Ring the Alarm

## Video

Original videoeY\_mrU8MPfI|209|252

"Ring the Alarm" is the fifth track from Beyoncé's second studio album, B'Day.

## Background

The song was produced by Swizz Beatz. He stated: "['Ring the Alarm' is] just one of the many presents I gave [Knowles] for her *B'Day*. I have the most tracks on her album as a single producer". Knowles said about the collaboration: "I love working with Swizz. He's challenging. His beats are so complex it's hard to find a melody. But ['Ring the Alarm'] just clicked". "Ring the Alarm" is an R&B song that incorporates elements of punk rock. "Ring the Alarm" features Knowles as the female protagonist impersonating a threatened woman involved in a love triangle. She is unwilling to allow another woman to profit from all the efforts she put on to make her lover a better man.

## Reception

On September 10, 2006, the song was added to US urban contemporary radio playlists. A two-track CD single was released on October 3, 2006, and a five-track remix CD was later made available on October 17, 2006. "Ring the Alarm" received polarized responses from contemporary music critics, who noted that it was a marked departure from Knowles' previous material. For the week ending September 23, 2006, "Ring the Alarm" debuted at number twelve on the US *Billboard* Hot 100, following its entry at number seven on the US Hot Digital Songs. The song peaked at number eleven on the Hot 100 chart, and was Knowles' lowest peaking single until "Get Me Bodied", which peaked at number sixty-eight. Though not released outside the United States, "Ring the Alarm" charted at number fifty-seven on January 15, 2007, in Sweden.

## Lyrics

Ring the alarm

I been through this too long

But I'll be damned if I see another chick on your arm!

Don't you ring the alarm

I been through this too long

But I'll be damned if I see another chick on your arm!

She gon' be rockin' chinchilla coats (if I let you go)

Benz and the house off the coast (if I let you go)

She gon' take everything I own (if I let you go)

I can't let you go, damned if I let you go

She gon' rock the VVS stones (if I let you go)

Coupes in the 'Bach Carter rolls (if I let you go)

She go profit everything I taught (if I let you go)

I can't let you go, damned if I let you go

Tell me how should I feel, when I know what I know

And my female intuition, telling me you a dog?

People told me 'bout the flames, I couldn't see through the smoke

When I need answers, accusations, what you mean you gon' choke? (oh)

You can't stay, you gotta go (oh)

Ain't no other chick spendin' yo' dough

This is taking a toll, the way the story unfolds

Not the picture-perfect movie everyone would have saw

She gon' be rockin' chinchilla coats (if I let you go)

Benz and the house off the coast (if I let you go)

She gon' take everything I own (if I let you go)

I can't let you go, damned if I let you go

She gon' rock the VVS stones (if I let you go)

Coupes in the 'Bach Carter rolls (if I let you go)

She go profit everything I taught (if I let you go)

I can't let you go, damned if I let you go

Ring the alarm

I been through this too long

But I'll be damned if I see another chick on your arm!

Don't you ring the alarm

I been through this too long

But I'll be damned if I see another chick on your arm!

Tell me how should I feel

When you made me belong

And the thought of you just touching her is what I hate most

I don't want you but I want it and I can't let it go

To know you give it to her like you gave it to me, come on (oh)

He's so arrogant and bold (oh)

But she gone love that shit, I know

I done put in a call, time to ring the alarm

'Cause you ain't never seen a fire like the one I'm gon' cause

She gon' be rockin' chinchilla coats (if I let you go)

Benz and the house off the coast (if I let you go)

She gon' take everything I own (if I let you go)

I can't let you go, damned if I let you go

She gon' rock the VVS stones (if I let you go)

Coupes in the 'Bach Carter rolls (if I let you go)

She go profit everything I taught (if I let you go)

I can't let you go, damned if I let you go

How can you look at me

And not see all the things that I kept only just for you (ooh)

Why would you risk it baby is that the price I that pay? (Ooh)

But this is my show and I won't let you go

All it's been paid for, and it's mine

How could you look at me

And not see all the things (see all the things, see all the things)

She gon' be rockin' chinchilla coats (if I let you go)

Benz and the house off the coast (if I let you go)

She gon' take everything I own (if I let you go)

I can't let you go, damned if I let you go

She gon' rock the VVS stones (if I let you go)

Coupes in the 'Bach Carter rolls (if I let you go)

She go profit everything I taught (if I let you go)

I can't let you go, damned if I let you go