Man Undercover
Timbland And Magoo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say what
You look good
(say it two times)
You look good good
(say it three times)
You look good good good
(say it four times)
[Aaliyah]
I, I, like the way, way, you get down, down
(that's the way I like it)
You're the kinda guy
That makes mom feel proud
Don't have to show you're the boy, oh
I, I, like you the way that you are
[Chorus:]
I like my man undercover
Smooth dark brotha
Fly to the bone
You don't need no fly jeep
To come and scoop me
You can drive what you own
(that's the way I like it)
A man undercover
Smooth black brotha
Fly to the bone
Don't need no Gucci sweater
To make you look better
You can wear what you own
[Aaliyah]
I, I, love, love the way that you smile, smile
You, you the type of guy
That got his own style
All I want to do is be with you
You, you got me feelin'
The way that I do
[Chorus:]
Bridge:
[Aaliyah] and (Missy)
Say what
You look good
(say it two times)
You look good good
(say it three times)
You look good good good
(say it four times)
Oh oh oh oh good
[Timbaland]
We be freakin' up in my jeep (my jeep)
Listenin' to this phat LP (LP)
Lets cruise around the town (the town)
I'm diggin' you are you diggin' me
Lets hop on my holiday (holiday)
That costs about 20K (20K)
What it takes me to persuade (persuade)
Turn ten night in to day (to day)
I never seen a girl (a girl)
Who hypnotize like you (like you)
Who walk just like you (like you)
Who talk just like you (like you)
I want to be your lover (your lover)
That ill type brotha (brotha)
Baby girl baby girl (baby girl)
We can keep it undercover
[Chorus]
The song "Man Undercover" by Timbaland and Magoo featuring Aaliyah and Missy Elliot talks about valuing people for who they are rather than for what they have or how they appear. Aaliyah sings the first verses and chorus, expressing her admiration for a guy who is confident, genuine and comfortable in his skin, with or without flashy clothes, cars or house. She says that he doesn't need to prove himself to anyone, especially not to impress her. He's the kind of man that makes her mom proud, and that she wants to be around always. She then repeats the bridge with Missy Elliot before handing over to Timbaland for the last verse. Timbaland takes on a more playful and boastful tone, rapping about his jeep, the LP and the holiday that he and the girl will be on. He says he has never seen anyone like her, and wants to be her lover and keep things low key.
The song's message is about rejecting superficiality and looking beyond the surface to find genuine human connections. It suggests that it's possible to find attractive qualities in someone who may not fit the stereotypical mold of what a partner should look or act like fully. The song has a laid-back, upbeat groove with a mix of hip-hop and R&B elements, typical of Timbaland's production style from the 90s and 2000s.
Line by Line Meaning
[Aaliyah] and & (Missy)
Aaliyah and Missy are speaking
Say what
What did you say?
You look good
You appear attractive
(say it two times)
Repeat yourself
You look good good
You appear very attractive
(say it three times)
Repeat yourself three times
You look good good good
You appear extremely attractive
(say it four times)
Repeat yourself four times
Oh oh oh oh good
Expressing a positive feeling
[Aaliyah]
Aaliyah is speaking
I, I, like the way, way, you get down, down
I like the way you move
(that's the way I like it)
I find it pleasing
You're the kinda guy
You have the qualities
That makes mom feel proud
You are respectable
Don't have to show you're the boy, oh
You don't need to prove yourself
I, I, like you the way that you are
I accept you as you are
[Chorus:]
Chorus begins
I like my man undercover
I prefer a discreet partner
Smooth dark brotha
Confident and cool black man
Fly to the bone
Very stylish
You don't need no fly jeep
You don't need an expensive car
To come and scoop me
To pick me up
You can drive what you own
Drive what you have
(that's the way I like it)
I prefer it that way
A man undercover
A discreet man
Smooth black brotha
Confident and cool black man
Don't need no Gucci sweater
You don't need expensive clothing
To make you look better
To improve your appearance
You can wear what you own
Wear what you have
[Aaliyah]
Aaliyah is speaking
I, I, love, love the way that you smile, smile
I love your smile
You, you the type of guy
You are the kind of man
That got his own style
You have your unique fashion sense
All I want to do is be with you
I want to spend time with you
You, you got me feelin'
You make me feel
The way that I do
Intense emotions
[Chorus:]
Chorus begins
[Bridge:]
Bridge begins
[Aaliyah] and (Missy)
Aaliyah and Missy are speaking
Say what
What did you say?
You look good
You appear attractive
(say it two times)
Repeat yourself
You look good good
You appear very attractive
(say it three times)
Repeat yourself three times
You look good good good
You appear extremely attractive
(say it four times)
Repeat yourself four times
Oh oh oh oh good
Expressing a positive feeling
[Timbaland]
Timbaland is speaking
We be freakin' up in my jeep (my jeep)
We are having fun in my car
Listenin' to this phat LP (LP)
Listening to this cool record
Lets cruise around the town (the town)
Let's drive around the city
I'm diggin' you are you diggin' me
I like you, do you like me?
Lets hop on my holiday (holiday)
Let's go on a vacation
That costs about 20K (20K)
It costs about $20,000
What it takes me to persuade (persuade)
What I need to convince you
Turn ten night into day (to day)
Have fun all day and night
I never seen a girl (a girl)
I have never seen a woman
Who hypnotize like you (like you)
Who captivates me like you
Who walk just like you (like you)
Who has your walk
Who talk just like you (like you)
Who speaks like you
I want to be your lover (your lover)
I want to be your partner
That ill type brotha (brotha)
Confident black man
Baby girl baby girl (baby girl)
Addressing the woman
We can keep it undercover
We can be discreet
[Chorus]
Chorus begins
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MELVIN BARCLIFF, MELISSA N ELLIOTT, TIMOTHY N MOSLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@UnreleasedUnderratedRnBgrooves
Always craved for more Missy/Aaliyah collabos. This one is a daily bop. It’s so smooth.
@MrMartellSincere
Certainly an classic. Rest in peace to an legend, Aaliyah 😭
@nigelsemple1696
Aaliyah's voice on this track is just angelic 😍😍😍
@natefrmbklyn
I really wish AALIYAH, MAGOO and STATIC had all lived to see a "BASSMENT REUNION" of all them gifted artists initially discovered by DeVANTE and cultivated and watered by young MISSY and TIMBO P.S.-RIP MAGOO!
@TonyTurner
This honestly could've been on her One In A Million album.
@UnreleasedUnderratedRnBgrooves
It should have. I don't have anything against "Heartbroken" or the original version of "Got to Give It Up", but this and possibly "Death of a Playa" would have done wonders if chosen in their place.
@TonyTurner
@Unreleased/Underrated R&B Grooves Definitely could have replaced Got To Give It Up!!! Lol
@cuquee12
@Unreleased/Underrated R&B Grooves Totally agree!
@enphynitisymone
I was just thinking this could’ve been on a deluxe version of the album.
@samcook6603
Yes agreed💯