Like I do

Tate McRae

Lyrics

[Chorus] Say you wanna know me, you don't wanna know me You just wanna do what I do You been tryna read me, think you wanna be me You should go ahead and try to Say you wanna know me, you don't wanna know me You just wanna do what I do What I do (I do) Like I do (Ooh)
[Verse] Oh, baby, you got ten fingers 'round my neck at all times Oh, baby, you think 'bout me ten times more than even your own life And I thought nothin' of it 'til I saw you last Got your own, but you started eyein' down on my man And my clothes, and my plans Know you're prayin' on my downfall (Oh yeah)
[Pre-Chorus] I don't trust you, not at all (At all)
[Chorus] Say you wanna know me, you don't wanna know me You just wanna do what I do You been tryna read me, think you wanna be me You should go ahead and try to Say you wanna know me, you don't wanna know me You just wanna do what I do What I do (I do) Like I do (Ooh)
[Verse] Baby, tell me What you gon' do when they all find out? (Yeah) You ain't what you paint to thе public, nah, nah Friends with the ones that you know you shit-talkin' about You'rе so composed It's insufferable I ain't never seen that many faces (Oh) I ain't never ever wanna ever switch places (Oh)
[Pre-Chorus] I don't trust you, not at all (At all, no)
[Chorus] Say you wanna know me, you don't wanna know me You just wanna do what I do You been tryna read me, think you wanna be me You should go ahead and try to Say you wanna know me, you don't wanna know me You just wanna do what I do What I do (I do) Like I do
[Interlude] You know, I thought we were friends But I get this weird feeling in my stomach I can't tell if you wanna kill me or if you wanna kiss me And sometimes I'm flattered But also, fuck you Get the fuck away from me
[Chorus] Say you wanna know me, you don't wanna know me (Yeah, yeah) You just wanna do what I do You been tryna read me, think you wanna be me You should go ahead and try to Say you wanna know me, you don't wanna know me You just wanna do what I do What I do (I do) I do, I do

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About The Track

"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.

Meaning & Themes

Toxic Imitation

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.

Obsession & Jealousy

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.

Fake Personas

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.