Doja Cat rose from viral novelty track buzz to mainstream superstar with he… Read Full Bio ↴Doja Cat rose from viral novelty track buzz to mainstream superstar with her smooth, hypnotic, R&B-flecked pop songs of sexuality, friendship, and personal power. She gained some significant attention with her early releases, but it was her 2019 sophomore effort, Hot Pink, that took her to the top of the Hot 100. Subsequent charting singles and collaborations with SZA and Saweetie further solidified her star power, and made the arrival of her 2021 album Planet Her all the more hotly anticipated. A number two Billboard 200 hit, Planet Her also earned several Grammy nominations. Singles followed, including her savvy 2022 cover of Hole's "Celebrity Skin," 2022's "Vegas" off the Elvis soundtrack, and 2023's trip-hop-inflected "Attention," all of which spotlighted Doja's adventurous, genre-crossing sensibilities. The latter track and "Paint the Town Red" appeared on her fourth album, 2023's Scarlet, which found her digging deep into her rap and hip-hop roots and became her third consecutive album to hit the Top Ten of the Billboard 200. Doja Cat was born Amala Zandile Dlamini in 1995 in Tarzana, California, the daughter of South African actor Dumisani Dlamini and painter Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer. After moving to New York for a few years, she returned to California with her mother. As a child, she studied piano and took tap, ballet, and jazz dance lessons. She also discovered surfing and breakdancing. By her teens, she was teaching herself to sing and listening to an eclectic mix of hip-hop, indie rock, R&B, and electronic music. Doja also began recording songs on her computer and in 2014 released her debut EP, Purrr! She quickly found herself with a viral hit with the track "So High." More singles followed, including the languid "Nunchucks" and "No Police," each one grabbing attention online. Another single, "Mooo!," arrived in 2018 and quickly went viral. On the heels of that success, Doja Cat issued her full-length debut album, Amala, which found her expanding upon her dreamy, meme-friendly sound with more hip-hop-, pop-, and R&B-infused tracks, including "Candy" and "Roll with Us." In 2019, she issued an expanded version of Amala that added the singles "Juicy" and "Tia Tamara," featuring Rico Nasty. Her sophomore album, Hot Pink, was quick to follow; with features from Smino, Gucci Mane, and Tyga, the 2019 LP leaned more into the sexually wry aspects of her ever-shifting persona. A Top Ten hit on the Billboard 200, the album's fifth single, "Say So," pushed her even further up the charts. After making a steady rise in the Hot 100 at the start of 2020, the multi-platinum track finally hit number one in May, boosted by a Nicki Minaj remix. After picking up a couple of American Music Awards, Doja carried the momentum from her breakout year into 2021. She began appearing alongside established celebrities more frequently, adding a guest feature to Saweetie's single "Best Friend," contributing to an Ariana Grande remix with Megan Thee Stallion, and releasing the SZA-assisted single "Kiss Me More." All of this led up to the June 2021 release of her third full-length studio album, Planet Her. It featured guest spots from Young Thug, the Weeknd, JID, and others, and its cover art was shot by photographer David LaChapelle. The album, which reached number two on the Billboard 200 and topped the R&B albums chart, also garnered Grammy nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album. In February 2022, Doja hit number 18 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart with a cover of Hole's "Celebrity Skin," which featured lyrics reworked by her and Courtney Love. That same year, she reached the Top Ten of the Hot 100 with "Vegas," her contribution to the soundtrack to director Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic. In June 2023, she debuted the '90s trip-hop-inspired "Attention" as the first track released off her fourth studio album, Scarlet. Another song, "Paint the Town Red," followed that August as the official first single. Arriving that September, the album found Doja balancing her pop-R&B style with tracks that embraced her rap and hip-hop roots. It featured production by a handful of artists, including Earl on the Beat, D.A. Got That Dope, and Y2K, among others. A Top Five album on both the Billboard 200 and Rap Albums charts, Scarlet also earned several Grammy nominations, including Best Pop Solo Performance for "Paint the Town Red" and Best Rap Song for "Attention."

