The Real Meaning Behind Tate McRae’s Greedy

In an interview with People about “Greedy,” Tate McRae shared that she is not one to be very open with people she doesn’t know well. “We started writing this really sassy song about the feeling of having utter confidence being like, ‘Yeah, it takes a lot to really get me to open up,’” McRae told the outlet. “And it ended up feeling like this really cool female empowerment song, which I loved.”

The greediness referenced in the title has to do with a man in a bar wanting to know a lot about McRae after just meeting her. The opening verse starts with McRae singing quotes from the man when he expresses that he’s been talking to her for a while but she’s not telling him much. “‘Can’t you tell that I want you?’” McRae sings. “I say, yeah.” She launches into the chorus with a confident, “I would want myself.”

She also gives the man the warning that she doesn’t share much about herself easily, adding: “So sure of yourself / Baby, don’t get greedy / That s*** won’t end well / No, it won’t end well.” The second verse continues that feeling of self-assurance when McRae tells the man he’ll “never know much past my name.” It’s evident he is not the kind of person she wants to get to know, despite his feelings for her.