Royals
Lorde Lyrics
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I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
And I'm not proud of my address
In a torn up town, no postcode envy
But every song's like
Gold teeth, Grey Goose, trippin' in the bathroom
Bloodstains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room
We're driving Cadillacs in our dreams
But everybody's like
Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash
We don't care
We aren't caught up in your love affair
And we'll never be royals (royals)
It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us
We crave a different kind of buzz
Let me be your ruler (ruler)
You can call me queen bee
And baby, I'll rule (I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule)
Let me live that fantasy
My friends and I, we've cracked the code
We count our dollars on the train to the party
And everyone who knows us knows
That we're fine with this, we didn't come from money
But every song's like
Gold teeth, Grey Goose, trippin' in the bathroom
Bloodstains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room
We don't care
We're driving Cadillacs in our dreams
But everybody's like
Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash
We don't care
We aren't caught up in your love affair
And we'll never be royals (royals)
It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us
We crave a different kind of buzz
Let me be your ruler (ruler)
You can call me queen bee
And baby, I'll rule (I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule)
Let me live that fantasy
Oh
Oh (oh, oh)
We're bigger than we ever dreamed
And I'm in love with being queen
Oh
Oh (oh, oh)
Life is great without a care
We aren't caught up in your love affair
And we'll never be royals (royals)
It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us
We crave a different kind of buzz
Let me be your ruler (ruler)
You can call me queen bee
And baby, I'll rule (I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule)
Let me live that fantasy
In "Royals," Lorde explores the concept of rejecting materialism and status symbols while living in a world that glorifies them. She begins by acknowledging her humble background, growing up in a "torn-up town" and never having seen a diamond. Unlike the luxurious lifestyles portrayed in pop culture, she and her friends count their money on the train to a party, preferring a "different kind of buzz" to that provided by expensive champagne and designer clothes. Instead, they dream of driving Cadillacs and living like royalty, but ultimately recognize that being "bigger than we ever dreamed" and feeling empowered as a queen are enough for them. They reject the idea that money and social status should define their worth and instead define success on their own terms.
In a larger sense, "Royals" is a critique of materialism and social hierarchies that pervade contemporary culture. Lorde emphasizes that the "luxe" lifestyle that she and her peers will never attain is a product of social inheritance rather than personal merit, born into wealth and privilege. Instead of striving to emulate this lifestyle, she recognizes that it is a trap that will ultimately leave one unfulfilled. By rejecting these tropes and celebrating one's own unique experience, Lorde encourages listeners to define their own paths to happiness and success.
Line by Line Meaning
I've never seen a diamond in the flesh
I have never had the privilege of owning a real diamond.
I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
My only experience with expensive jewelry is through the movies.
And I'm not proud of my address
I live in a poor and run-down neighborhood and it is not something I am proud of.
In a torn up town, no postcode envy
I come from a place that is not affluent and I do not envy those who live in better areas.
But every song's like Gold teeth, Grey Goose, trippin' in the bathroom
I always hear songs about wealth and luxury, with people indulging in expensive items and making poor choices.
Bloodstains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room
People with money often behave recklessly and destructively, ruining things like expensive clothes and hotel rooms.
We don't care
Money and status do not matter to us.
We're driving Cadillacs in our dreams
We have aspirations and dreams of owning nice cars someday.
But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece
People with money are always flaunting their luxurious items.
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash
They even own exotic animals and travel frequently to fancy locations.
We aren't caught up in your love affair
We do not care about the lives and choices of the rich and famous.
And we'll never be royals (royals)
We are not of royal blood and never will be.
It don't run in our blood
Royalty does not run in our family or heritage.
That kind of luxe just ain't for us
We do not desire a luxury lifestyle.
We crave a different kind of buzz
We seek a different kind of excitement and satisfaction in life.
Let me be your ruler (ruler)
Allow me to lead and make my own path in life.
You can call me queen bee
You can refer to me as a confident and powerful individual.
And baby, I'll rule (I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule)
I will take charge and succeed in my own way.
My friends and I, we've cracked the code
My friends and I have figured out what truly matters to us in life.
We count our dollars on the train to the party
We have a limited budget and must carefully count our money before we spend it.
And everyone who knows us knows
Our acquaintances understand our situation and our values.
That we're fine with this, we didn't come from money
We are content with our humble beginnings and do not feel inferior to those with more wealth.
Oh, we're bigger than we ever dreamed
We have grown and accomplished more than we ever thought possible.
And I'm in love with being queen
I am proud of the person I have become and the way I lead my life.
Oh, life is great without a care
Life is wonderful when you do not worry about material possessions or status.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ella Marija La Yelich O'Connor, Joel Little
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rivera Azer Lloyd
Lorde
@nightingalexx5623
whenever she comes back, we'll be waiting.
@browneyes8626
Me too I canβt wait
@grimreaper6507
Still waiting in 2021
@krusevice
Randy Marshall will never come back as Lorde
@lilyjr.1384
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness β€οΈ
@timothyharrison9467
I dont get it where'd she go?
@Missicykay
Remember when this song was all over the radio?
@silencio7216
ItsJustKayla was yeas
@jackuin3387
Yeah, it was during a shitty period in my life and before I finished school. I still find myself looking back with rose tinted glasses regardless, for some reason.