The Bones
Doja Cat Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's cold
I mean really cold
But my blood is warm (blood is warm)
What's inside of me but skull and bones?
Ask the Lord
There's a price for yours (price for yours)
What's inside of me now but my soul?

Yeah, said
The only thing I sold was a record
The only thing I folded under was pressure
Can I say, I digress? You the aggressor
Now y'all say, y'all impressed, I'm the successor
I don't need no intervention or one ya lectures
What's so hard to believe? What is the message?
Talented and I'm driven like you ain't ever seen
And that's why God blessed me you, should respect Him
You need to mind your business, Helga Pataki
'Cause I'ma do something devilish if you at me
I might hit Woo for the kudu and get a back piece
You too high off that booboo to unpack me (ah)
When I arrive on set there ain't no holy water
But when I grind my set make sure to throw me waters
I'ma make it through twenty-seven, y'all superstitious
I'ma say jinx on my twenty-eighth when you owe me sodas

It's cold (yeah)
I mean really cold
But my blood is warm (blood is warm) (come on, let's go)
What's inside of me but skull and bones? (Let's go, yeah)
Ask the Lord (ask the Lord)
There's a price for yours ('cause there's a price for yours)
What's inside of me now but my soul? (Uh-huh)

Yeah, yeah
Y'all been pushin', "Satan this" and "Satan that"
My fans is yellin', "'Least she rich," you need that pact
Lookin' like I got some things you hate I have
And trust me, baby, God don't play with hate like that
So you gon' be real upset when he pick Cat
To be the one up on them charts, all over the map
And you could keep on tellin' yourself it's all in my tats
And you could keep on addin' the numbers and doin' the math (yeah)
I see y'all prepping for Doomsday, but that ain't San Andreas' fault
And this ain't a movie
But I know y'all been livin' life like this is a school play
How red is them rubies? You chokin', it's too late
I turn 'em to blue face, I run on a full tank
Can't nobody move me
Bitches cryin' with full face, that's animal cruelty
And I don't need to say it to 'em
I'ma let the paper talk, gotta elevate the bar
The world's losin' faith 'cause

It's cold (yeah)
I mean really cold (I mean)
But my blood is warm (blood is warm) (come on, come on, let's go, let's go)
What's inside of me but skull and bones? (Let's go, yeah)
Ask the Lord (ask the Lord)

There's a price for yours ('cause there's a price for yours)
What's inside of me now but my soul? (Uh-huh)

Overall Meaning

In "Skull and Bones," Doja Cat reflects on the challenging aspects of her journey to success and the criticism she faces from others. The lyrics convey a sense of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

The opening lines, "It's cold, I mean really cold, but my blood is warm," suggest that despite the harshness of the world around her, Doja Cat remains passionate and motivated. She acknowledges the presence of her physical body, represented by the phrase "skull and bones," but wonders what lies beyond the surface. She contemplates the value of her soul and poses the question to a higher power, asking what truly defines her.

In the second verse, Doja Cat addresses the backlash and scrutiny she has faced. She dismisses the critics who question her talent and drive, emphasizing that she does not require any intervention or lectures. She reveals her determination to prove herself and be recognized as a successor in her field. Doja Cat speaks about her own self-belief and work ethic, attributing her success to her talent and the blessings she has received from a divine source.

Throughout the song, Doja Cat confronts those who doubt her and attempt to bring her down. She asserts that she will proceed with her plans, and if provoked, she may engage in rebellious or mischievous behavior. The lyrics also touch upon the concept of superstition and how Doja Cat intends to break through the societal expectations associated with the age of twenty-seven, implying that she will continue to thrive beyond that point.

Overall, "Skull and Bones" showcases Doja Cat's resilience, self-assuredness, and refusal to let criticism hinder her pursuit of success.

