Beyonce — BODYGUARD | Analyrical Content

Below you will find the complete lyrics to the song BODYGUARD and its meaning. Then I will post an image. After the image will be an analytical lyrical (analyrical) analysis of the song with some additional commentary. Her lyrics will be in bold in the second section, and the commentary will look unbolded like this.

Lyrics:
[Intro]
One, two, three, four
Ooh-ee-ooh, ah
Ooh-ee-ooh

[Verse 1]
So sweet
I give you kisses in the backseat
I whisper secrets in the backbeat
You make me cry, you make me happy, happy (Happy)
Leave my lipstick on the cigarette
Just toss it, and you stomp it out, out, out
Inhalin’ whiskey when you kiss my neck
We’ve been hurtin’, but it’s happy hour, oh, hour
Oh, oh, oh

[Pre-Chorus]
They couldn’t have me (Ah)
And they never will
And sometimes I hold you closer
Just to know you’re real (Ah)
Wheels in the gravel
Davis in my bones
Sometimes I take the day off (Ah)
Just to turn you on
On, on, oh

[Chorus]
Honеy, honey
I could be your bodyguard (Hey)
Oh, honеy, honey
I could be your Kevlar (Huh)
Oh, honey, honey
I could be your lifeguard (Huh)
Ooh, honey, honey
You should let me ride shotgun, shotgun
Oh, oh, oh

[Verse 2]
Be your best friend
I protect you in the mosh pit
And I’ll defend you in the gossip
You know how people like to start shit and pop shit
I don’t like the way she’s lookin’ at you
Someone better hold me back, oh-oh
Chargin’ ten for a double and I’m talkin’
I’m ‘bout to lose it, turn around and John Wayne that ass (One, two, three, four)

[Pre-Chorus]
They couldn’t catch you (Ah, with me)
And they never will (You see)
Sometimes I hold you closer
Just to know you’re real (Ah)
Tell me your problems (I got you)
I take how you feel (Mm, huh)
I show you an exit (Ah)
When you’re restless I take the wheel
Ooh, oh, oh

[Chorus]
Honey, honey
You could be my bodyguard (Huh, uh)
Oh, honey, honey
Will you let me ride shotgun? Shotgun
Oh, oh, oh

[Outro]
Oh (Ah)
Oh
Oh (Ah)
Oh
I could be your bodyguard
Please let me be your Kevlar (Huh)
Baby, let me be your lifeguard
Would you let me ride a shotgun? Shotgun
Oh, oh, oh
One, two, three, four

[Intro]

One, two, three, four

Ooh-ee-ooh, ah

Ooh-ee-ooh

[Verse 1]

So sweet

I give you kisses in the backseat

I whisper secrets in the backbeat

You make me cry, you make me happy, happy (Happy)

Leave my lipstick on the cigarette

Just toss it, and you stomp it out, out, out

Inhalin’ whiskey when you kiss my neck

We’ve been hurtin’, but it’s happy hour, oh, hour

Oh, oh, oh

I know I’m not supposed to be talking about the writing yet, but I like the word choices. She’s not smoking a cigarette but she’s staining it with lipstick and she’s not drinking whiskey but using the verb “inhale” which ties into the smoke from the cigarette.

And she’s painting a picture of them riding in the backseat, and clearly, they are stepping out of the car and smoking since he was able to “stomp” it out. And the fact that it’s happy hour lets us know they are moving towards a bar.

[Pre-Chorus]

They couldn’t have me (Ah)

And they never will

And sometimes I hold you closer

Just to know you’re real (Ah)

Wheels in the gravel

Davis in my bones

Sometimes I take the day off (Ah)

Just to turn you on

On, on, oh

I still like the word choice between “never” and “sometimes” or “off” and “on”. She’s clearly talking about Jay-Z here. Because no one else could have her but him.

And she loves him so much that he feels unreal to her. I repeat, Beyonce, the Queen B, can’t believe she is with Jay-Z.

