JoJo Siwa's 'Raspy' Lyrics Are a Mosaic of Memes and References to Her Past Eras

Cosmopolitan

3 days ago

JoJo Siwa is clapping back at her haters the best way she knows how: through song. Over the years, the Dance Moms alum has been a hot topic of conversation for many reasons. Whether it's her budding relationship with Chris Hughes, her upcoming tour's VIP packages, or her recent cover of Kim Carnes's 'Bette Davis Eyes,' she sees what the internet has been saying, and now, she's responding through a cheeky upbeat track that references her past eras.
She first teased the track on August 1, writing, 'People had a lot to say about Bette Davis Eyes… so I started writing right away!.. new song coming soon, can you guess what it's gonna be called?🌪️💎💡'
From Abby Lee Miller's 'JoJo! Have you learned nothing?!' lecture to JoJo's attempt at covering Olivia Rodrigo's 'Traitor' in her car, the song features nearly every meme about the star. Spoiler alert: she's totally in on the joke. Here are JoJo Siwa's 'Raspy' lyrics—and all the references throughout—explained.
Lyrics provided by Genius
[Verse 1]Eyes like Bette DavisHear my voice and you know what my name isWise beyond my ageThat's what happens when you're little and you're put on the stageBut quit crying 'cause you're famousCan't change this, 'She's shameless, this crazy'Don't hate me, I'm just a little babySlim Shady, but a lady
From the jump, JoJo references her signature raspy voice and recent 'Bette Davis Eyes' cover, which received mixed reactions from fans and the original artist herself, Kim Carnes.
Upon its release, Kim shared a clip of her original version and wrote, 'There is a difference between singing a song.... And embodying it....I've always believed authenticity is what makes music timeless. I'm forever grateful to be the voice behind this one..... 'Bette Davis Eyes.''
JoJo also shouts out rapper Eminem as she flows over the beat, and even calls back to the viral TikTok sound, 'I'm just a baby.'
[Pre-Chorus]It just happens when I'm happyI get (Hey)[Chorus]RaspyRaspyRaspy, I get raspyYou know I'm raspy, you see I'm raspyYou hear I'm raspy, I get raspy[Verse 2]Say what you want, go ahead, try to insult meI'm sulking, I'm sulkingAll press is good press, 'Hey JoJo, you're a mess'Okay (Capture my feelings)If you yell at mе I'm gonna cry (Boo-hoo)Another headline for thе late night newsWho's my dream guest on my podcast?My exes confessed to construction vestsAnd I can't say my R's, but I can buy a Rolls RoyceWas on The Masked Singer 'cause I couldn't make The VoiceYou act like I can't hear the noise, but I canMy happiness is a choice (That's right)Karma never came, yeah, she's still a traitorLook back and laugh, not with angerDon't want the songs, but I'll keep them comin'(JoJo) What? (Have you learned nothing?)No one's made this dramatic of a change, I sound insaneI blame my age and the stage, dare I say, 'She's raspy today' (Hey, hey)
Before she ran a speed round of references, she had to address her haters, who constantly refer to her as a 'mess.' But, buckle up, because this is where most of the memes come in on the track, as beautifully shown in this fancam edit:
We're also going to drop 'em here, too, for your personal reference:
[Chorus][Post-Chorus][Bridge]Hello? Huh, yeahNo, no, no, my throat's fine, it's fineWell, I mean, it's not fine, but we're going with itOh, yeah, no, I saw that, God, it's hilariousI'll just roll with it (Hey), let's go
On the bridge, she pokes fun at how her raspy voice affects her throat and how she reacts to all the memes made from her authentic moments.[Chorus][Post-Chorus][Outro]Can we take a— can we take a five?My throat's starting to hurtHahahahaha