Rihanna – Where Have You Been Lyrics - Genius

2025, In ReviewFeaturedChartsVideosPromote Your MusicSign Up34Where Have You BeenRihannaProducersCalvin Harris, Cirkut & 1 moreTrack 2 onTalk That Talk (Deluxe Edition) May 8, 20121 viewer235.1K views62 ContributorsTranslations

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Where Have You Been Lyrics

In “Where Have You Been”, Rihanna desperately wonders where her lover has been before they met. In fact, she repeats the phrase “where have you been” 14 times in the song, so you know she definitely hoped for… Read More [Refrain: Rihanna]I've been everywhere, man, looking for someoneSomeone who can please me, love me all night longI've been everywhere, man, looking for you, babeLooking for you, babe, searching for you, babe[Pre-Chorus: Rihanna & Ester Dean]Where have you been?'Cause I never see you outAre you hiding from me, yeah?Somewhere in the crowdYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahYeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah (Oh-ooh)Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahYeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah[Chorus: Rihanna]Where have you been?All my lifeAll my life, life, life, lifeWhere have you been all my li-i-i-i-i-ife?Where have you been all my li-i-i-i-i-ife?Where have you been all my li-i-i-i-i-ife?Where have you been all my life?[Drop]You might also like[Refrain: Rihanna]I've been everywhere, man, looking for someoneSomeone who can please me, love me all night longI've been everywhere, man, looking for you, babeLooking for you, babe, searching for you, baby[Pre-Chorus: Rihanna & Ester Dean]Where have you been?'Cause I never see you outAre you hiding from me, yeah?Somewhere in the crowdYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahYeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah (Oh-ooh)Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahYeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah[Chorus: Rihanna]Where have you been?All my lifeAll my life, life, life, lifeWhere have you been all my li-i-i-i-i-ife?Where have you been all my li-i-i-i-i-ife?Where have you been all my li-i-i-i-i-ife?Where have you been all my li-i-i-i-i-ife?[Drop: Rihanna](Li-i-i-i-ife)(Where have you been all my li-i-i-i-ife?)(Y-you)(Y-you)(Y-you)(You)[Bridge: Rihanna & Ester Dean]You can have me all you wantAny way, any dayJust show me where you are tonightYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (Oh-ooh)Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah (Yeah, yeah, yeah)Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (Oh-oh)Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah[Refrain: Rihanna]I've been everywhere, man, looking for someoneSomeone who can please me, love me all night longI've been everywhere, man, looking for you, babeLooking for you, babe, searching for you, babe34EmbedCancel

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AboutSong Bio2 contributors

In “Where Have You Been”, Rihanna desperately wonders where her lover has been before they met. In fact, she repeats the phrase “where have you been” 14 times in the song, so you know she definitely hoped for a lover to show up.

The song’s gritty electro-pop sound is mainly given by Calvin Harris, who produced another hit on this album: “We Found Love.” Cirkut and Dr. Luke also have production credits.

In the US, the song reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Rih her second top ten from the album after “We Found Love”, another track produced by Calvin Harris.

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Ask a questionIs there an official acapella version of the song?Genius Answer1 contributor +1Is there an official instrumental version of the song?Genius Answer1 contributor +1Is there a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the music video?Genius Answer1 contributor +1Who produced “Where Have You Been” by Rihanna?When did Rihanna release “Where Have You Been”?Who wrote “Where Have You Been” by Rihanna?Talk That Talk (Deluxe Edition) (2011)Rihanna

1. 1. You Da One
2. 2. Where Have You Been
3. 3. We Found Love
4. 4. Talk That Talk
5. 5. Cockiness (Love It)
6. 6. Birthday Cake
7. 7. We All Want Love
8. 8. Drunk on Love
9. 9. Roc Me Out
10. 10. Watch n’ Learn
11. 11. Farewell
12. 12. Red Lipstick
13. 13. Do Ya Thang
14. 14. Fool in Love
15. 15. We Found Love (Calvin Harris Extended Mix)

