-Track 7

The speaker imagines being a boy to show how unfairly the relationship seems to work: he can act freely, while she is expected to remain faithful and wait. At first, she hopes that living in his position would help her understand him better and make her a more caring partner. The mood then shifts from frustration and hurt to firm rejection: when he tries to return, she says it is too late.

“Taken for granted” means failing to appreciate someone because you assume they will always be there. The contrast between his going out freely and her “waitin’” at home suggests unequal expectations, not just one argument. Turning off his phone and claiming it is broken implies that he is avoiding contact and hiding his choices. These details help explain why the speaker feels that trust has been damaged.

The repeated idea “If I were a boy” is a thought experiment, not necessarily a claim that all boys behave this way. The lyric criticizes this man’s lack of care and the double standard the speaker perceives. Its ending is also slightly unresolved: she says he does not understand, yet warns that he may someday wish he had been better. The listener can hear both anger and the painful wish that he had understood sooner.