Bug-A-Boo – English Lyrics

• By: Destiny's Child

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the late 90s R&B vibes with Destiny's Child's "Bug a Boo," a track that hilariously chronicles the woes of dealing with an overly attached partner. This song is a fun way to learn about the cultural context of the era, from now-vintage technology to the slang used to describe relationship annoyances, all while enjoying a classic girl-group anthem.

[English]

You make me wanna throw my pager out the window

Tell MCI to cut the phone poles

Break my lease so I can move

'Cause you a bug-a boo, a bug-a boo

I wanna put your number on the call block

Have AOL make my e-mail stop

'Cause you a bug-a boo

You buggin' what?

You buggin' who?

You buggin' me and don't you see it ain't cool

It's not hot

That you be callin' me stressin me pagin' my beeper you're just non-stop

And it's not hot

That you be leavin' me messages every 10 minutes and then you stop by

When I first met you, you were cool

But it was game you had me fooled

'Cause 20 minutes after I gave you my number you already had my mailbox full

So what

You bought a pair of shoes

What now I guess you think I owe you (Owe you)

You don't have to call as much as you do

I'll give 'em back to be through with you

And so what

My momma likes you (Likes you)

What now I guess you think I will too

Even if the Pope he said he likes you too

I don't really care 'cause you're a bug a boo

You make me wanna throw my pager out the window

Tell MCI to cut the phone poles

Break my lease so I can move

'Cause you a bug-a boo, a bug-a boo (a bug-a boo)

I wanna put your number on the call block

Have AOL make my e-mail stop

'Cause you a bug-a boo

You buggin' what?

You buggin' who?

You buggin' me and don't you see it ain't cool

It's not hot that when I'm blockin' your phone number

You call me from over your best friend's house

And it's not hot

That I can't even go out with my girlfriends without you trackin' me down

You need to chill out with that mess

'Cause you can't keep havin' me stressed

'Cause every time my phone rings it seems to be you

And I'm prayin' that it is someone else

So what

You bought a pair of shoes

What now I guess you think I owe you (Owe you)

You don't have to call as much as you do

I'll give 'em back to be through with you

And so what (So what)

My momma likes you (Likes you)

What now I guess you think I will too

Even if the Pope he said he likes you too

I don't give a damn 'cause you're a bug a boooooohhhhoooohhhhh...

You make me wanna throw my pager out the window

Tell MCI to cut the phone poles (Cut the phone poles)

Break my lease so I can move

'Cause you a bug-a boo, a bug-a boo (Bug-a booooo a-booo a-booo)

I wanna put your number on the call block (Call)

Have AOL make my e-mail stop (Block)

'Cause you a bug-a boo

You buggin' what?

You buggin' who? (You're buggin' who)

You buggin' me and don't you see it ain't cool

When you call me on the phone you're buggin' me

When you're following me around you're buggin' me

Everything you do be buggin' me

You're buggin' me

You're buggin' me

When you show up at my door you're buggin' me

When you open up your mouth you're buggin' me

Every time I see your face you're buggin' me

You're buggin' me

You're buggin' me

(You make me wanna throw my pager out the window) Throw out my pager

(Tell MCI to cut the phone poles) Turn my phone off

(Break my lease so I can move) Break my lease so I can move

('Cause you a bug-a boo) A bug-a; a bug-a boo

(I wanna put your number on the call block) Ooohhhh...

(Have AOL make my email stop)

('Cause you're a bug-a, you're buggin' what, you're buggin' who, you're a-buggin' me and don't you see it ain't cool)

(You make me wanna throw my pager out the window) Realize I don't want you

(Tell MCI to cut the phone poles)

(Break my lease so I can move) Trust me I don't want you

('Cause you a bug-a boo)

(I wanna put your number on the call block) Regret the day that I met you

(Have AOL make my email stop)

('Cause you're a bug-a, you're buggin' what, you're buggin' who, you're a-buggin' me and don't you see it ain't cool)

Thou shall not give in to temptation

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
bug /bʌɡ/ B1	noun - an annoying person or thing verb - to annoy or bother
cool /kuːl/ A2	adjective - fashionable or impressive
phone /foʊn/ A1	noun - a device used to transmit sound over distance verb - to call someone on the phone
number /ˈnʌmbər/ A1	noun - a quantity or amount noun - a phone number verb - to assign a number to something
window /ˈwɪndoʊ/ A1	noun - an opening in a wall or roof
call /kɔːl/ A1	verb - to speak to someone on the phone noun - a phone call
stop /stɒp/ A1	verb - to cease an action noun - a place where something is halted
message /ˈmɛsɪdʒ/ A2	noun - a communication sent or received
minutes /ˈmɪnɪts/ A1	noun - a unit of time
mail /meɪl/ A1	noun - letters and packages sent or received
shoes /ʃuːz/ A1	noun - a covering for the foot
wanna /ˈwɒnə/ A1	verb - informal for want to
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate into pieces
lease /liːs/ B1	noun - a contract granting use of property for a set time
momma /ˈmɑːmə/ A1	noun - mother
stress /stres/ B1	verb - to feel worried or anxious noun - mental or emotional strain
door /dɔːr/ A1	noun - a hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of the head

Key Grammar Structures

• You make me wanna throw my pager out the window

  ➔ Present simple with 'make' for habitual actions

  ➔ The structure 'make + object + verb' is used to express a habitual action or a strong desire. Here, it emphasizes the speaker's frustration.

• 'Cause you a bug-a boo, a bug-a boo

  ➔ Contraction of 'because' and subject-verb agreement

  ➔ 'Cause is a contraction of 'because'. The phrase 'you a bug-a boo' shows subject-verb agreement, where 'you' (singular) is paired with 'a' (singular form of 'are').

• I wanna put your number on the call block

  ➔ Use of 'wanna' as a colloquial contraction of 'want to'

  ➔ 'Wanna' is a colloquial contraction of 'want to', commonly used in informal speech. It conveys a casual tone.

• You buggin' what? You buggin' who?

  ➔ Contraction of 'you are' and use of slang

  ➔ 'Buggin'' is a contraction of 'bugging', which is slang for annoying. The questions 'You buggin' what? You buggin' who?' are rhetorical, emphasizing frustration.

• Even if the Pope he said he likes you too

  ➔ Use of 'even if' for hypothetical conditions

  ➔ 'Even if' is used to introduce a hypothetical condition, suggesting that the following situation is unlikely but still considered. Here, it emphasizes the speaker's indifference.

• You're buggin' me and don't you see it ain't cool

  ➔ Use of 'ain't' as a non-standard negation

  ➔ 'Ain't' is a non-standard contraction of 'am not', 'is not', 'are not', 'has not', or 'have not', commonly used in informal or colloquial speech. It adds a casual or emphatic tone.