“Gabriela” by KATSEYE
“Gabriela” by KATSEYE is a playful, dramatic pop track about jealousy, love, and rivalry. The group warns a woman named Gabriela to stay away from their man, blending sass, humor, and passion with an infectious chorus.
Lyrics
[Verse 1: Megan & Manon] Hot like a bullet
Flying too fast, I couldn’t catch it
Heart in the casket
You always knew it
The starring role, the main attraction
Got cameras flashing [Pre-Chorus: Lara & Sophia] Like, ooh
You got everybody’s eyes undressing you
And I see it too
Yeah, ooh
You could have anyone else you wanted to
I’m begging you [Chorus: Yoonchae, Manon, Lara & Daniela] Hands off, Gabriela, Gabriela
Hands off, Gabriela-la-la
Back off of my fella, Gabriela
Back off, Gabriela-la-la
‘Cause, ooh
You could have anyone else you wanted to
I’m begging you (Hey)
Hands off, Gabriela, Gabriela
Hands off, Gabriela-la-la, la-la-la-la [Verse 2: Megan & Yoonchae] Skin amaretto
I bet you taste just like the summer
Under the covers (Hey)
Me in the middle
Overprotective of my lover
You make me wonder [Pre-Chorus: Lara & Sophia] Like, ooh
If you made all of these fantasies come true
What would you do?
Yeah, ooh
You could have anyone else you wanted to
But I’m begging you [Chorus: Yoonchae, Manon, Lara & Daniela] Hands off, Gabriela, Gabriela
Hands off, Gabriela-la-la
Back off of my fella, Gabriela
Back off, Gabriela-la-la
‘Cause, ooh
You could have anyone else you wanted to
I’m begging you (Hey)
Hands off, Gabriela, Gabriela
Hands off, Gabriela-la-la, la-la-la-la [Post-Chorus: Megan] La-la-la-la
La-la-la-la
La-la-la-la (Oh, no) [Bridge: Daniela] Él llegó conmigo y conmigo se va
Sus ojos son mío’, eso no va a cambiar
Me quiere a mí y no importan las demás
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Él llegó conmigo y conmigo se va
Sus ojos son mío’, eso no va a cambiar
Me quiere a mí y no importan las demás
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no [Chorus] Hands off, Gabriela, Gabriela
Hands off, Gabriela-la-la (Gabriela)
Back off of my fella, Gabriela
Back off, Gabriela-la-la (Oh, Gabriela-la-la)
‘Cause, ooh
You could have anyone else you wanted to
I’m begging you (I’m begging you; Hey)
Hands off, Gabriela (Gabriela, hands off), Gabriela
Hands off (Hands off), Gabriela-la-la, la-la-la-la (La-la-la-la) [Outro: All, Manon] La-la-la-la (La-la-la-la)
La-la-la-la (La-la-la-la)
La-la-la-la
(Back off, back off, back off)
Highlighted lines
“Hands off, Gabriela… Back off of my fella”
“You could have anyone else you wanted to / I’m begging you”
“Él llegó conmigo y conmigo se va… Me quiere a mí y no importan las demás”
Step-by-Step (line-by-line short interpretations)
Verse 1
- Hot like a bullet — intense, dangerous attractiveness.
- Flying too fast, I couldn’t catch it — overwhelmed; things move quickly.
- Heart in the casket — wounded or guarded heart.
- You always knew it — Gabriela knows her effect.
- The starring role, the main attraction — center of attention.
- Got cameras flashing — public gaze; temptation.
Pre-Chorus
- You got everybody’s eyes undressing you — objectified; everyone notices.
- And I see it too — speaker admits noticing.
- You could have anyone else you wanted to / I’m begging you — plea and insecurity.
Chorus
- Direct command: Hands off / Back off of my fella — boundary, claim on partner.
- Repeats choice line to underline jealousy and pleading.
Verse 2
- Skin amaretto… taste like the summer — sensual temptation.
- Me in the middle / Overprotective of my lover — possessiveness; fear of loss.
- You make me wonder — doubt about partner’s loyalty.
Post-Chorus
- La-la-la — melodic filler that emphasizes emotion.
Bridge (Spanish)
- Él llegó conmigo y conmigo se va — assertion of commitment: “he came with me, he leaves with me.”
- Sus ojos son mío’… Me quiere a mí — ownership of attention and affirmation of love.
Outro
- Repetition reinforces the message: protect the relationship; eject rivals.
Side-by-side annotated lyric sheet (concise)
| Lyric (snippet) | Meaning (+emoji) |
|---|---|
| Hot like a bullet | Irresistible & risky. 🔥💥 |
| Flying too fast, I couldn’t catch it | Overwhelmed by pace. 😵💫 |
| Heart in the casket | Guarded/wounded heart. ⚰️❤️ |
| You got everybody’s eyes undressing you | Public temptation/objectification. 👀 |
| You could have anyone else you wanted to | She has choice — speaker feels threatened. 😬 |
| I’m begging you | Vulnerable plea. 🙏 |
| Hands off, Gabriela | Firm boundary/command. 🚫 |
| Back off of my fella | Claiming partner; jealousy. 🛑💑 |
| Skin amaretto / taste like the summer | Sensual imagery—temptation. 🍑☀️ |
| Overprotective of my lover | Possessive, anxious. 🛡️ |
| Él llegó conmigo y conmigo se va | Declaration of loyalty. 💍🇪🇸 |
| Sus ojos son mío’… Me quiere a mí | Confidence in partner’s love. 👁️➡️❤️ |
| La-la-la / Outro | Anthemic, catchy reinforcement. 🎶 |
Song Details
| Field | Info |
|---|---|
| Artist | KATSEYE |
| Title | “Gabriela” |
| Language | English + Spanish (bridge) |
| Genre | Pop / Dance-pop |
| Main themes | Jealousy, boundaries, loyalty, desire |
| Tone | Playful, assertive, slightly possessive |
Theme
Central themes: jealousy and boundary-setting expressed with playful defiance and romantic possessiveness; the Spanish bridge adds firm affirmation of commitment.
Meaning
A catchy, assertive declaration: the singers challenge a rival (Gabriela), plead for distance, and reaffirm their partner’s loyalty.
FAQs (brief)
Q: Is Gabriela a real person?
A: Likely a symbolic “other” representing temptation or a rival.
Q: Why add Spanish lyrics?
A: To intensify emotion, add texture, and deliver a bold loyalty statement.
Q: Is the song about insecurity or confidence?
A: Both — it mixes vulnerability (begging) with assertiveness (commands/bridge).
Conclusion
“Gabriela” is a short, punchy pop anthem of jealousy and protection — equal parts flirtatious and fierce. It leans on repetition and a bilingual bridge to turn romantic insecurity into a confident, chantable claim. 🚫❤️🎤
