Chained To The Rhythm
Katy Perry feat. Skip Marley Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Are we crazy?
Livin' our lives through a lens
Trapped in our white picket fence
Like ornaments
So comfortable, we're livin' in a bubble, bubble
So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, trouble
Aren't you lonely
Up there in utopia
Where nothing will ever be enough?
Happily numb
So comfortable, we're livin' in a bubble, bubble
So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, trouble

Ah, so good
Your rose-colored glasses on
And party on (woo)

Turn it up, it's your favorite song
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
Turn it up, keep it on repeat
Stumblin' around like a wasted zombie
Yeah, we think we're free
Drink, this one's on me
We're all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm, to the rhythm

Turn it up, it's your favorite song
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
Turn it up, keep it on repeat
Stumblin' around like a wasted zombie
Yeah, we think we're free
Drink, this one's on me
We're all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm, to the rhythm

Are we tone deaf?
Keep sweepin' it under the mat
Thought we could do better than that
I hope we can
So comfortable, we're livin' in a bubble, bubble
So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, trouble

Aha, so good (so good)
Your rose-colored glasses on
And party on (woo)

Turn it up, it's your favorite song
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
Turn it up, keep it on repeat
Stumblin' around like a wasted zombie
Yeah, we think we're free
Drink, this one's on me
We're all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm, to the rhythm

Turn it up, it's your favorite song (oh)
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
Turn it up, keep it on repeat
Stumblin' around like a wasted zombie
Yeah, we think we're free
Drink, this one's on me
We're all chained to the rhythm
To the rhythm, to the rhythm (woah)

It is my desire
Break down the walls to connect, inspire
Ay, up inna your high place, liars
Time is ticking for the empire
The truth they feed is feeble
As so many times before
The greed over the people
They stumblin' and fumblin' and we about to riot
They woke up, they woke up the lions (woah)

Turn it up, it's your favorite song (hey)
Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
Turn it up (turn it up), keep it on repeat
Stumbling around like a wasted zombie (like a wasted zombie)
Yeah, we think we're free (ah)
Drink, this one's on me (ah)
We're all chained to the rhythm (we're all)
To the rhythm, to the rhythm (we're all chained to the rhythm)

It goes on, and on, and on
It goes on, and on, and on (turn it up, it goes on and on and on and on)
It goes on, and on, and on (on and on and on it goes)
'Cause we're all chained to the rhythm

Overall Meaning

The song "Chained to the Rhythm" by Katy Perry speaks about the daily routine and the mundane life most people have been living. It is a commentary on how people are living in their own bubble, either consciously or subconsciously, with their "rose-colored glasses on." People are so comfortable with their lifestyle that they cannot see the troubles and the reality of the world around them. The lyrics suggest that society is stuck in patterns and expectations that are not truly liberating. The song argues that people need to break free of the bubble that they are living in and become more aware of the world's problems.


The song speaks about how society is so accustomed to being restricted and controlled that it becomes a habit to live life within the boundaries set by others. The lyrics metaphorically refer to how people are "chained" to the rhythm of their lives, dancing to the beat of society's predictable patterns. This can lead to a sense of complacency, which ultimately perpetuates the societal issues that people face. The song also points out that although people may think that they are free, they are still restricted by societal expectations.


Overall, the song's message is to encourage people to break out of the chains that bind them to the rhythm of their lives and to start looking around at the issues that need to be addressed. However, the song never suggests that this is easy.


Line by Line Meaning

Are we crazy?
Are we insane to live our lives engulfed in a superficial world?


Livin' our lives through a lens
We are living under the lens of societal norms and expectations.


Trapped in our white picket fence
We are limited by our own misconceptions of a perfect life.


Like ornaments
We are staying stagnant as decorations in a comfortable yet unfulfilling environment.


So comfortable, we're livin' in a bubble, bubble
We're too content with our current situation that we have become blind to the reality around us.


So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, trouble
Our sense of comfort has left us oblivious to the issues facing our world.


Aren't you lonely
Are you not feeling alone in your idealized world?


Up there in utopia
In your perfect world that you strive to create.


