"Like I do" stands as one of Tate McRae's most direct and biting tracks from the SO CLOSE TO WHAT??? (Deluxe) album. Departing from themes of heartbreak, this song tackles the uncomfortable reality of toxic emulation. Tate confronts an individual who crosses the line from admiration to obsession, detailing the unsettling experience of being copied and undermined by someone who claims to be a friend. The spoken-word interlude adds a raw, personal touch, breaking the fourth wall to express genuine disgust and confusion.
The core theme is "Single White Female" energy. The lyrics "You just wanna do what I do" and "think you wanna be me" highlight the subject's lack of identity and parasitic need to mimic Tate's life, style, and mannerisms.
Lines like "eyein' down on my man" and "ten times more than even your own life" paint a picture of deep-seated envy. The antagonist isn't just copying; they are competing, hoping to replace Tate in her own life.
Tate exposes the discrepancy between public image and private reality ("You ain't what you paint to the public"). It serves as a critique of social climbers who maintain a "composed" facade while being "insufferable" behind closed doors.