Talk That Talk (2011)RihannaJust Dance 2014 Official Tracklist (2013)UbisoftBFF (2012)ARS Entertainment BelgiumNOW That’s What I Call Music! 82 [UK] (2012)NOW That’s What I Call Music!The Annual 2013 | Ministry Of Sound (2012)Various ArtistsWhere Have You Been (2012)RihannaExpand CreditsReleased onMay 8, 2012ProducersCalvin Harris, Cirkut & Dr. LukeWritersEster Dean, Calvin Harris, Dr. Luke, Cirkut & Geoff MackCopyright ©Def Jam RecordingsAdditional VocalsEster DeanVocal ProducerKuk HarrellRecording EngineerKuk Harrell, Marcos Tovar & Calvin HarrisEngineerAubry “Big Juice” Delaine & Clint GibbsAssistant EngineerChris Sclafani & Jonathan SherMixing EngineerȘerban Ghenea & John HanesAssistant Mixing EngineerPhil SeafordProduction Coordinator (Management)Katie Mitzell & Irene RichterAssistant Recording EngineerJennifer RosalesRecorded AtGrand Hotel, Room 654 (Oslo, Norway). eightysevenfourteen studios (Los Angeles, CA). Eyeknowasecret Studios (Brentwood, CA). Fly Eye Studio (London)Songs That Sample Where Have You BeenFailan by GnB Chili, RIRI by Dorcci, Can't Help Falling in Love by White Rabbit and Jax, Pop Danthology 2012 by Daniel Kim (CAN), Immediate Reaction by Dee Billz (Ft. Touchamill), Meninos Do Torro by Gui Gomez, Verloren & Gefunden by MiZeb, Qlas - Wintersessie 2026 by 101Barz (Ft. GP uit G & Qlas), Waar Was Je? by Qlas, NOW That's What I Call MASHUP! by Chongo, MONTMARTRE by Lushe (FRA), Wherehaveyoubeen by Kavo, Geronimo by Chongo, HACKING THE GATE by Juelz & finally found you (where have u been?) by Armani WestWhere Have You Been InterpolationsWhere Have You Been by Ester Dean & I've Been Everywhere by Lucky StarrSongs That Interpolate Where Have You BeenWhere is the Devil? by LSDXOXO & Fries by Willam (Ft. Rhea Litre)Where Have You Been CoversWhere Have You Been by KIRA (DEU) (Ft. GUMI (グミ)), Where Have You Been by Operación Triunfo 2017 (Ft. Agoney), Where Have You Been by Sense (LIT), Where Have You Been by KIDZ BOP Kids, Where Have You Been by Cimorelli, Evolution of Rihanna by Pentatonix, Where Have You Been by Samantha Jade & Where Have You Been by Shontaysia AlburnWhere Have You Been RemixesWhere Have You Been (Sense Remix) by Rihanna, Where Have You Been (Sense Extended Remix) by Rihanna, Where Have You Been? (Vice Instrumental) by Rihanna, Where Have You Been? (Vice Club Mix) by Rihanna, Where Have You Been? (Hector Fonseca Dub) by Rihanna, Where Have You Been? (Hector Fonseca Remix) by Rihanna, Where Have You Been? (Hector Fonseca Radio Edit) by Rihanna, Where Have You Been? (Papercha$er Instrumental) by Rihanna, Where Have You Been? (Papercha$er Remix) by Rihanna, Where Have You Been? (Hardwell Instrumental) by Rihanna, Where Have You Been? (Hardwell Club Mix) by Rihanna, Where Have You Been (Remix) by Rihanna (Ft. Flo Rida), Where Have You Been by Drinks On Me, Where Have You Been (John Summit & Wooli Remix) by Rihanna, John Summit & Wooli, Where Have You Been (2011) by Elysia Crampton, When Have You Been? (Remix) [Mixed] by Rihanna, Where Have You Been by DJ Tallboy, Paul Meier & Paraçek & Where Have You Been by REESE (UK)Where Have You Been Live PerformancesSuper Bowl LVII Halftime Show by RihannaWhere Have You Been TranslationsRihanna - Where Have You Been (Traduzione Italiana) by Genius Traduzioni Italiane, Rihanna - Where Have You Been (Český překlad) by Genius České překlady & Rihanna - Where Have You Been (Tradução em Português) by Genius Brasil TraduçõesView Where Have You Been samplesTagsElectronicPopTech HouseAcid TechnoDeep HouseDubstepAcid HouseUSAIn EnglishProgressive HouseSynth-PopEDMDance-PopDanceElectro HouseHouseElectropopExpand CommentsAdd a commentSign Up And Drop Knowledge 🤓Genius is the ultimate source of music knowledge, created by scholars like you who share facts and insight about the songs and artists they love.Sign Up