your behavior


Then you want to try to console me, oh
Then you try to comfort me


But they already know boy
They already know how you behave


(They already know boy)
They already know how you behave


Cause for the last week I've been in the house
I’ve been at home for the last week


And I've cried and cried
And I’ve been continuously crying


I can't go for that, no, no, no can do
I can't tolerate this behavior, absolutely not


Now you bring me flowers
Now you bring me flowers


You say you got it together
You claim you have everything under control


Soon as I let my guard down
As soon as I lower my defenses


Oh, there you go again
Then, you start behaving the same way again


In my grill till I call the cops then
Getting in my face until I call the police


Then you want to chill out and say
Then, you want to relax and tell me


(Ooh, say what?)
(Oh, really?)


I'm the one who's buggin'
I’m the one who is overreacting


(Oh)


But, no, no, it's you, you see
But, it’s you, you see


(No, no, it's you, you see)


Every time I go out
Whenever I go out


You come grabbin' all over me
You come and grab me everywhere


Why you trippin?
Why are you freaking out?


Get your hands off me
Remove your hands from me


Why you illin?
Why are you behaving badly?


I'm supposed to be your nubian queen
I'm supposed to be your beloved partner, your queen of Nubia


I'm supposed to be your nubian queen, oh
I'm supposed to be your beloved partner, your queen of Nubia


I can't go for that, can't go for that
I cannot endure this behavior, not at all




Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DARYL HALL, JOHN OATES, MISSY ELLIOTT, SARA ALLEN, HARRELL ROOSEVELT, BRYCYN JAMARI MALYKKE EVANS, NATHANIEL HALE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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