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Mirror, mirror on the wall
- This is from the fairy tale, Snow White, when the witch is admiring herself in the mirror.
Don’t say it ’cause I know I’m cute (Ooh, baby)
Louis down to my drawers
- As in Louis Vuitton designer clothes. “Drawers” is another word for underwear, often pronounced “draws” for short. Basically, all her clothing is expensive, even the underwear.
LV all on my shoes (Ooh, baby)
- “LV” and “Louis” are both common abbreviations for Louis Vuitton.
I be drippin‘ so much sauce
- *I am dripping… In slang, “sauce” is confidence, swag, good looks, etc. To “drip” then refers to someone being so full of confidence and swag that it is dripping off of them like water. A similar word is “drip.” (“Do you like my drip?”)
Got a bih lookin’ like RAGÚ (Ooh, baby)
- “Bih” is another way to say the B-word without sounding too vulgar or just to be funny. RAGÚ is a brand of Italian tomato sauce, referencing her “sauce” from the previous line. A similar line was made popular in the song “Party” by Beyoncé, where Kanye West says, “You got the swag sauce, she dripping Swagu” (swag and RAGÚ). Listen to that song here
Lit up like a crystal ball
- “Lit” is a way to say that something is exciting, or you have lots of energy, are having fun, etc. (“I am lit 24-7.”) (“That was a lit party.”) But she compares this slang meaning of lit to the literal meaning: to show light. Also, the crystal ball is in reference to mystical things and fairy tales, like from the first line.
That’s cool, baby, so is you
- *So are you
That’s how I roll
- This phrase is used to explain that this is the way a person is, usually because of some good quality. (“You always wear the best clothes, girl.” “You know, that’s how I roll!”) A similar phrase is “That’s how I do.”
If I’m shinin‘, everybody gonna shine (Yeah, I’m goals)
- *Everybody is going to shine… To “shine,” besides talking about light, can also describe someone who does really amazing things, shows off a lot, or is really intelligent. (“I suck at physics! But math is where I shine.”) “Goals” comes from social media. It just means that whatever someone is doing is so good that it represents what other people should do. Most popularly with relationships. (“Mark and Susan are such a cute couple! That’s goals.”)
I was born like this, don’t even gotta try (Now you know)
- *I don’t even have to try…
I’m like chardonnay, get better over time (So you know)
Heard you say I’m not the baddest, b****, you lie (Haha)
- A “bad b****” is a woman who is really good at what she does, really confident, pretty, and has lots of good qualities. Confidence is the main factor, though. Although it sounds really offensive, it’s actually a compliment in most informal cases.
It ain’t my fault that I’m out here gettin’ loose
- *It’s not my… To “get loose” is to let go of anxiety or fear, have fun, release your energy, and things like that. Similar verbs are to “let loose” and “cut loose.” People also use it to stretch and warm up muscles before an exercise. (“Let’s start the game!” “Wait, I need to get loose first.”)
Gotta blame it on the Goose
- *You have to blame… Grey Goose is a brand of vodka. This line refers to a popular song by Jamie Foxx where he says, “Blame it on the Goose … Blame it on the alcohol.” Listen to that song here
Gotta blame it on my juice, baby
- “Juice” can have lots of meanings in slang. Here, it’s more ambiguous (not concrete). She probably uses it to say her power, confidence, showiness, sexiness, etc.
It ain’t my fault that I’m out here makin’ news
- Not actually “making” the news. She’s appearing in the news, doing big things.
I’m the pudding in the proof
- This comes from a saying; “The proof is in the pudding.” It means that something is good because you can try it or prove it, usually as an incentive to convince someone that something is really good. Lizzo changes it, making herself sound like the source of the goodness/tastiness. She is the whole pudding.
Gotta blame it on my juice
Ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee
Blame it on my juice, blame it, blame it on my juice
Ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee
Blame it on my juice, blame it, blame it on my juice (Ooh, baby)
No, I’m not a snack at all
- A “snack” is a small meal. In slang, it refers to a person, usually a woman, that is attractive.
Look, baby, I’m the whole damn meal (Ooh, baby)
- So she’s not saying that she is not attractive, but super attractive. A big “snack.”
David, you ain’t bein’ slick
- To be “slick” is to try to trick or fool someone. (“You’re not slick, I see what you’re trying to do.”)
Don’t dare try to cop a feel (Ooh, baby)
- To “cop” something is to get it or try to get it. “Cop a feel” means to try to touch someone, usually in a sensual way. This plays on the name of famous magician, David Copperfield. David, cop a feel. They kind of rhyme.
The juice ain’t worth the squeeze
- Again, playing on the slang meaning of “juice.” Referring to those juice boxes or packets that you have to squeeze to drink from.
If the juice don’t look like this (Like this, like this, like this)
- *juice doesn’t look like…
Hold up, n****, please
- “Hold up” means wait, wait a minute. “Please” when said like this is the same as telling someone to stop or not think about it, like “stop dreaming.” (“I want to take you out to dinner.” “Boy, please! You don’t even have a car.”)
Don’t make me have to take your b****, s*** (How I roll)
If I’m shinin’, everybody gonna shine (Yeah, I’m goals)
I was born like this, don’t even gotta try (Now you know)
I’m like chardonnay (Okay), get better over time (So you know)
Heard you say I’m not the baddest, b****, you lie (You lie)
It ain’t my fault that I’m out here gettin’ loose
Gotta blame it on the Goose
Gotta blame it on my juice, baby
It ain’t my fault that I’m out here makin’ news
I’m the pudding in the proof
Gotta blame it on my juice
Ya-ya-ee (Ya-ya-ee), ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee
Blame it on my juice, blame it, blame it on my juice
Ya-ya-ee (Ya-ya-ee), ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee, ya-ya-ee
Blame it on my juice, blame it, blame it on my juice (Alright)
Ya-ya-ee
Somebody come get this man
I think he got lost in my DMs, what? My DMs, what?
- “DM’s” on social media are Direct Messages. To “get lost” in them is like sending someone lots of messages because they really like that person, almost like they’re obsessed.
You better come get your man
- “You better” is an expression used to tell someone what they need to do. It can either be a piece of advise, or a demand from an authority, like one’s parents. (“You better clean your room, or we’re not leaving.”)
I think he wanna be way more than friends, what?
- Saying “way” like this means a lot or much. (“I’m sorry, but you were way wrong.”) (“They paid, but I can pay way more.”)
More than friends
What you want me to say?
- *What do you want…
Lizzo makes a lot of songs about loving oneself, being confident, and appreciating one’s own style and body. This song is no different. The whole concept of the “juice” is this sexiness and swag that she has. She does use more informal English that mostly wouldn’t be acceptable in a professional setting, but is great for using in casual settings or with family and friends. The song is very positive and upbeat. What was your impression of this song? Did you understand it? Do you want to have “juice” like Lizzo? Let me know in the comments!
Video here:
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