Poison by Bel Biv Devoe Lyrics Meaning – The Cautionary Tale of Love’s Lethality
Lyrics
[Ron:] Yeah Spyderman & Freeze in full effect
Poison
[Rick:] You ready Ron? [Ron:] I’m ready
[Rick:] You ready Biv? [Biv:] I’m ready, Slick. Are you?
[Rick:] Oh yeah break it down
[Biv:]
Girl I must warn you
I sense something strange in my mind
[Ron:]
Situation is serious
Let’s cure it ’cause we’re running out of time
Mm mm tell ’em Rick
[Rick:]
It’s all so beautiful
Relationships they seem from the start
Yeah mm mm
it’s all so deadly
When love is not together from the heart
Mm mm check it out
It’s driving me out of my mind
That’s why it’s hard for me to find
Can’t get it outta my head
Miss her, kiss her, love her ([Biv:] wrong move you’re dead)
That girl is poison
Never trust a big butt and a smile
That girl is poison
[Biv:]
If I were you I’d take precaution
Before I step to meet a fly girl
[Ron:]
You know?
’cause in some portions
You’ll think she’s the best thing in the world
[Rick:]
She’s so fly, she’ll drive you right out of your mind
Steal your heart when you’re blind
Beware she’s schemin’, she’ll make you think you’re dreamin’
You’ll fall in love and you’ll be screamin’ demon ooh
[Ron:]
Poison deadly movin’ in slow
Looking for a mellow fellow like DeVoe
Getting paid, laid so better lay low
Schemin’ on hearts, money and the whole show
The low pro ho should be cut like an afro
See what you’re sayin’ huh
She’s way into you but I know she’s a loser
(How do you know?)
me and the crew used to do her
Poison (x20)
[Biv:]
I was at the park shake thinkin of takin’ ’em all
And that night I played the wall
Checkin’ out the fellas the highs the lows
Keepin’ one eye open still clockin’ the ho’s
There was one particular girl that stood out from the rest
Poison as can be with a high powered chest
Michael Bivins here and I’m runnin’ the show
Bell Biv DeVoe ha-ha ha-ha
Now you know
[Ron:] yo Slick, blow
[Rick:]
It’s driving me out of my mind
That’s why it’s hard for me to find
Can’t get it outta my head
Miss her, kiss her, love her [Biv:] wrong move you’re dead
That girl is poison
Never trust a big butt and a smile
Poison
She’s dangerous
Poison
Oh yeah (poison) oh yeah
Yeah fellas that was another dope one
you hear what I’m saying Mike?
Yeah BBD in full effect.
Yo whassup to Ralph T. and Johnny G. and I cant forget about my boy B. Brown
And the whole NE crew
(Poison)
ah-ha ah-ha ah-ha
Dipped in the slick, street-smart stylings of New Jack Swing, Bel Biv Devoe’s 1990 anthem ‘Poison’ is a song that pulses with the rhythm of cautionary advice against the beguiling allure of deceptive love. Moving beyond a mere dance track, the song has woven itself into the fabric of R&B and hip-hop culture, becoming an evergreen warning about the perils of surface beauty masking deeper malevolence.
At its release, ‘Poison’ was a departure from the smooth ballads of the then-popular boy bands. It introduced a grittier, more street-wise sound that had less to do with love’s euphoria and more with its potential to ensnare and destroy. Decades later, it remains an enduring emblem of the era, encapsulating a moment when music pivoted towards a sharper truth about romantic entanglements.
Unraveling a Smooth Criminal: The Magnetic Trap of Looks
Bel Biv Devoe wastes no time in setting the scene of ‘Poison’. With a measured candor, they introduce a character—’a fly girl’—who radiates a dangerous charm. Through their perspective, we understand this beauty is a trap, one that ensnares and misleads the heart with smiles and an enticing physique. It’s a song that paints a vivid picture of desire—the kind that blinds a person to the truth of who someone really is.
This is not a new cautionary tale; literature and music have long detailed the fall of those led astray by appearances. Yet, ‘Poison’ recontextualizes this warning within the paradigm of contemporary relationships, voicing suspicions and the importance of one’s wits in the relentless world of dating and emotions.
A Heartfelt Hook with a Dark Edge: The Earworm of Skepticism
The undeniable hook of the song—’Never trust a big butt and a smile’—encapsulates the essence of the song’s warning. It’s a call for critical examination of the motivations of others, especially when we are most vulnerable to outward appeal. And it’s delivered in a way that’s irrepressibly catchy, welcoming even as it advises caution.
Bel Biv Devoe’s fusion of a killer beat with a nugget of hard-earned wisdom encapsulates the dichotomy of dating—the quest for connection pitched against the preservation of one’s well-being. It’s a melody that sticks, a lyric that taps into the listener’s doubts and histories, capturing a universal truth in an addictively packaged refrain.
Venomous Verses: Peering Behind the Charming Facade
Beyond its chorus, the song’s verses delve deeper into the story of a seductress whose intentions are anything but pure. Bel Biv Devoe narrates personal experiences and shared knowledge, speaking of a woman both ‘poison as can be’ and ‘way into you.’ The storytelling element brings a gritty realism to their admonitions, drawing on the lived wisdom of the streets.
Their accounts serve as further backing for the song’s overarching motif—that not all danger is easily discerned and sometimes the most arousing prospects are fraught with the most peril.
The Hidden Meaning: Toxicity in Passion and Peril
‘Poison’ can be viewed through a broader lens, as an allegory for the toxicity that often lurks in human connections. The narrative doesn’t vilify attraction or denounce all forms of love. Instead, it presents a sophisticated take on the complexity of human relationships, suggesting that what is alluring can sometimes be lethal, just as certain passions can be all-consuming.
In this more nuanced interpretation, ‘Poison’ becomes a reflection on the importance of discernment, a lesson that transcends romance to encompass any aspect of life where the surface may belie the substance beneath.
Rhythmic Reminders: Crafting Memorable Lines for the Long Haul
Songs endure through their ability to resonate with audiences beyond their original context, and ‘Poison’ has remained prevalent due to its relatable content and memorable lines. The recurring phrase ‘That girl is poison’ serves as a rhythmic reminder of heartbreak’s sting and the vigilance needed to protect oneself against emotional harm.
These unforgettable lines carry through generations, bridging gaps between eras and remaining as poignant now as they were when they first told us to beware. It’s an anthem that alerts, teaches, and yet, somehow, plays like a friend giving tough love—a friend with an exceptionally good beat.
