Work It

Lyrics Meaning of Work it by Missy Elliott

The song's lyrics helped popularize the slang term "badonkadonk" with mainstream audiences ("Love the way my butt go bum-bump-bum-bump-bump/Keep your eyes on my bum-bump-bum-bump-bump/And think you can handle this badonk-a-donk-donk").

The lyric "I put my thing down, flip it, and reverse it" is followed by the same line but in reverse. In the middle of the song, after the lyric "Listen up close while I take you backwards", the lyric "Watch the way Missy like to take it backwards" is also played in reverse.

If you have a huge [elephant trumpet], let me search it, the song's chorus says ("If you got a big [elephant trumpet] let me search it"). This is present in both the edited and explicit versions; the concealed word is intended to evoke listener inference. The song refers to sexual physical movements using onomatopoeia like "ra-ta-ta-ta" and "buboomp buboomp boomp" in both the explicit and edited versions.

The time when Elliott and Timbaland created "Work It," her biggest song, they were at the peak of their game. But they continued to be as curious and adventurous as ever.

Tim told her something he'd never told her before when they originally recorded this song: "That ain't it."

They returned to the studio after that. In his own words, "With 'Work It,' I made her go back four times," he told Rolling Stone.

Since I'm thinking, "That ain't it," Not at all. It's not like that. But when Elliott came up with the backward-vocal hook, it paid off. "Oh, we out here," I thought as she reached the reverse part. We're through. The proper icing must be used while baking a wonderful cake.

The hit, which peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks, was Elliott's most popular.

Work It lyrics by Missy Elliott

DJ, please pick up your phone

I'm on the request line

This is a Missy Elliott one-time exclusive

Come on

Is it worth it, let me work it

I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it

I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it

If you got a big ***, let me search you

And find out how hard I gotta work you

I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it

I'd like to get to know you so I could show you

Put the pussy on you like I told you

Gimme all your numbers so I could phone you

Your girl actin' stank then call me over

Not on the bed, lay me on your sofa

Phone before you come, I need to shave my chocha

You do or you don't or you will or won't you

Go downtown and eat it like a vulture

See my hips and my tips, don't you?

See my ass and my lips, don't you?

Lost a few pounds and my waist for you

This the kinda beat that go ra-ta-ta

Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta

Sex me so good I say blah-blah-blah

Work it, I need a glass of water

Boy, oh, boy, it's good to know you

Is it worth it, let me work it

I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it

I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it

If you got a big ***, let me search you

And find out how hard I gotta work you

I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it

Come on

If you a fly gal get your nails done

Get a pedicure, get your hair did

Boy, lift it up, let's make a toast-a

Let's get drunk, that's gonna bring us closer

Don't I look like a Halle Berry poster?

See the Belvedere playin' tricks on you

Girlfriend wanna be like me, never

You won't find a bitch that's even better

I make you hot as Las Vegas weather

Listen up close while I take it backwards

Watch the way Missy like to take it backwards

I'm not a prostitute, but I could give you what you want

I love your braids and your mouth full of floss

Love the way my ass go bum-bum-bum-bum

Keep your eyes on my bum-bum-bum-bum-bum

And think you can handle this gadong-a-dong-dong

Take my thong off and my ass go vroom

Cut the lights on so you see what I could do

Is it worth it, let me work it

I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it

I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it

If you got a big ***, let me search you

And find out how hard I gotta work you

I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it

Come on

Boys, boys, all type of boys

Black, white, Puerto Rican, Chinese boys

Why-thai-thai-o-toy-o-thai-thai

Rock-thai-thai-o-toy-o-thai-thai

Girls, girls, get that cash

If it's 9 to 5 or shakin' your ass

Ain't no shame, ladies, do your thing

Just make sure you ahead of the game

Just 'cause I got a lot of fame super

Prince couldn't get me change my name papa

Kunta Kinte a slave again, no sir

Picture black sayin', "Oh, yes a master."

Picture Lil' Kim dating a pastor

Minnie Me and Big Ren can out last ya

Who was the best, I don't have to ask ya

When I come out you won't even matter

[Music video verse:]

Got a Lamborghini so I drive faster

Just makin' hating people freakin' matter

Admit I'm the f****** name won the battle

When I drop this record here you won't even matter

Why you act dumb like "Uh, duh"

So you act dumb like "Uh, duh"

As the drummer boy go ba-rom-pop-pom-pom

Give you some-some-some of this Cinnabun

Is it worth it, let me work it

I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it

I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it

If you got a big ***, let me search you

And find out how hard I gotta work you

I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it

Come on

To my fellas

I like the way you work that

To my ladies

You sure know how to work that