Where nothing will ever be enough?
Despite the perfect surroundings, there is always a sense of uneasiness.


Happily numb
Feeling satisfied yet indifferent to the troubles lurking underneath the surface.


Ah-ha, so good
Reacting to entertainment that distracts us from reality, through a happy persona.


Your rose-colored glasses on
Viewing the world with a naive optimism, distorted from reality, you got blinded with your contentment.


And party on (woo)
To continue to distract and entertain ourselves to live in ignorance and an unfulfilling life.


Turn it up, it's your favorite song
Escaping from reality, again and again, losing touch while getting closer to the deception, that we are free.


Dance, dance, dance to the distortion
The illusion that everything is right when in reality it is all fitting the wrong pieces together.


Stumblin' around like a wasted zombie
Navigating blindly and without purpose, in a cycle that doesn't change for the better, frosted by the illusion of freedom.


Yeah, we think we're free (ah-ha)
Still assumes to be free, entangled by self-created conditions of comfort.


Drink, this one's on me
Distracting with alcohol to forget the issues and convince ourselves that everything is okay


We're all chained to the rhythm
We are blindly following the systemic patterns and expectations of our created environment.


Are we tone deaf?
Are we not listening to our heart and soul to address the larger issues around us?


Keep sweepin' it under the mat
Ignoring the neglected issues, we are sweeping it under the rug.


Thought we could do better than that
Assuming we can live in a way that doesn't cause problems, we have let ourselves down by continuing this detrimental cycle.


I hope we can
I am optimistic that we can change our ways and make a better world for ourselves.


Ayy, up in your high place, liars
Addressing those in power, manipulating the truth to maintain stability.


Time is tickin' for the empire
The leaders who ignore what's happening , the clock is running out on their satisfaction.


The truth they feed is feeble
The lies that they propagate don't stand when the truth comes out.


As so many times before
It has happened before, and will happen again in history.


The greed over the people
The people suffering as a result of the powerful looking out for their own interests.


They stumblin' and fumblin' and we're about to riot
The people frustrated with this neglect and chaos caused by people in power and are on the verge of violence.


They woke up, they woke up the lions (woah)
What they initially thought would be an easy fix, they awakened the people, and it will not be simple.


It goes on, and on, and on
The cycle continues, repeating the same mistakes again and again.


Turn it up, it goes on and on and on and on
The more we ignore the problem, the more it escalates, and it will not stop on its own.


'Cause we're all chained to the rhythm
As a society, we are bound by the patterns and expectations that we have created for ourselves, and must break free to make real change.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sia Furler, Max Martin, Katy Perry, Ali Payami, Skip Marley

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@madelaineraye

I honestly love Katy Perry so much. While this song is catchy and
upbeat, I do like how she's trying to bring a bigger issue into the
public periphery. A lot of people in the younger generations do not
question the things they see on the computer or on their phones, telling
them to act and think a certain way. It's so hard for us to put down
our phones and step outside to have genuine human interactions and make
real changes. I'm really hoping that as we grow up, we find a balance
between the digital world and the real world, because the way my peers
interact these days consistently leaves me let down.

Wow that was sad as hell guys I'm so sorry. I hope you all have a
wonderful day! Go outside!



@peachbun

I can tell you that many people have been trying to tell the world...
Just as in the days of Noah, the people didn't want to listen, even for 120 years they were given warnings about what was going to come, but they wanted to remain blind... There was a way to be saved, but they didn't want to care until it was too late. But even when they cared at the moment the rain came, it was only to save their life, not to repent of all the horrible things they were doing...
There is proof of a world-wide flood, among many other archaeological evidences for the biblical accounts...
Biblical prophecy has been fulfilled throughout world history, and there is not much left to be fulfilled before the bible is finished.
People want to remain blind, not learning, making stupid comments like "sky daddy", and remain blind to the truths given...
God himself came down and suffered as a human in order to show humanity how much he wanted to save them....Even when he showed miracles, they still did not trust him and put him to death..
Of course being God he rose again after 3 days... His word is true, events throughout world history have come true, even to this day.
We must use our freedom of choice to make the decision... No one will be forced to be saved if they love this dying world better.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."



