☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Bad Boys' addresses the consequences of criminal behavior and questions what perpetrators will do when held accountable.
- The song emphasizes the importance of education as a means to improve negative behaviors.
- The lyrics suggest that people often shift the blame for their misconduct onto others.
- The song ends with a reminder of the humanity of each individual and the potential for change and kindness, regardless of wrongdoing.
Interpretation
The song 'Bad Boys' by
Will Smith is a song that highlights the consequences of bad behavior and criminal activities. The repeated refrain 'Bad boys, bad boys, Watcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do, When they come for you' is a direct question to those who operate outside the law, asking what they will do when law enforcement comes to hold them accountable.
The song also emphasizes the importance of education and upbringing, when it mentions in the lyrics 'When you were eight, And you had bad traits, You go to school and you learn the golden rule' that despite bad behaviors in childhood, there is the opportunity to learn better behavior through education.
The lines 'You chuck it on this one, You chuck it on that one' could be a reference to how people often blame others for their misbehavior instead of taking responsibility for their own actions.
The song ends with a reminder of humanity and the possibility of change, as it asks 'Why did you have to act so mean don't you know, You're a human being born of a mother with, The love of a father reflections come and reflections go'. This underscores that despite the misbehavior and consequences it brings, every person has the potential for kindness and change within them.