[Nicki Minaj (Normani):]
Hello, Charlie
Ariana, Normani, uh, let’s go
[Normani:]
Baby, I’ve been feeding the addiction
Flying from there and back
Felt like an acrobat
Brown eyed so I fell into submission
Needed to catch myself
Like “What the hell?”
Now we pull your chain
Just to wake you up, wake you up
Push you ’til you break
Now you’re stepping up, stepping up, huh huh
[Normani {Dua Lipa} (Ariana Grande):]
Why are you only good to me
When I’m bad to you?
{Why are you only?}
Why are you only good to me (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
When I’m bad to you?
{Why are you only?}
Loving you and hating you is in, depending on the day
Tell me why are you only good to me (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
When I’m bad to you?
{Why are you only?}
[Ariana Grande:]
Stopped thinking like a victim
This time, I’ll throw it back
Boy, can you handle that?
Got you trippin’, gave you no attention
That’s when I figured out
What you’re about
Now we pull your chain
Just to wake you up (Yeah), wake you up (Yeah)
Push you ’til you break
Now you’re steppin’ up, steppin’ up, ah, ah
[Ariana Grande {Dua Lipa} *Nicki Minaj*:]
Why are you only good to me (Hey)
When I’m bad to you?
{Why are you only?}
Why are you only good to me (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
When I’m bad to you? (So bad)
{Why are you only?}
Loving you and hating you is in, depending on the day
Tell me why are you only good to me (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
*When I’m bad to you?*
{Why are you only?}
[Nicki Minaj:]
Mm, ayo
Why you only nice when I get bad, boy, psha
Get back on your job like you employed, boy, psha
You know that I’m saucy, got that sauce, soy, psha
I ain’t ’bout to stay up on this merry-go-round and round
‘Cause we go ’round and ’round
But I don’t want no clowns around me (Brrr)
I tell ’em, “Who is you cuffin’?”
I got ’em huffin’ and puffin’
He keep on callin’ me “baby”
Like I’m a bun in the oven
I said
[Ariana Grande (Dua Lipa) {Normani} *Nicki Minaj*:]
Why are you only good to me {Oh yeah}
*When I’m bad to you?* (When I’m bad to you)
(Why are you only?)
Why are you only good to me {Oh} (, oh, eh)
*When I’m bad to you?* (When I’m bad to you)
(Why are you only?)
Loving you and hating you is in, depending on the day
Tell me why are you only good to me {So good, uh}
When I’m bad to you?
(Why are you only?)
Exploring the Push and Pull of Love in “Bad To You”
“Bad To You” by Ariana Grande, featuring Normani and Nicki Minaj, dives into the complexities of modern relationships, where emotional highs and lows become a cyclical dance. The lyrics capture a recurring theme: affection and attention seem to peak only when boundaries are tested or rules are broken. The song addresses the paradox of feeling most valued when being rebellious or distant, spotlighting a love dynamic that’s as exhilarating as it is exhausting. Through clever wordplay and a playful back-and-forth between the artists, “Bad To You” reflects the confusion and thrill of seeking validation in unpredictable relationships.
Song Credits
Artists: Ariana Grande, Normani, Nicki Minaj
Songwriters: Ariana Grande, Normani, Nicki Minaj, and others
Release Year: 2019
Label: Republic Records