Boys will be boys, they say Girls better behave He pushed you down on the playground at five "He just likes you, honey, that's how boys thrive" You cried for help but they laughed it away "Boys will be boys," that's all they would say She wore a tank top on a summer day "Cover yourself up, don't you lead them astray" But he's shirtless, sweating, running around free While she's learning shame at the age of three Different rules for the same damn game He gets excuses, she gets the blame Boys will be boys, they say But girls better behave He can rage, she must smile Boys will be, but girls on trial Boys will be wild and free Girls must fit perfectly Double standards every day Boys will be boys, they say Fifteen years old, he's called a "player" She does the same, she's labeled a "slayer" His body count is something to brag Hers makes her nothing but a dirty slag He speaks his mind, he's "confident and strong" She does the same and suddenly she's wrong "Too aggressive, too loud, too much" While he's rewarded for the exact same touch Write it down, make it clear One set of rules when he's here Boys will be boys, they say But girls better behave He can rage, she must smile Boys will be, but girls on trial Boys will be wild and free Girls must fit perfectly Double standards every day Boys will be boys, they say "Boys will be boys" When he hits When he hurts When he takes what isn't his "Boys will be boys" Locker room talk Just a joke Just boys being boys But God forbid she raises her voice God forbid she makes a choice God forbid she takes up space Or doesn't smile with perfect grace Tell me again how boys will be While you police everything in me Tell me again it's just their nature While you mold us into perfect creatures Boys will be boys, you say? Well, girls are done with this display He can fail, she must excel Boys will be? Go straight to hell Boys will be? We're breaking free No more excuses, can't you see? No more double standards here Boys will be held accountable, that's clear Boys will be... ACCOUNTABLE
