Take the Bait

Take the BaitUnreleased song by Britney Spears
General information
Artists	Britney Spears
Status	Unleaked
Written	2008
Recorded	2008
Genre	Pop · electronic · rock
Album	Circus (outtake)
Label	Jive
Writer(s)	Marcella Araica • Ezekiel Lewis • Balewa Muhammad • Candice Nelson • Patrick Smith • Nate Hills
Producer(s)	Danja

"Take the Bait" is an unreleased song by American recording artist Britney Spears, intended for her sixth studio album, Circus.

Background

"Take the Bait" was written and produced by Danja, with additional writing from Marcella Araica, Ezekiel Lewis, Balewa Muhammad, Candice Nelson and Patrick Smith (known as The Clutch).

The song is listed in BMI repertoire, crediting Spears as a performer. No official information has been provided about its origin and the reason it was never released.

Composition

"Take the Bait" is a pop song with elements of electronic and rock. It is composed in the key of C# major with 111 beats per minute, corresponding to 3B in the Camelot system.

Lyrical theme

"Take the Bait" is about flirtation and power in attraction, using fishing as a metaphor for romantic pursuit. The narrator is a confident, playful woman who knows she is being "chased" but stays in control, deciding if and when she will "take the bait."

Lyrics

NOTE: This is a transcription of a reference demo of "Take the Bait." Spears’ version is expected to be nearly identical, possibly with only minor variations.

[Intro]
I got the bait to catch ya, I'm the big fish in the pond
And I'm fishing with a pole, they call me Silvers John Long
And if that don't excite ya and I'm talkin' way too much
Dial Nemo and you're single
Danja, Britney and The Clutch

[Verse 1]
I see you fishing and you're wishin that I'd just take the bait
You think the girls up in this club are all like fish in a tank
Keep throwin' line out after line and one by one they all sink
You're off the hook, hook but your body I like
And I think, I think I might bite

[Chorus]
Give it to me straight, don't make me wonder, wonder
Now look me in my eyes, tell me there's no other
Better reel me in, don't let the line break
I might take the bait tonight (Night)
I just might take the bait tonight
Oh, I might take the bait tonight
Oh, I
Better reel me in, don't let the line break
I might take the bait tonight (Night)
Might take the bait tonight

[Verse 2]
Reach out and grab me
You could catch me if you wait long enough
I'll just make circles around you if I don't see what I want
Most girls take anything you throw them but I'm calling your bluff
I'm off the hook, hook but I'm worth the wait
If you want me that's what it takes, takes

[Chorus]
Give it to me straight, don't make me wonder, wonder
Now look me in my eyes, tell me there's no other
Better reel me in, don't let the line break
I might take the bait tonight (Night)
I just might take the bait tonight
Oh, I might take the bait tonight
Oh, I
Better reel me in, don't let the line break
I might take the bait tonight (Night)
Might take the bait tonight

[Outro]
You caught me boy and I'm a keeper, keeper (Uh-huh)
You play this right you just might keep her, keep her
Ain't you getting tired of the fishing, fishing? (Uh-huh)
You just don't know what you been missing
Here it goes (Here it, here it, here it goes now)
Let me know (Let me, let me know)

[Chorus]
Give it to me straight, don't make me wonder, wonder
Now look me in my eyes, tell me there's no other
Better reel me in, don't let the line break
I might take the bait tonight (Night)
I just might take the bait tonight
Oh, I might take the bait tonight
Oh, I
Better reel me in, don't let the line break
I might take the bait tonight (Night)
Might take the bait tonight

Availability

On July 19, 2021, a reference demo version of "Take the Bait" performed by Nelson surfaced online. However, despite that leak, Spears' official vocal take remains unheard and has never leaked online.

Audio

• Reference demo version by Nelson - ( listen)

Trivia

• On January 11, 2009, the lyrics for "Take the Bait" were added to Spears' official website on a hidden link along with "Abroad."
• Spears also recorded "Abroad" in the same session as the song.
• On September 14, 2012, an alleged reference demo of the song surfaced online, but it was later proven to be fake.

Navigation

Discography
Performing Artist(s)	Britney Spears
Official Release(s)	Circus
Album Track Listing	"Womanizer" • "Circus" • "Out from Under" • "Kill the Lights" • "Shattered Glass" • "If U Seek Amy" • "Unusual You" • "Blur" • "Mmm Papi" • "Mannequin" • "Lace and Leather" • "My Baby" • "Radar"
Unused Tracks	"Abroad" • "Dangerous" • "Entertainment" • "Everyday" • "Follow My Fingers" • "Mad Love" • "Paradise" • "Take the Bait" • "Telephone" • "This Kiss" • "Untitled by Britney Spears" • "Untitled with J.R. Rotem" • "Untitled with Lil Jon" • "Untitled with Nicole Morier" • "Untitled with Rob Knox, James Fauntleroy II & Harvey Mason Jr." • "Untitled with Sean Garrett" • "Untitled with Wax Ltd" • "Whiplash"
Live Tours	The Circus Starring Britney Spears
Miscellaneous
Additional Released Tracks	"Amnesia" • "Beat the Leak Megamix" • "Quicksand" • "Rock Boy" • "Rock Me In" • "Phonography" • "Trouble"
Unreleased Material	"Untitled with Tsour Lee Adato"
Other Related Content	Britney: For the Record • Circus (Remix EP) • "Human Nature" • "I'm Scared" • If U Seek Amy (Remix EP) • Radar (EP) • "Sweet Dreams" • Ten Sessions • The Britney Spears Foundation • Womanizer (Remix EP) • "You Oughta Know"
Other Eras
...Baby One More Time • Oops!... I Did It Again • Britney • In the Zone • Blackout • Circus • Femme Fatale • Britney Jean • Glory