Isn't this song about a guy getting in touch with his feminine side after a quarrel with his woman? I mean it's an interesting stance for a guy to take, to me it's a song about empathy and love, a man questioning and evaluating how things are going between him and his girlfriend. Or how do u people interpret these lyrics?

Does it make any sense?


"Look at the bargains over here, ladies..."

If I was your girlfriend
Would U remember 2 tell me all the things U forgot
When I was your man?
Hey, when I was your man
If I was your best friend
Would U let me take care of U and do all the things
That only a best friend can
Only best friends can

If I was your girlfriend
If I was your girlfriend

If I was your girlfriend
Would U let me dress U
I mean, help U pick out your clothes
Before we go out
Not that you're helpless
But sometimes, sometimes
Those are the things that bein' in love's about
If I was your one and only friend
Would U run 2 me if somebody hurt U
Even if that somebody was me?
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be
Please

If I was your girlfriend
If I was your girlfriend

Would U let me wash your hair
Could I make U breakfast sometime
Or then, could we just hang out, I mean
Could we go 2 a movie and cry together
Cuz 2 me baby that would be so fine

If I was your girlfriend
Baby can I dress U
I mean, help U pick out your clothes
Before we go out
(If I was your girlfriend)
Listen girl, I ain't sayin you're helpless
But sometimes, sometimes
Those are the things that bein' in love's about (sugar)

Sugar do U know what I'm saying 2 U this evening? (sugar)
Maybe U think I'm being
a little self-centered (if I was your girlfriend)
But I, I said I want 2 be (sugar)
all of the things U are 2 me (sugar)
Surely, surely U can see (if I was your girlfriend)
{{title repeated in background}}
Is it really necessary 4 me 2 go out of the room
just because U wanna undress?
I mean, we don't have 2 make children 2 make love
And then, we don't have 2 make love 2 have an orgasm
Your body's what I'm all about
Can I see U?
I'll show U
Why not?
U can think it's because I'm your friend I'll do it 4 U
Of course I'll undress in front of U!
And when I'm naked, what shall I do?
How can I make U see that it's cool?
Can't U just trust me?
If I was your girlfriend U could
Oh, yeah, I think so
Listen, 4 U naked I would dance a ballet
Would that get U off?
Then tell me what will!
If I was your girlfriend, would U tell me?
Would U let me see U naked then?
Would U let me give U a bath?
Would U let me tickle U so hard U'd laugh and laugh
And would U, would U let me kiss U there
You know down there where it counts
I'll do it so good I swear I'll drink every ounce
And then I'll hold U tight and hold U long
And together we'll stare into silence
And we'll try 2 imagine what it looks like
Yeah, we'll try 2 imagine what, what silence looks like
Yeah, we'll try 2 imagine what silence looks like
Yeah, we'll try...

You left the word "bitch" off at the end.

LittlePill said:

He says "bitch" at the end?

r1ghteousone said:

Listen carefully during the last 2 snare hits at the end. He whipsers 'bitch' in there.

LittlePill said:

oooh, i'll have to listen out for that.

You're very close in your interpretation.

The song actually questions why the woman's male lover can't be as close to her as her best female friend. IIRC, this was about Prince wondering why he couldn't be as close to Susannah as she was to Wendy (her sister).

LittlePill said:

He doesn't say "bitch"...
It just cuts off at "yeah, we'll t..."

Neversin.
[This message was edited Wed Dec 3 10:03:42 PST 2003 by Neversin]

LittlePill said:

bitch?
[This message was edited Wed Dec 3 10:56:09 PST 2003 by familygroove]

jsb23nc said:

I see, thanx. It is pure genius.

Neversin said:

R U sure? Listen again closely.

LittlePill said:

100%...


He just repeats the line "Yeah, we'll try to imagine what silence looks like" and then it just cuts off at "yeah we'll t..."
Listen to it with some good headphones...

Neversin.

jsb23nc said:

ur opinion is bang on !

danielboon said:

Yep.

One of Prince's greatest songs too imho.

You're interpretations are right on. What doesn't make sense, and probably confuses people is why TLC would cover this song and not change the genders. I love this song one of my favorite. I love the sentiment behind it. But it just know sense for a woman to sing it.

matchufalls said:

You're right it doesn't work or have the same impact sang by a woman. That misses the point entirely.

This topic comes up waaay too often.

bkw said:

Thrice agreed.