In 1990 Usher joined an R&B local quintet called the NuBeginnings, which was organized by local music svengali, Darryl Wheeler and then he decided to pursue a career in music. Aside from recording, Usher has ventured into business. He has established his own record label, US Records, and is a part owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise. He has also dabbled in acting, with a recurring role on the teen sitcom Moesha, and roles in the films The Faculty (1998, with Josh Harnett) She's All That (1999, with Freddie Prinze, Jr.) and Texas Rangers (2001, with Ashton Kutcher).
Trading Places
Usher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We gon' do something different tonight
Oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Now we gonna do this thing a lil' different tonight
You gon' come over and pick me up in your ride
Ooh, you gon' take me on a date
You gonna open my door and I'ma reach over and open yours
Gon' pay for dinner take me to see a movie
And whisper in my ear how bad you really wanna do me
Girl, now take me home and get up in my pants
Pour me up a shot and force me to the bed
I'm always on the top, tonight I'm on the bottom
'Cause we trading places
When I can't take no more, tell me you ain't stopping
'Cause we trading places
Now put it on me, baby, 'til I say, "Ooh-wee"
And tell me to shut up before the neighbors hear me
This is how it feels when you do it like me
We're trading places
Gon' get it, get it get it, get it get it
Gon' get it, get it get it, get it get it
Gon' get it, get it get it, get it get it
We're trading places
I plan on waking you up to a cup of Folgers
Pancakes and eggs, I owe ya breakfast in bed, oh baby
And your orange juice sitting on a coaster
Toast on the side, baby, strawberry and grape jelly
You finished? Let me get that tray
Pull the curtain from the window
Time to get up, baby, let me make this bed up, baby
Today we going shopping, blowin' thirty on me
Make it sixty, spend it like you really love me
Skip dinner and we gon' rent a movie
You order Chinese food right before you do me
You coming on strong, baby, let me wash me hands
She said, "Hurry up then get your to bed"
You get on top, tonight I'm on the bottom
'Cause we trading places
When I can't take no more, tell me you ain't stopping
'Cause we trading places
Now put it on me, baby, 'til I say, "Ooh-wee"
And tell me to shut up before the neighbors hear me
This is how it feels when you do it like me
We're trading places
Gon' get it, get it get it, get it get it (get it, get it, get it)
Gon' get it, get it get it, get it get it
Gon' get it, get it get it, get it get it
We trading places (yeah)
Wash the car (yeah)
I'm gonna walk the dog (yeah)
Take out the trash (yeah)
With nothing but your t-shirt on (ooh, yeah)
I'm gonna press your shirt (yeah)
I'm gonna wrinkle mines up (yeah)
In the kitchen goin' crazy we don't give a, what (yeah)
Where you want me?
Ooh-oh, oh, oh, baby
Give it to me baby, baby
Oh, oh, oh, ooh, baby
Baby, yeah, ooh
Oh, oh, oh
Ohh
Oh, ooh, oh
You get on top, tonight I'm on the bottom
'Cause we trading places
And when I can't take no more, you say you ain't stopping
'Cause we trading places
Now we gon' do this thing a lil' different tonight
Trading places
Stay tuned for part two
You've been me, I-I've been you
But we gon' switch this thing back
I'ma put it on your (on your)
In Usher's song Trading Places, he proposes the idea of switching roles in a relationship. He suggests that the woman should take charge and be the one to pick him up, take him on a date, and pay for dinner. He then takes it a step further and proposes that they switch positions in the bedroom as well. The lyrics suggest that Usher is open to being submissive and having the woman take control during sex. The chorus emphasizes the idea of "trading places," indicating a switching of roles and a new level of intimacy in the relationship.
