On “Work,” Rihanna seeks a deep, meaningful connection, however the male character she sings to (played by Drake) is only interested in sex. This narrative is similar to Rihanna and Drake’s previous collaborations, 2010’s “What’s My Name?” and 2011’s “Take Care.”
Rihanna sings in Jamaican Patois throughout, which she spoke about in Vogue’s April 2016 cover story:
You get what I’m saying, but it’s not all the way perfect. Because that’s how we speak in the Caribbean.
On “Work” co-star Drake, Rihanna added: “Everything he does is so amazing. We would go to in the Caribbean and just dance and drink and smoke and flirt.”
Snippets of “Work” began to circulate in January 2016 after the pair were spotted shooting a music video in an L.A. mall. On January 26th, Power 106 DJ Justin Credible tweeted that the collaboration between Drake and Rihanna would be coming sooner than anticipated.
One of the song’s producers, Allen Ritter, told Genius that the song originally came together at a pool party at Drake’s house.
Both official “Work” videos were released on February 22, 2016.
About
Released: 2016
Artist: Rihanna
Album: Anti
Featured artist: Drake
Genres: Dancehall, Pop
Awards: BET Award for Best Collaboration,
Work (Explicit) Lyrics
Work, work, work, work, work, work
He said me haffi work, work, work, work, work, work
He see me do mi dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt
So me put in work, work, work, work, work, work
When you ah gon’ learn, learn, learn, learn, learn?
Me nuh care if him hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt, hurting
Dry, me ah desert him
No time to have you lurking
Him ah go act like he nuh like it
You know I dealt with you the nicest
Nuh body touch me you nuh righteous
Nuh badda, text me in a crisis
I believed all of your dreams, adoration
You took my heart and my keys and my patience
You took my heart on my sleeve for decoration
You mistaken my love I brought for you for foundation
All that I wanted from you was to give me
Something that I never had
Something that you’ve never seen
Something that you’ve never been, mm
But I wake up and act like nothing’s wrong
Just get ready fi work, work, work, work, work, work
He said me haffi work, work, work, work, work, work
He see me do mi dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt
So me put in work, work, work, work, work, work
Na, na, na, na, na, na
When you ah gon’ learn, learn, learn, learn, learn, learn?
Before the tables turn, turn, turn, turn, turn, turn
Beg you something, please
Baby don’t you leave
Don’t leave me stuck here in the streets, uh huh
If I get another chance to
I will never, no never neglect you
I mean who am I to hold your past against you?
I just hope that it gets to you
I hope that you see this through
I hope that you see this true
What can I say?
Please recognize I’m tryin’, babe
I haffi work, work, work, work, work, work
He said me haffi work, work, work, work, work, work
He see me do mi dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt
So me put in work, work, work, work, work, work
When you ah gon’ learn, learn, learn, learn, learn
Me nuh care if him hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt, hurting
Yeah, okay
You need to get done, done, done, done at work, come over
We just need to slow the motion
Don’t give that away to no one
Long distance, I need you
When I see potential I just gotta see it through
If you had a twin, I would still choose you
I don’t wanna rush into it, if it’s too soon
But I know you need to get done, done, done, done
If you come over
Sorry if I’m way less friendly
I got niggas tryna end me, oh, yeah
I spilled all my emotions tonight, I’m sorry
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’, rollin’, rollin’
How many more shots until you’re rollin’?
We just need a face to face
You could pick the time and the place
You spent some time away
Now you need to forward
And give me all the work, work, work, work, work, work
He said me haffi work, work, work, work, work, work
He see me do mi dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt
So me put in work, work, work, work, work, work
When you ah gon’ learn, learn, learn, learn, learn
Me nuh care if him hurt, hurt, hurt, hurt, hurting
Mm
Mm
Work, work, work, work, work, work
Mm