Line by Line Meaning

It's cold
The atmosphere is cold and unwelcoming

I mean really cold
I mean that it is exceptionally cold

But my blood is warm (blood is warm)
Despite the external conditions, I am internally filled with warmth and vitality

What's inside of me but skull and bones?
What exists within me is merely the physical framework of a human body

Ask the Lord
Inquire to the divine power above for answers

There's a price for yours (price for yours)
There is a cost or consequence for your existence

What's inside of me now but my soul?
Apart from my physical self, my essence lies within my soul

The only thing I sold was a record
The only thing I have exchanged for monetary gain is my music

The only thing I folded under was pressure
The only thing that has made me succumb is external stress or expectations

Can I say, I digress? You the aggressor
May I divert from the topic? You are the one instigating or attacking

Now y'all say, y'all impressed, I'm the successor
Now you all acknowledge your admiration and recognize me as the one who follows in the footsteps of greatness

I don't need no intervention or one ya lectures
I do not require anyone to intervene or lecture me

What's so hard to believe? What is the message?
What is it that is difficult for you to comprehend? What is the underlying meaning?

Talented and I'm driven like you ain't ever seen
I possess exceptional skills and motivation unlike anything you have witnessed before

And that's why God blessed me you, should respect Him
And that is why God has bestowed blessings upon me, so you ought to show reverence towards Him

You need to mind your business, Helga Pataki
You should focus on your own affairs, similar to how the character Helga Pataki from Hey Arnold! had her own personal issues

'Cause I'ma do something devilish if you at me
Because I am capable of engaging in mischievous or provocative actions if you provoke or challenge me

I might hit Woo for the kudu and get a back piece
I may communicate with Woo (possibly a reference to a person or entity) to acquire something valuable and obtain a tattoo on my back

You too high off that booboo to unpack me (ah)
You are under the influence of a substance or in a delusional state that prevents you from understanding me fully

When I arrive on set there ain't no holy water
When I am present at a filming location or performance, there is no sacred liquid to purify the environment

But when I grind my set make sure to throw me waters
However, when I exert myself and strive towards success, make sure to honor me by showering me with praise and support

I'ma make it through twenty-seven, y'all superstitious
I will overcome the obstacles associated with being twenty-seven years old, while others may believe in superstitions surrounding this age

I'ma say jinx on my twenty-eighth when you owe me sodas
I will declare a jinx on my twenty-eighth birthday when you owe me something as a way of playful retaliation

Y'all been pushin', "Satan this" and "Satan that"
You all have been promoting ideas or attributing things to Satan

My fans is yellin', "'Least she rich," you need that pact
My supporters are proclaiming, 'At least she is wealthy', as if that is something you desire in return for making a pact with the devil

Lookin' like I got some things you hate I have
It appears that I possess certain things that arouse your envy or animosity

And trust me, baby, God don't play with hate like that
And believe me, dear, God does not tolerate or appreciate such hatred

So you gon' be real upset when he pick Cat
Therefore, you will become extremely displeased when God chooses me

To be the one up on them charts, all over the map
To be the artist dominating the music charts and gaining popularity worldwide

And you could keep on tellin' yourself it's all in my tats
Meanwhile, you can continue convincing yourself that it is all due to my tattoos

And you could keep on addin' the numbers and doin' the math (yeah)
And you can continue calculating and analyzing the statistics and figures

I see y'all prepping for Doomsday, but that ain't San Andreas' fault
I observe all of you preparing for a catastrophic event, but you cannot blame the San Andreas fault line for it

And this ain't a movie
This is not a fictional cinematic production

But I know y'all been livin' life like this is a school play
However, I am aware that you have been leading your lives as though it is merely a performance in a school play

How red is them rubies? You chokin', it's too late
How intense is your envy? You are suffocating from it, and it is already too late to change

I turn 'em to blue face, I run on a full tank
I transform the envious individuals into despairing individuals ('turning them blue'), fueled by my drive and determination

Can't nobody move me
Nobody has the power to disturb or influence me

Bitches cryin' with full face, that's animal cruelty
Women shedding tears while wearing a full face of makeup appears cruel and inhumane

And I don't need to say it to 'em
I do not need to express it directly to them

I'ma let the paper talk, gotta elevate the bar
I will let my achievements and success speak for themselves, as I aspire to raise the standards

The world's losin' faith 'cause
The world is gradually losing its trust and belief, because

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Amala Zandile Dlamini

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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