Boys will be boys, they say
Girls better behave

He pushed you down on the playground at five
"He just likes you, honey, that's how boys thrive"
You cried for help but they laughed it away
"Boys will be boys," that's all they would say
She wore a tank top on a summer day
"Cover yourself up, don't you lead them astray"
But he's shirtless, sweating, running around free
While she's learning shame at the age of three

Different rules for the same damn game
He gets excuses, she gets the blame

But girls better behave
He can rage, she must smile
Boys will be, but girls on trial
Boys will be wild and free
Girls must fit perfectly
Double standards every day
Boys will be boys, they say

Fifteen years old, he's called a "player"
She does the same, she's labeled a "slayer"
His body count is something to brag
Hers makes her nothing but a dirty slag
He speaks his mind, he's "confident and strong"
She does the same and suddenly she's wrong
"Too aggressive, too loud, too much"
While he's rewarded for the exact same touch

Write it down, make it clear
One set of rules when he's here

Boys will be boys, they say
But girls better behave
He can rage, she must smile
Boys will be, but girls on trial
Boys will be wild and free
Girls must fit perfectly
Double standards every day
Boys will be boys, they say

"Boys will be boys"
When he hits
When he hurts
When he takes what isn't his
"Boys will be boys"
Locker room talk
Just a joke
Just boys being boys
But God forbid she raises her voice
God forbid she makes a choice
God forbid she takes up space
Or doesn't smile with perfect grace

Tell me again how boys will be
While you police everything in me
Tell me again it's just their nature
While you mold us into perfect creatures

Boys will be boys, you say?
Well, girls are done with this display
He can fail, she must excel
Boys will be? Go straight to hell
Boys will be? We're breaking free
No more excuses, can't you see?
No more double standards here
Boys will be held accountable, that's clear

Boys will be...
ACCOUNTABLE