Hey Ya! | OutKast Lyrics, Meaning & Videos

Posted by Jenniffer Sheldon on Saturday, September 28, 2024

Hey Ya!
OutKast Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴One, two, three, uh

My baby don't mess around
Because she loves me so
And this I know fo sho (uh)
But does she really wanna
But can't stand to see me walk out the door? (Ah)
Don't try to fight the feeling

Because the thought alone is killin' me right now (uh)
Thank God for Mom and Dad
For sticking two together
'Cause we don't know how (c'mon)

Hey ya! Hey ya!
Hey ya! Hey ya!
Hey ya! Hey ya!
Hey ya! Hey ya!

You think you've got it
Oh, you think you've got it
But got it just don't get it 'til there's nothin' at all
We get together
Oh, we get together
But separate's always better when there's feelings involved
If what they say is
"Nothing is forever"
Then what makes, then what makes
Then what makes, then what makes (what makes, what makes)
Love the exception?
So why, oh, why, oh
Why, oh, why, oh, why, oh
Are we so in denial when we know we're not happy here?
(Y'all don't want to hear me, you just want to dance)

Hey ya! (Uh oh) Hey ya! (Uh oh)
Don't want to meet your daddy
Hey ya! (Uh oh)
Just want you in my Caddy (Uh oh)
Hey ya! (Uh oh)
Don't want to meet your mama
Hey ya! (Uh oh)
Just want to make you cum-a (Uh oh)
Hey ya! (Uh oh)
I'm, I'm, I'm just being honest (Uh oh)
I'm just being honest

Hey! Alright now
Alright now, fellas (Yeah?)
Now, what cooler than being cool? (Ice cold!)
I can't hear you
I say what's, what's cooler than being cool? (Ice cold!)

Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright
Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright
Alright, alright, alright, alright

Okay, now ladies (Yeah?)
Now, we gon' break this thang down in just a few seconds
Now, don't have me break this thang down for nothin'
Now, I want to see y'all on y'all baddest behavior
Lend me some sugar, I am your neighbor
Ah! Here we go

Shake it, shake, shake it, shake it, shake, shake it (Uh oh)
Shake it, shake, shake it, shake it, shake it (Uh oh)
Shake it like a Polaroid picture, hey ya!

Shake it, shake, shake it, shake it, shake, shake it
Shake it, shake it, shake it, sugar
Shake it like a Polaroid picture

Now, all Beyonce's, and Lucy Liu's
And baby dolls
Get on the floor

Get on the floor, you know what to do
You know what to do
You know what to do

Hey ya! (Uh oh) Hey ya! (Uh oh)
Hey ya! (Uh oh) Hey ya! (Uh oh)

Hey ya! (Uh oh) Hey ya! (Uh oh)
Hey ya! (Uh oh) Hey ya! (Uh oh)


Overall Meaning

The song "Hey Ya!" by Outkast was a chart-topping hit back in 2003. However, behind the catchy upbeat melody and lyrics is a message that talks about the reality of unhappy relationships. The song is depicting that although the lead singer's partner still loves him, she may not want to be with him anymore, which is causing him to feel pain deep down inside. He mentions being grateful for his parents sticking together, as it appears he is not sure if he and his partner know how to do the same.


Later in the song, it talks about how the couple seems to have a difficult time accepting that their relationship is not working out, and this is what makes things very hard for them. They ignore the problems, and this makes their world very unhappy. The chorus suggests that the lead singer needs to let go of his pain and live in the moment instead, which is why he repeats the line, "Hey Ya!" multiple times. He wants to forget about his problems and stay in the present.



Line by Line Meaning

My baby don't mess around
My romantic partner doesn't play games with me


Because she loves me so
It's because of the love she has for me


And this I know fo sho (uh)
I'm absolutely certain of this fact


But does she really wanna
I wonder if she truly wants to be with me


But can't stand to see me walk out the door? (Ah)
Or maybe she just doesn't want me to leave her?


Don't try to fight the feeling
I should not resist this emotion I'm experiencing


Because the thought alone is killin' me right now (uh)
Thinking about leaving her is causing me undue stress


Thank God for Mom and Dad
I'm grateful to my parents for having me


For sticking two together
For being together and helping raise me


'Cause we don't know how (c'mon)
Because honestly, none of us really knows how to do this


Hey ya! Hey ya!
Hey, listen up


You think you've got it
You may think you understand life


Oh, you think you've got it
You really think you have it all figured out


But got it just don't get it 'til there's nothin' at all
But you won't really get it until it's too late


We get together
We come together as lovers


Oh, we get together
We keep getting together socially


But separate's always better when there's feelings involved
However, it's better to go your separate ways when emotions are in play


If what they say is
If we believe what people say about love


"Nothing is forever"
That nothing lasts forever


Then what makes, then what makes
What could possibly explain


Then what makes, then what makes (what makes, what makes)
What really makes it


Love the exception?
But why is love the one thing that seems to be an exception?


So why, oh, why, oh
Why is it then that


Why, oh, why, oh, why, oh
It's so hard to understand


Are we so in denial when we know we're not happy here?
Why do we deny our unhappiness in this situation?


(Y'all don't want to hear me, you just want to dance)
(But let's forget about that for now and just enjoy some music)


Hey ya! (Uh oh) Hey ya! (Uh oh)
Hey! Listen up! Let's have some fun!


Don't want to meet your daddy
I'm not interested in meeting your father


Just want you in my Caddy (Uh oh)
I just want to be with you in my car


Don't want to meet your mama
I don't really care about meeting your mother


Just want to make you cum-a (Uh oh)
I'm really just interested in satisfying you


I'm, I'm, I'm just being honest (Uh oh)
I'm being straightforward with you


Hey! Alright now
OK, let's get back to the music


Alright now, fellas (Yeah?)
Hey guys, get ready for this


Now, what cooler than being cool? (Ice cold!)
What could possibly be better than just feeling cool?


I can't hear you
Come on, you can do better!


I say what's, what's cooler than being cool? (Ice cold!)
Again, what can surpass feeling really cool?


Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright
OK, great


Now ladies (Yeah?)
Let's hear it from the ladies now


Now, we gon' break this thang down in just a few seconds
We're about to make this song even better in a moment


Now, don't have me break this thang down for nothin'
But I need you to join in too and make it worthwhile


Now, I want to see y'all on y'all baddest behavior
I want you all to be bold and dance like you don't care


Lend me some sugar, I am your neighbor
Give me a little of your sweetness, I'm here to party with you


Ah! Here we go
Alright, let's do this


Shake it, shake, shake it, shake it, shake, shake it (Uh oh)
Shake your body to the music


Shake it, shake, shake it, shake it, shake it (Uh oh)
Move that body!


Shake it like a Polaroid picture, hey ya!
Dance with all your might!


Shake it, shake, shake it, shake it, shake, shake it
Keep on dancing


Shake it, shake it, shake it, sugar
Don't hold back


Shake it like a Polaroid picture
Dance like you mean it


Now, all Beyonce's, and Lucy Liu's
Ladies of all types


And baby dolls
Young women


Get on the floor
Come dance with us


Get on the floor, you know what to do
Join the dance party and follow along


You know what to do
You've got this!


Hey ya! (Uh oh) Hey ya! (Uh oh)
Hey! Just keep dancing, come on!


Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Andre Benjamin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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