[Intro: Ester Dean] Na-na-na, come on Na-na-na, come on Na-na-na-na-na, come on Na-na-na, come on, come on, come on Na-na-na-na, come on Na-na-na, come on Na-na-na-na-na, come on Na-na-na, come on, come on, come on Na-na-na-na
[Verse 1: Rihanna] Feels so good being bad (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh) There's no way I'm turning back (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh) Now the pain is my pleasure 'cause nothing could measure (Oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh) Love is great, love is fine (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh) Out the box, outta line (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh) The affliction of the feeling leaves me wanting more (Oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
[Chorus: Rihanna] 'Cause I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it Sex in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it Sticks and stones may break my bones But chains and whips excite me 'Cause I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it Sex in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it Sticks and stones may break my bones But chains and whips excite me
[Post-Chorus: Rihanna & Ester Dean] Na-na-na, come on, come on, come on I like it, like it Come on, come on, come on I like it, like it (Na-na-na) Come on, come on, come on I like it, like it Come on, come on, come on I like it, like it
[Verse 2: J. Cole] Hey, you know they say pain is pleasure Turn it up when you play this shit One time for my latest girl You can be one of my greatest hits Tired of rapping ’bout chains and whips Do you like to get chained and whipped? Do you like rough sex? Hit 'em like I’m upset Do they get your panties wet? Le-le-let's go, you rockin' with Cole, it's the best flow Put the game on lock while those lame-os watch I'm on fire, they are not, I kick down the door, they all knock Bitch, I’m a boss, they on a clock You used to be a good girl, don’t matter Since you gone bad, you only got badder
[Chorus: Rihanna] 'Cause I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it Sex in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it Sticks and stones may break my bones But chains and whips excite me
[Post-Chorus: Rihanna & Ester Dean] Na-na-na, come on, come on, come on I like it, like it Come on, come on, come on I like it, like it (Na-na-na) Come on, come on, come on I like it, like it Come on, come on, come on I like it, like it
[Refrain: Rihanna] S-S-S and M-M-M S-S-S and M-M-M
[Bridge: Rihanna] Oh, I love the feeling you bring to me Oh, you turn me on It's exactly what I've been yearning for Give it to me strong And meet me in my boudoir Make my body say, "Ah-ah-ah" I like it, like it
[Chorus: Rihanna] 'Cause I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it Sex in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it Sticks and stones may break my bones But chains and whips excite me 'Cause I may be bad, but I'm perfectly good at it Sex in the air, I don't care, I love the smell of it Sticks and stones may break my bones But chains and whips excite me
[Post-Chorus: Rihanna & Ester Dean] Na-na-na, come on, come on, come on I like it, like it Come on, come on, come on I like it, like it (Na-na-na) Come on, come on, come on I like it, like it Come on, come on, come on I like it, like it
[Refrain: Rihanna] S-S-S and M-M-M S-S-S and M-M-M S-S-S and M-M-M S-S-S and M-M-M
Embed
About
Genius Annotation1 contributor
This is Rihanna’s 4th single off her 2010 studio album Loud.
S&M is an uptempo dance-pop and Eurodance song that samples the synthesizer line from Depeche Mode’s 1984 song “Master and Servant.” In this song, Rihanna metaphorically explains how used to the media’s hard criticism she has become; now using their harsh words and speculations and turning them to work for her.
Although this song was a major hit, many people looked down on its sexual nature and overtly sexual lyrics.
Expand
+4
Share
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning