Rude Boy

by Rihanna

Come here rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it, (Yeah) baby, baby (yeah)
Take it, take it, (Yeah) love me, love me (yeah)
Come here rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it, (Yeah) baby, baby (yeah)
Take it, take it, (Yeah) love me, love me (yeah)
Tonight, I'ma let you be the captain
Tonight, I'ma let you do your thing, yeah
Tonight, I'ma let you be a rider
Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up babe
Tonight, I'ma let it be fire
Tonight, I'ma let you take me higher
Tonight, baby we can get it on, yeah
We can get it on, yeah
Do you like it boy? I wa-wa-want
What you wa-wa-want
Give it to me baby, like boom, boom, boom
What I wa-wa-want is what you wa-wa-want na, na-ah
Come here rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it (Yeah) baby, baby (yeah)
Take it, take it (Yeah) love me, love me (yeah)
Come here rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it (Yeah) baby, baby (yeah)
Take it, take it (Yeah) love me, love me (yeah)
Tonight, I'ma give it to you harder
Tonight, I'ma turn your body out
Relax, let me do it how I wanna
If you got it, I need it and I'ma put it down
Buckle up, I'ma give it to you stronger
Hands up, we can go a little longer
Tonight, I'ma get a little crazy
Get a little crazy, baby
Do you like it boy? I wa-wa-want
What you wa-wa-want
Give it to me baby, like boom, boom, boom
What I wa-wa-want is what you wa-wa-want na, na-ah
Come here rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it (Yeah) baby, baby (yeah)
Take it, take it (Yeah) love me, love me (yeah)
Come here rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it (Yeah) baby, baby (yeah)
Take it, take it (Yeah) love me, love me (yeah)
I like the way you touch me there
I like the way you pull my hair
Babe, if I don't feel it I ain't faking no, no
(Oh no) I like when you tell me kiss me there (oh yeah)
I like when you tell me move it there
So giddy up, time to get it up
You say you're a rude boy, show me what you got now
Come here right now
Take it, take it, baby, baby
Take it, take it, love me, love me
Come here rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it (Yeah) baby, baby (yeah)
Take it, take it (Yeah) love me, love me (yeah)
Come here rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
(Come here) Come here rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it (Yeah) baby, baby (yeah)
Take it, take it (Yeah) love me, love me (yeah)
Love me, love me (Love me, love me, love me, love me)
(Take-take) Take it, take it, baby, baby
Take it, take it, love me, love me
Love me, love me (Yeah)
Love me, love me (Yeah)
Love me, love me (Yeah)
Take it, take it, baby, baby
Take it, take it, love me, love me

Interpretations

MyBesh.com Curated

User Interpretation
# Sexual Assertion: The Bold Voice of "Rude Boy"

"Rude Boy" stands as one of Rihanna's most unabashedly direct statements on female sexual desire and empowerment. Released in 2010 as part of her "Rated R" album, the track marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of Rihanna's artistic persona, embracing an assertive sexuality that would become a signature element of her brand. At its core, "Rude Boy" is a straightforward sexual proposition, but beneath its dancehall-influenced beats and catchy hooks lies a more profound statement about female agency and the reclamation of sexual narratives that have historically been dominated by male voices in popular music.

The song's recurring refrain—"Come here rude boy, boy, can you get it up? / Come here rude boy, boy, is you big enough?"—represents a direct challenge to traditional gender dynamics. Rather than positioning herself as the object of desire awaiting male pursuit, Rihanna assumes the role of sexual aggressor, questioning her partner's abilities and establishing her standards. The Jamaican patois-influenced terminology "rude boy" carries cultural significance, referring to a tough, streetwise young man in Caribbean culture, but Rihanna subverts this masculine archetype by placing him under her evaluation. This inversion of the typical male-female power dynamic in sexual contexts was particularly striking in mainstream pop music at the time.

Throughout the track, Rihanna employs a rich tapestry of metaphors that simultaneously obscure and emphasize the song's sexual content. References to riding ("Tonight, I'ma let you be a rider / Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up babe") and driving ("Tonight, I'ma let you be the captain") serve as thinly veiled sexual innuendos while creating a playful linguistic landscape. The repeated use of directional and physical imagery—"higher," "harder," "stronger," "longer"—builds a sensory experience that mirrors the intensifying nature of physical intimacy. These devices allow Rihanna to be explicitly sexual without resorting to vulgarity, a delicate balance that contributes to the song's widespread appeal.

The emotional landscape of "Rude Boy" is dominated by confidence, desire, and pleasure rather than romance or emotional connection. Rihanna presents herself as completely in control of the encounter, dictating terms with lines like "Tonight, I'ma let it be fire" and "Relax, let me do it how I wanna." This emotional framing represents a departure from traditional pop love songs that center on romantic longing or emotional vulnerability. Instead, Rihanna celebrates physical pleasure on her own terms, demonstrating a comfort with her sexuality that challenged contemporary norms about how female artists should express desire. The emotional directness of statements like "I like the way you touch me there / I like the way you pull my hair / Babe, if I don't feel it I ain't faking no, no" rejects the notion that women should be passive recipients of sexual attention.

"Rude Boy" gains additional significance when viewed within the broader cultural context of female sexuality in pop music. Released at a time when discussions about female agency and consent were gaining momentum in public discourse, the song contributed to an emerging wave of female artists who were reclaiming their sexual narratives. The Caribbean musical influences—evident in both the production and lyrical delivery—connect the track to Rihanna's Barbadian roots while also tapping into the traditionally male-dominated dancehall genre where explicit sexuality is common. By bringing these elements into mainstream pop, Rihanna effectively bridged cultural worlds while asserting her artistic identity.

The lasting impact of "Rude Boy" stems from its perfect synthesis of commercial appeal and cultural statement. Its irresistible chorus and danceable production ensured widespread radio play and club presence, while its lyrical content pushed boundaries regarding how explicitly female artists could express sexual desire in mainstream music. The song's straightforward approach to sexuality, devoid of metaphorical obscuring or romantic justification, helped normalize the idea that women could be as direct about their physical desires as men had long been in popular music. This legacy continues to resonate through contemporary female artists who embrace sexual agency in their work.

In retrospect, "Rude Boy" represents more than just a catchy dance track—it marks a significant moment in pop music's evolving relationship with female sexuality. Through its direct language, role-reversal dynamics, and unapologetic celebration of physical pleasure, the song challenges listeners to accept female sexual assertion as valid and powerful. Rihanna's performance doesn't seek permission or offer apology; instead, it presents female desire as natural, commanding, and worthy of satisfaction on its own terms. This fundamental message, delivered through an infectious Caribbean-influenced pop package, ensures that "Rude Boy" remains not just a commercial success but a cultural touchstone in discussions about gender, power, and sexuality in popular music.
Posted on Jul 19, 2025 by Athena