“Bougie Like Natty in the Styrofoam” – Its Meaning, Origin & Usage
If you’re a country music fan, you may have come across Walker Hayes song “Fancy Like”. It’s a fun country song, though it does have some confusing lyrics. For example, the line “bougie like natty in the styrofoam.”
What does this line mean? Is it dirty? Should I be singing along? All of the questions and more will be unpacked in this explanation of the meaning, origin, and usage of the phrase “bougie like natty in the styrofoam.”
The Meaning of Bougie Like Natty in the Styrofoam
There is a lot to unpack in this phrase, so let’s take it one word at a time, and then look at the phrase as a whole. This way we can have a solid understanding of the phrase and exactly what Walker Hayes is trying to say in his song “Fancy Like”.
Bougie
This is a common phrase that has found its way into popular parlance in recent years. This generally just means fancy in an overt and hedonistic way, particularly in displaying signs of wealth typically attributed to the middle class. The word comes from the Russian word “bourgeoisie” and can be used in a variety of different situations, depending on your definition of “middle class” and fancy.
Natty
Some people assumed that this word implies that Walker Hayes is signing about having sex, this word being the stand in. particularly because the following line is “squeak-squeakin’ in the truck bed all the way home”. However, Hayes has clarified that the lyric isn’t meant to be anything as dirty as that.
Instead, he states that the word “natty” is another word for natural beer, something that can be seen reflected with a few different natural beer brands.
Styrofoam
You can get styrofoam coolers that are useful for carrying packs of beer around in. These are known for squeaking a lot against the rubberized load bin in the back of a truck, creating a very irritating noise.
Altogether
So, with all of this in mind, the line “bougie like natty in the styrofoam” is taken to mean that Walker Hayes feels fancy when he brings a brand of natural beer home with him in a styrofoam cooler in the back of his truck.
The entire song “Fancy Like” is a playful nod to the fact that Hayes and his partner like to be simple, and feel fancy when they do things like go to Applebee’s on a date night. This is just one example of this kind of irony.
There’s nothing particularly middle-class or “bougie” about pickup trucks and beer, but this is all that Hayes and his partner need to feel fancy.
Examples of Bougie Like Natty in the Styrofoam
I’ve heard people dancing to that song on TikTok that goes “bougie like natty in the styrofoam” but I have no idea what it’s supposed to mean.
I never understand what Walker Hayes is saying, what does “bougie like natty in the styrofoam” even mean?
Why don’t we head to the lake? I’ll bring the drinks and we can be bougie like natty in the styrofoam for the whole drive.
Sure, if we want to be like Walker Hayes.
I know we’re feeling bougie, but are we a “bougie like natty in the styrofoam” kind of bougie?
Other Ways to Say Bougie Like Natty in the Styrofoam
Because this is just a line from a song and not an actual phrase that people use, there aren’t really many comparative phrases. However, another way that you could say this might be “I’m feeling fancy on my date” or even “I’m low maintenance”.
The other ways that Walker Hayes conveys the same meaning are:
- “Fancy like Applebee’s on a date night”
And
- “Got that Bourbon Street steak with the Oreo shake”
Anything that alludes to something typically very casual as something fancy, it’s similar to “bougie like natty in the styrofoam”
Origins of Bougie Like Natty in the Styrofoam
This line isn’t a common phrase used in conversations, and is instead a line from a viral song by Walker Hayes called Fancy Like. Throughout the song, he explains how low maintenance he and his girlfriend are and how simple things like beer in a cooler can feel fancy.
Generally, you’ll only hear or use this phrase when discussing the viral TikTok trend or the song.
Millions of people have participated in the viral trend, mostly Gen Zs and Millennials, but some Gen Xers as well. Sometimes these videos are sincere examples of things that feel bougie, and sometimes they’re ironic, however it’s generally all about the dance.