The song Trading Places was released on Usher's sixth studio album, Here I Stand, in 2008. It was produced by Rodney Jerkins and written by Usher, The-Dream, Carlos McKinney, and Rodney Jerkins. The song was released as the third single from the album and received positive reviews from critics. It reached number four on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, I know what you used to
I am aware of your usual habits and ways of trying to seduce me
We gon' do something different tonight
We are going to change things up tonight
Now we gonna do this thing a lil' different tonight
We are going to do things differently tonight
You gon' come over and pick me up in your ride
You will come over to my place and drive us to our destination
You gon' knock then you gon' wait
You will knock on my door and wait for me to come out
Ooh, you gon' take me on a date
You are going to take me out on a date
You gonna open my door and I'ma reach over and open yours
You will open the door for me and I will open it for you
Gon' pay for dinner take me to see a movie
You are going to pay for dinner and take me to see a movie
And whisper in my ear how bad you really wanna do me
You will whisper in my ear how much you desire me
Girl, now take me home and get up in my pants
Now take me home and let's get intimate
Pour me up a shot and force me to the bed
Pour me a drink and take me to bed with force
I'm always on the top, tonight I'm on the bottom
I'm usually on top during intercourse, but tonight I want to switch it up
'Cause we trading places
We are exchanging roles for one night
When I can't take no more, tell me you ain't stopping
If it becomes too much for me, promise not to stop
Now put it on me, baby, 'til I say, "Ooh-wee"
Now take control and pleasure me until I'm satisfied
And tell me to shut up before the neighbors hear me
Tell me to be quiet so that the neighbors won't hear us
This is how it feels when you do it like me
This is what it's like when I'm in charge
Gon' get it, get it get it, get it get it
Keep going, keep going
I plan on waking you up to a cup of Folgers
I plan on making you coffee in the morning
Pancakes and eggs, I owe ya breakfast in bed, oh baby
I owe you breakfast in bed, and I plan on making you pancakes and eggs
And your orange juice sitting on a coaster
Your orange juice will be sitting on a coaster
Toast on the side, baby, strawberry and grape jelly
Toast will be on the side with strawberry and grape jelly
You finished? Let me get that tray
Are you finished eating? Let me take your tray
Pull the curtain from the window
Let me open the curtains
Time to get up, baby, let me make this bed up, baby
Time to get up, let me make the bed
Today we going shopping, blowin' thirty on me
We are going shopping and you will spend thirty dollars on me
Make it sixty, spend it like you really love me
Actually, make it sixty dollars and spend it like you truly love me
Skip dinner and we gon' rent a movie
We can skip dinner and rent a movie instead
You order Chinese food right before you do me
You will order Chinese food for delivery before we get intimate
You coming on strong, baby, let me wash me hands
You are being very forceful with me, let me go wash my hands
She said, "Hurry up then get your to bed"
You better hurry up and get to bed
You get on top, tonight I'm on the bottom
You will be on top tonight while I am on the bottom
'Cause we trading places
We are still trading roles
And when I can't take no more, you say you ain't stopping
If I can't take it anymore, you promise not to stop
Now put it on me, baby, 'til I say, "Ooh-wee"
Take control and pleasure me until I'm satisfied
And tell me to shut up before the neighbors hear me
Tell me to be quiet so that the neighbors won't hear us
This is how it feels when you do it like me
This is what it's like when I'm in charge
Gon' get it, get it get it, get it get it (get it, get it, get it)
Keep going, keep going (repeat)
Wash the car (yeah)
Let's wash the car
I'm gonna walk the dog (yeah)
I'll take the dog for a walk
Take out the trash (yeah)
Take out the garbage
With nothing but your t-shirt on (ooh, yeah)
Just wear your t-shirt
I'm gonna press your shirt (yeah)
I'll iron your shirt
I'm gonna wrinkle mines up (yeah)
I'll purposely wrinkle mine up
In the kitchen goin' crazy we don't give a, what (yeah)
We're going wild in the kitchen and we don't care
Where you want me?
What do you want me to do?
Ooh oh, oh, oh, baby
Oh, baby
Give it to me baby, baby, ay
Give it to me, baby
Oh, oh, oh, ooh, baby
Oh, baby
Baby, yeah, ooh
Yes, baby
Ow, ow, ow
Ow, ow, ow (vocalization)
Ohh
Ohh (vocalization)
Oh, ooh, oh
Ohh (vocalization)
You get on top tonight I'm on the bottom
You will be on top tonight while I am on the bottom
'Cause we trading places
We are trading roles
And when I can't take no more, you say you ain't stopping
If I can't take it anymore, you promise not to stop
Now put it on me, baby, 'til I say, "Ooh-wee"
Take control and pleasure me until I'm satisfied
And tell me to shut up before the neighbors hear me
Tell me to be quiet so that the neighbors won't hear us
This is how it feels when you do it like me
This is what it's like when I'm in charge
We're trading places
We are trading roles
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Christopher A. Stewart, Carlos Alexander McKinney, Terius Youngdell Nash, Usher Raymond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ThePrettypoison88
This man has been CONSISTENTLY making GREAT music since the 90's and ppl are STILL sleep on his talent!!! Hell, I sometimes forget how much of his music I love...forever an Usher fan!!
@dolledupmeka
Pretty Poison 💯💯💯
@moniquewilliams2952
Agree I am a very very big fan of usher lol that's my boo
@creamekay
Yesss preach
@alexusgipson5458
Lmao nobody sleep on him
@CommentFanatic
This dude like the only rnb artist with a diamond album what you mean sleep lol
@Oscar.Blake1
Still a hit even after all these years
@toreytownsend4705
True!!! #GoodDay
@rosk.wilburn5847
Yuppp
@mulhatabdillahi4253
Factssss