Work It

Missy Elliot
Work It


Warning: Contains many bad words! Click underlined words for additional explanations.
Original		Translation of Slang
DJ please, pick up your phone I'm on the request line This is a Missy Elliott one time exclusive (C'mon, c'mon)		DJ please, pick up your phone I'm calling to make a request This is a Missy Elliott one time exclusive (Come on, come on)
Chorus Is it worth it, let me work it I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup I Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup I If you got a big [elephant noise], let me search ya To find out how hard I gotta work ya Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup I Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup I (Come on!) I'd like to get to know ya so I could show ya Put the pussy on ya like I told ya Gimme all your numbers so I could phone ya 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 cha-cha You do or you don't or you will or won't ya Go downtown and eat it like a vultcha See my hips and my tips, don'tcha See my ass and my lips, don'tcha Lost a few pounds in my waist for ya This the kind of beat that goes ba-ta-ta ba-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 watah Boy, oh, boy, it's good to know ya		Chorus Is it worth it, let me work it I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup I Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup I If you've got a big penis, let me search you To find out how hard I have to work you Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup I Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup I (Come on!) I'd like to get to know you so I could show you and Give you sex like I promised you. Give me all your telephone numbers so I can call you. If your girlfriend is behaving badly then call me over. Let's not have sex on the bed; lay me on your sofa. Call before you come, I need to shave my pubic hair. You do or you don't or you will or won't you Give me oral sex as if you were as hungry as a vulture? You see my hips and my breasts, don't you? You see my butt and my mouth, don't you? I lost a few pounds in my waist for you. This the kind of beat that goes ba-ta-ta ba-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta Give me sex so good that I say, "blah-blah-blah." Work it, I need a glass of water. It's really, really good to know you.
Chorus 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 gon' bring us closer Don't I look like a Halle Berry poster See the Belvedere playin' tricks on ya Girlfriend wanna be like me, nevah You won't find a bitch that's even bettah 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 funk 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 gadonk-a-donk-donk Take my thong off and my ass go vroom Cut the lights off so you see what I could do		Chorus If you are a fashionable woman, get a manicure, Get a pedicure, get your hair styled. Boy, lift up your glass, let's make a toast. Let's get drunk, that's going to bring us closer. Don't I look like a Halle Berry poster? Drinking vodka is tricking you into thinking I look beautiful. Your girlfriend wants to be like me, but you won't find a better woman than me. I'll make you as hot as Las Vegas weather. Pay attention while I take it backwards (Watch the way Missy likes to take it backwards.) I'm not a prostitute, but I could give you what you want. I love your braids and the sexy way you talk You love the way my butt moves. Keep your eyes on my butt And think you can handle my butt. Take my thong off and my butt starts moving fast. Turn off the lights off so you can see what I can do
Chorus Boys, boys, all type of boys Black, white, Puerto Rican, Chinese boys Why-thai,-thai-o-toy-o-thai-thai Rock-to,-thai-o-toy-o-thai-thai Girl, girl, get that cash If it's 9 to 5 or shakin' your ass Ain't no shame, ladies do your thang Just make sure you ahead of the game Just 'cause I got a lot of fame supah Prince couldn't get me change my name papa Kunta Kinte a slave again, no sir Picture black sayin', "Oh, yessah massah" Picture Lil' Kim dating a pastor Minnie Me and Big Ren can out last ya Who is the best, I don't have to ask ya When I come out you won't even matter Why you act dumb like "Uh, duh" So you act dumb like "Uh, duh" As the drummer boy go pa-rom-pop-pom-pom Give you some-some-some of this Cinnabun		Chorus 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. Girl, girl, earn that money, Whether you work in an office or as a prostitute or stripper, It's not shameful, ladies do whatever you do, Just make sure you're in an advantageous position. Just because I'm really famous, Not even Prince could get me change my name. Kunta Kinte will never be a slave again - It would be like a black person saying, "Oh, yes, master," or Lil' Kim dating a pastor. Mini Me and Big Red can last longer than you. Who is the best? I don't have to ask you. When I come out you won't even matter. Why do you act stupid as if saying "Uh, duh"? So you act stupid as if saying "Uh, duh." As the drummer boy goes pa-rom-pop-pom-pom, I'll give you some of my delicious butt.
Chorus To my fellas, ooooh Good God, I like the way you work that To my ladies, woo! You sure know how to work that, good God		Chorus To my men, ooooh Good God, I like the way you work that To my ladies, woo! You sure know how to work that, good God

let me work it this doesn't have a specific meaning in general slang, but is obviously a sexual reference in the context of this song.
Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup I "I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it" sung backwards
vulture a large scavenger bird - the kind that flies in a circle over dying animals in old Western movies.
butt buttocks in the standard dictionary.
lips double meaning - on the mouth or the lips of the vaginal opening.
blah-blah-blah nonsense words used in English to show speech without the contents having any importance.
hot double meaning - it also means sexually excited or exciting.
take it backwards double meaning - She refers to the fact that part of the chorus is sung backwards. However, given the emphasis on Elliot's butt in the song, "you make love to me from behind" is the likely meaning. The sexual meaning of the next line would then be "Watch the way Missy likes that kind of sex."
mouth full of floss is also possible. Floss, like bling, is sometimes used to describe luxury goods, so she could be talking about his gold teeth.
thong very small underwear (or bathing suit bottom) with just a string in the back. Called a "tanga" in Brazil.
vroom commonly used to represent the sound of a fast car engine.
Why-thai,-thai-o-toy-o-thai-thai, Rock-thai,-thai-o-toy-o-thai-thai. nonsense words probably intended to sound like an Asian language.
Prince Well-known guitarist and singer (Little Red Corvette, Raspberry Beret, etc.)
Kunta Kinte Fictional character in the incredibly popular 1977 miniseries ROOTS, about the history of an African-American family. Kunta Kinte was born in Africa and sold into slavery on a plantation in the United States.
Lil' Kim a sexy singer, featured in Missy Elliot's remake of Lady Marmalade for the movie Moulin Rouge.
Mini Me an extremely small character featured in Austin Powers movies.
Big Red a brand name of chewing gum, which is advertised as having very long lasting flavor.
Cinnabun a food stand in shopping malls that sells cinnamon buns. Buns is also a slang synonym for buttocks.
drummer boy a traditional Christmas song. The drummer boy had no gift for the baby Jesus, so instead he played "pa-rom-pop-pom-pom" on his drum.

Many thanks to WERS DJ Sab the Ill Finger for answering some of my questions about this song!

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