# What are the backward lyrics in Missy Elliot's "Work it?"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-backward-lyrics-in-missy-elliots-work-it/198676>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 30, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-backward-lyrics-in-missy-elliots-work-it/198676 "2003-08-30T18:46:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-backward-lyrics-in-missy-elliots-work-it/198676/1 "2003-08-30T18:46:48Z")

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Well, I suppose the subject line says it all. In Missy Elliot’s “Work It,” there’s a line following “Let me put it down, flip it, and reverse it” that sounds like something is indeed being said/played in reverse. I’ve done some lyric searches online and haven’t found it. Anyone know?

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**Author:** ![elephant\_shoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@elephant\_shoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elephant_shoes)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-backward-lyrics-in-missy-elliots-work-it/198676/2 "2003-08-30T19:35:18Z")

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According to the Original Hip Hop Lyrics Archive:

[http://www.ohhla.com/anonymous/missy/undercon/work\_it.mss.txt](http://www.ohhla.com/anonymous/missy/undercon/work_it.mss.txt)

It’s “I put my thang down, flip it, and reverse it” – put down, flipped, and reversed. 🆒

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**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-backward-lyrics-in-missy-elliots-work-it/198676/3 "2003-08-30T20:29:04Z")

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i can vouch for that… i usedthe windows sound recorder to check it. 😊

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**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-backward-lyrics-in-missy-elliots-work-it/198676/4 "2003-08-30T20:32:22Z")

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Darn it! Here I was hoping it was something naughty. Ah well…the rest of the song covers that!

No need to blush, **chaoticdonkey** –we were going to do that if we couldn’t find out.