Beyonce Releases Controversial New Single: ‘Bow Down’ — Listen

Beyonce’s new song is finally here — and its message is pretty shocking. Is ‘Bow Down’ too arrogant, or just the right amount of attitude? Click to read more and listen!

Beyonce’s new single, “Bow Down,” is telling everyone to do just that, and the lyrics are already dividing fans.

Beyonce Tells Her Fans To ‘Bow Down’

Bey posted the single to her Tumblr on Mar. 17 with art of her as a young girl surrounded by trophies with “Bow Down” written in contrasting white text. The lyrics are even more confident (or maybe cocky) — “I know when you were little girls you dreamt of being in my world,” she sings.

“Don’t forget it. Respect that. Bow down b****es.” Beyonce continues to go hard at the haters, even addressing her marriage with Jay-Z: “I took some time to live my life, but don’t think I’m just his little wife,” Bey sings with attitude. “Don’t get it twisted. This my s**t. Bow down b****es.”

The song, produced by Hit-Boy, shows an even fiercer side of Beyonce, and actually takes its cues from Rihanna, who has always mixed arrogance and attitude in her music. What brought on this confrontational side of Bey? Could she possibly be referring to being bullied in the past — she does say “when you were little girls” — or is she just adopting a new persona of being a bully herself?

‘Bow Down’: Mixed Reactions

“Bow Down,” though only being out for less than 24 hours, is already stirring debate in the music world. One fan loved how Beyonce fired back, tweeting, ‘Sorry I’m not sorry that @beyonce is a trend-setter and doesn’t sound like everyone else. It’s about changing the game #beyhive.'”

But another fan seemed very turned off by Bey’s aggressive lyrics and represented the camp who believe she’s getting too arrogant: “how can u sing at the presidents inauguration then release this disgusting, offensive song @beyonce? I’m genuinely shocked.”

The post by Beyonce appears to only be a snippet of “Bow Down,” though it is accompanied by a preview of another song — “I Been On,” a track produced by Timbaland. That snippet doesn’t contain any controversial lyrics, just lines about growing up in Houston.

Beyonce’s ‘Bow Down / I Been On’ Lyrics

Here are the entire lyrics of “Bow Down” and “I Been On”:

I’m at that H town, coming, coming down, I’m coming down
Get it on the ground
H town, I’m coming down, coming down
Get it on the ground

I know when you were little girls
You grabbed a bee-ing in my world
Don’t forget it, don’t forget it
Respect that, bow down, b-tches

I took some time to live my life
But don’t think I’m just his little wife
Don’t get it twisted, get it twisted
This my sh-t

Bow down, b-tches
Bow down, b-tches
Bow down, b-tches
Bow down, b-tches

H-town b-tches, H-H-town b-tches

I’m so crowned, bow, bow down b-tches

I’m at that H town, coming, coming down, I’m coming down
Get it on the ground

“I Been On”:

I been on, I been on, I been on
Tell me who gone take me off
Take me off, take me off, take me off

Rolling high, leather and wood
Keep it trill, that’s what good
Kiss my momma, show that love
Pop them bottles in that club
I heard your boo was talking lip
I told my crew to smack that trick
Smack that trick, smack that trick
Guess what they did, smack that trick
Gold everything, gold ass chain
Gold ass rings, gold ass fangs
You can see me stunt when you turn on ya screen
You can see me stunt when you turn on ya screen
I’m bigger than life, my name in the lights
I’m the number one chick, ain’t need no hype
The capital b means, I’m ‘bout that life
The capital b means, I’m ‘bout that life

I remember my baby hair with my dookie braids
Frenchy’s, Boudin in the parking lot
Shout out to Willie D
I was in that Willie D video when I was about fourteen, looking crazy
Shout out Pimp C
You know we used to sneak and listen to that UGK
Didn’t do your girl but your sister was alright, damn
In ya homeboy’s Caddy last night
Hold up, Texas trill
H-town going down, man