"Take a Bow" is a song written by R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo and production-team Stargate for the re-release of Rihanna's third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad. It is the first single from the re-release edition of the album.
"Take a Bow" is a pop/R&B song written and composed by Ne-Yo,Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen of StarGate, with whom she previously worked on "Unfaithful" and "Hate That I Love You".
The lyrics describe a female's point of view as her boyfriend is attempting to apologize after being unfaithful. She sarcastically tells him that his performance is "very entertaining", and to "take a bow" like he was performing on a stage. Although there is a gentle tone to the lyrics, at the heart of it they convey a tone of bitterness and even disgust. It is the second single with the same name to top the Billboard Hot 100 after Madonna's 1995 single "Take a Bow." "Take a Bow" is Rihanna's first song to peak at number 1 on BET's 106 & Park. In July 2008, on a promotional trip to the UK for his new album, Ne-Yo recorded a version of "Take a Bow" for Urban radio station 1Xtra. Taylor Swift has also been performing the song live on her tour.
Take A Bow Lyrics
Rihanna
Hoo...
How 'bout a round of applause
Yeah...
Standing ovation
Oohhhh... yeah
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah...
You look so dumb right now
Standing outside my house
Trying to apologize
You're so ugly when you cry
Please, just cut it out
[Chorus]
Don't tell me you're sorry cause you're not
And baby when I know you're only sorry you got caught
But you put on quite a show
You really had me going
But now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closing
That was quite a show
Very entertaining
But it's over now
Go on and take a bow
Grab your clothes and get gone(get gone)
You better hurry up before the sprinklers come on(come on)
Talkin' about, girl, I love you, you're the one
This just looks like a re-run
Please, what else is on
[Chorus]
And don't tell me you're sorry cause you're not
Baby when I know you're only sorry you got caught
But you put on quite a show
Really had me going
But now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closing
That was quite a show...
Very entertaining
But it's over now
Go on and take a bow
Ohh...
And the award for, the best lie goes to you
For making me believe that you could be
Faithful to me
Let's hear your speech ohh
How about a round of applause
Standing ovation
[Chorus]
But you put on quite a show
Really had me going
But now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closing
That was quite a show
Very entertaining
But it's over now
Go on and take a bow...
But it's over now