If you want me, a cherry on top, the pick of the peck,
The creme de la crop.
If you want me you better do better than that tonight.
Oh, Oh.
If you want me, it takes more than a wink,
And more than a drink and more than you think.
If you want me you're gonna' have to break the bank, tonight.
Cause some don't have the patience, some call me high-maintenance
But you pay the bill, cause, that's the deal.

[Chorus]
If you wanna ride, just name your price don't play cheap, with your heart
Don't make a bet if you can't write the check, for me, for me.
Cause I can be bought, but you'll pay the cost
If you can afford me

If you want me, I'm not a piece of ass, a one night stand, a storage ship
I think you better walk by, tonight
Oh, no.
If you want me, then stop begging I don't put out for charity
If you want me there's no discount price tonight
But I don't need your dollar bills I just want something real
Cause, nothings free, except a lovin' me

[Chorus]

If you want me, a cherry on top,
The pick of the peck, the crème de la crop

[Chorus: x2]



Lyrics submitted by ReeSeS

Track duration: 03:18

"If You Can Afford Me" as written by Katy/hollander Perry

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


If You Can Afford Me song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:At first I thought this song was a fun hooker song, but after listening to it, I realised there were some contradictions. Why would she say everything she said in the second verse if it was supposed to be her "hooker" song? So after breaking the song down, it occured to me that it's about relationships. She's basically telling a guy that he has to commit to her if he wants to be with her.
    In the first verse she uses gold digger references. She's basically saying "Look, you can't get me just by taking me out on a nice date." The line "You're gonna have to break the bank" means that he's gonna have to show her his love, compassion, and commitment. The second verse talks about how she won't be his sex toy, and the chorus is basically saying "If you want to be in a relationship, pony up and commit. Can you handle it?"
    Flag CometCobraon July 20, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:While many people may think the song makes her sound like a gold digger, she could mean the exact opposite (as in she doesn't care about his money at all)
    The lines "If you want me, it takes more than a wink,
    And more than a drink and more than you think." and
    "If you want me, I�m not a piece of ass, a one night stand, a storage ship"
    could actually mean that she CANT be bought with money, and that it takes more than money to be with her, like actual love.

    And the lines "If you want me you�re gonna have to break the bank, tonight." and
    "If you wanna ride, just name your price don�t play cheap, with your heart"
    could actually mean, she wants him to give her all his love and without holding back (she doesn't just want some)

    Also "Cause some don�t have the patience, some call me high-maintenance
    But you pay the bill, cause, that�s the deal."
    could mean that she Knows she's not exactly perfect, but he'll have to deal with some things she cant change, cause that's what love is.
    And by 'high-maintenace' she could mean the amount of effort and not the amount of money.

    "If you want me, then stop begging I don�t put out for charity
    If you want me there�s no discount price tonight"
    could mean that she's not going to comprise for anything less than love.

    and the lines"But I don�t need your dollar bills I just want something real
    Cause, nothing�s free, except a lovin� me"
    clearly indicate that she's not after his money.

    "Don�t make a bet if you can�t write the check, for me, for me"
    could mmean don't promise her something you can't give her.

    and finally "Cause I can be bought, but you�ll pay the cost
    If you can afford me"
    could mean she's available but only if he's willing to do all the above mentioned things.

    sthe meaning could be completely different from what you first think when you hear it.

    OR this could just be a Very positive interpretation of the song and Katy could actually be a whore. =/
    (which she is NOT)



    Flag Felix123on September 04, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:She's not litterally selling herself. She's using money as a metaphore for love. She says she's "Cause some dont have the patience, some call me high-maintenance." she wants someone who can put up with her, not someone to actually buy her things of material value. this is clear in the line "But I don't need your dollar bills I just want something real." She wants real love!
    Flag junkie4musicon May 19, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:just looking at the title makes you think whore, but she's actually singing about how she just wants a real relationship. which i guess everyone can relate to this song.
    good song. =]
    Flag LilRocker7204on April 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:by the way, cheque = check (it's the same thing, cheque is how the british write it)

    and as far as the song goes... I think it's pretty straight foward and I agree with what most of you said (Jayemel and lotta)
    Flag Voxiferaon December 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is amazing :) sooo cute.
    its just about how she wants a real relationship, one to last. not "hooking up" or "one night stands", you know :)
    Flag xbrokensoundsxon September 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the album artwork on the cover of "one of the boys" is a remake of a photo of her idol, "Lolita."

    but yeah, she could be whoring herself. i don't really take many of her songs seriously though...
    Flag jasonchriston August 19, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:A cursory listen to this song makes it sound like she's setting herself up to be a whore. That she only cares about a man for what he can spend on her. But after reading the lyrics and listening closer, she is saying that the currency she is looking for is a good heart. Still, with the album art that comes with the CD, you'd think she's whoring herself out...
    Flag stoolhardyon August 14, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I like what Jayemel said. In a literary sense, the song makes you think you know where it's going. She leads you in with the first verse, that it's all about the money, "you're going to break the bank" etc. But the real point of the song is in the second verse: "I’m not a piece of ass, a one night stand" "But I don’t need your dollar bills I just want something real." Anyone can put their best foot forward, pay for the nice dinner, the movie, wear their best shirt, and $95 jeans. But it's all pretense. That's not WHO a person is. A girl who falls for that really is just a one-nighter. Katy apparently is looking for an ACTUAL RELATIONSHIP (GASP!) It's mindblowing to think a girl would want someone who actually cares for them and is willing to give up something once in a while. God forbid you make a sacrifice to make the relationship work. Selfish relationships never last.
    Flag lotta_gumptionon August 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:not prostitution. just another good girl power song.
    real girl power, not girls fucking boys while simultaneously promoting girl power (Spice Girls)
    Flag spenceriscoolon July 12, 2008   Link

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