“White shirt now red, my bloody nose”
Unclear where Billie drew the inspiration for the song’s epic intro, but as Geniuspoints out, the video features her wearing a white shirt while having a nosebleed, so let’s assume she’s being literal here.
The song continues:
“Sleepin’, you’re on your tippy toes
Creepin’ around like no one knows
Think you’re so criminal
Bruises on both my knees for you
Don’t say thank you or please
I do what I want when I’m wanting to
My soul? So cynical”
Billie is playing with power dynamics
But it also seems like she’s playing a character in a song that’s somewhat satirical (mocking another´s weaknesses)
“It’s basically making fun of everyone and their personas of themselves. Even mine,” Billie explained while chatting in the interview below. “The initial idea for the song is, like, people who have to tell everybody that they are a certain way all the time? They’re not that certain way. […] In general, I feel like you will never catch a bad bitch telling everyone she’s a bad bitch. It’s on—it’s you. If you’re going around all the time saying, like, ‘Yeah, I’m bad, I’m always breaking rules and doing this and doing that.’ You’re not. I know that because I used to say that and I wasn’t. Bad kids, bad boys, bad bitches, whatever, they do that sh*t and they don’t even know.”
Which brings us to the chorus:
“So you’re a tough guy
Like it really rough guy
Just can’t get enough guy
Chest always so puffed guy
I’m that bad type
Make your mama sad type
Make your girlfriend mad tight
Might seduce your dad type
I’m the bad guy
Duh”
So…that “might seduce your dad type” line has gotten some side-eyes from more conservative fans (especially since Billie was underage when she wrote it)
In verse two, Billie goes even deeper into power dynamics between her character and the dude she’s singing about. At least that’s what I’m getting here. Agree?
“I like it when you take control
Even if you know that you don’t
Own me, I’ll let you play the role
I’ll be your animal”
She also makes it clear that her mom isn’t gonna love this song thanks to the provocative lyrics:
“My mommy likes to sing along with me
But she won’t sing this song
If she reads all the lyrics
She’ll pity the men I know”
“I like when you get mad
I guess I’m pretty glad that you’re alone
You said she’s scared of me?
I mean, I don’t see what she sees
But maybe it’s ’cause I’m wearing your cologne”
Billie again seems to question the way women are stereotypically painted in relationships—she’s wearing cologne, she’s dominant, and the other woman in this guy’s life is intimidated by her.