Unfortunately, I had no idea what “davis” means so here’s what geniuslyrics has to say about this part: An allusion to Miles Davis, who arguably invented cool with his 1957 album Birth of the Cool, which showcases Davis’ innovative improvisation and ability to push the genre forward in ways akin to Beyoncé’s own efforts through the trilogy project. Here, she claims the lineage of “cool” in her casting as her partner’s bodyguard and confidant, while also possibly referencing another Miles Davis song, “Country Son.”

[Chorus]

Honеy, honey

I could be your bodyguard (Hey)

Oh, honеy, honey

I could be your Kevlar (Huh)

Oh, honey, honey

I could be your lifeguard (Huh)

Ooh, honey, honey

You should let me ride shotgun, shotgun

Oh, oh, oh

She’s continuing this theme of her being a mother or a protector to the ones she loves. She said this to her daughter in the song PROTECTOR and she’s doing it again here. Knowing that the dangers JayZ faces are different, she’s willing to take a bullet for him and fight for him.

Riding “shotgun” visually shows us that they are moving to a different space in the car. The backseat is for sex and giggles, but the front seat refers to the more supportive side of the relationship and points to her existing as a “ride or die”.

Even come hell or high waters she will be his lifeguard.

[Verse 2]

Be your best friend

I protect you in the mosh pit

And I’ll defend you in the gossip

You know how people like to start shit and pop shit

I don’t like the way she’s lookin’ at you

Someone better hold me back, oh-oh

Chargin’ ten for a double and I’m talkin’

I’m ‘bout to lose it, turn around and John Wayne that ass (One, two, three, four)

Beyonce is assuring him that she’s not scared to get a little crazy to protect him. She’s willing to fight a crowd in a mosh pit and buss a cap in someone’s ass like John Wayne.

For those who don’t know him: “Marion Robert Morrison, professionally known as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood’s Golden Age, especially in Western and war movies.”

I love how she blends black culture back into country. The diction choices like “that ass” sound really black and she couples it with someone like “John Wayne” from white country culture. Making her lyrics appeal to multiple audiences. Which is intentional.

[Pre-Chorus]

They couldn’t catch you (Ah, with me)

And they never will (You see)

Sometimes I hold you closer

Just to know you’re real (Ah)

Tell me your problems (I got you)

I take how you feel (Mm, huh)

I show you an exit (Ah)

When you’re restless I take the wheel

Ooh, oh, oh

Continuing the car scene. She’s now offering to ride in the driver’s seat and take on the role of leading an escape. If she’s behind the wheel, no one can catch Jay Z. She’s willing to speed and take over.

It’s giving Bonnie & Clyde without the crime, and I think it’s intentional.

[Chorus]

Honey, honey

You could be my bodyguard (Huh, uh)

Oh, honey, honey

Will you let me ride shotgun? Shotgun

Oh, oh, oh

I just imagine Beyonce here riding shot gun and shooting at the ops as Jay Z drives away.

[Outro]

Oh (Ah)

Oh

Oh (Ah)

Oh

I could be your bodyguard

Please let me be your Kevlar (Huh)

Baby, let me be your lifeguard

Would you let me ride a shotgun? Shotgun

Oh, oh, oh

One, two, three, four

Now she’s asking. Before she didn’t say “please” to be his Kevlar. She’s willing and ready to do anything as long as he asks and allows her.

Before she suggested that he “should” let her ride shotgun and now she’s asking if he would let her.

This song is great. Beyonce is showing what type of supportive wife she is and what she’s willing to do. She uses a vehicle and the spaces inside a car to describe the roles she can play and how she can support him. In every seat of the car, she knows what to do and is ready to do it.

That’s all I can write for now. I’m trying to write about all 27 songs. And I’m struggling to keep up with all this new music. Anyway, if you like this review and my other ones feel free to like and share.

If you need a copywriter — hi, I’m Kevan Hudson.