@peachbun

I can tell you that many people have been trying to tell the world...
Just as in the days of Noah, the people didn't want to listen, even for 120 years they were given warnings about what was going to come, but they wanted to remain blind... There was a way to be saved, but they didn't want to care until it was too late. But even when they cared at the moment the rain came, it was only to save their life, not to repent of all the horrible things they were doing...
There is proof of a world-wide flood, among many other archaeological evidences for the biblical accounts...
Biblical prophecy has been fulfilled throughout world history, and there is not much left to be fulfilled before the bible is finished.
People want to remain blind, not learning, making stupid comments like "sky daddy", and remain blind to the truths given...
God himself came down and suffered as a human in order to show humanity how much he wanted to save them....Even when he showed miracles, they still did not trust him and put him to death..
Of course being God he rose again after 3 days... His word is true, events throughout world history have come true, even to this day.
We must use our freedom of choice to make the decision... No one will be forced to be saved if they love this dying world better.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."



@leo3499

Katy Perry and Skip Markey?

Chain Smokers and Coldplay?

Ariana Grande and John Legend?

Taylor Swift and Zayn Malik?

Alessia Cara and Zedd?

Selena Gomez and Kygo?

Calvin Harris, FrankOcean, Migos?

Linkin Park and Kiaara?

Martin Garrix and Dua Lipa?

Perfect combinations for 2017 everyone!!!!



@bangtanuniverse-x7g

[0:02] Oblivia come from Oblivion. It means "to forget". We're like the hamster in the "O", we are reckless, oblivious,
unconscious. I think Oblivia is a metaphor of America.
[0:19] This is a Donald Trump reference.
[0:21] We're all addicted to technology.
[0:29] Cotton Candy is shaped like an atomic bomb cloud.
[0:31] This is really fast. Rose looks kinda afraid by the cotton candy, but she keep on having fun.
[0:32] Another Donald Trump reference.
[0:38] Some beautiful and attractive things are dangerous.
[0:40] Rose see her blood and remember being a human, but she still keep on having fun.
[0:47] We're classed for who we are (men or women), not what we feel.
[0:49] The rollercoaster is called "love me" but we don't care about any other feelings. We are selfish and eager.
[1:10] We're all chained to the rythm
[1:20] Facebook's emojis just show how much we are happy. We're all play pretending
[1:23] We can't see the trouble and life keep on going on.
[1:29] Again and again, we're all chained to the rythm.
[1:35] Simon gets 9478 and Rose 17 for the same things. We are not equal.
[1:38] Trump's wall.
[1:46] Donald Trump.
[1:50] Donald Trump.
[1:56] Rose can't see the trouble.
[1:58] We keep on running to go nowhere.
[1:59] We're like robots, chained to the rythm.
[2:08] Oil/water crisis
[2:32] Rose is trying to do like each others
[2:34] The black men fails...
[2:38] ... Just like the asian woman. Katy denounces racism.
[2:39] Mainstream family (that denounce sexism)
[2:43] We're all robots again, but Rose realises there's something wrong.
[3:10] People applause and starts dancing arround her like robots. Rose is lucid. It goes on and on.
[3:42] She starts running to go nowhere...
[3:44] ...And she realises...
[3:46]...That she's chained to the rythm.
[3:54] This stare means everything.

Yes, I feel smart now x) Excuse my english, I am french.



@roboburr

Elerix 23 EXPLAINING SOME SYMBOLISM:
Oblivia, a theme park of pleasures and bliss.

"trapped in our white picket fence"
we are all living in our own comfort zones.

"happily numb"
we live in a world with artificial alternatives.
instant gratifications.
we have reprogrammed ourselves.
we can cheat feeling happy.


She get cut by a barbed wire rose,
that represents her waking up to reality.
the rose isn't just only beautiful.


the rollercoaster is a blind date,
they go on a ride for the pleasure, they get likes and emoji during the ride. like facebook. at the end they separate.
the woman scores low(whore) the man scores big points.
For doing the same thing.
It also represents relationships of today. not love but pleasure.


the sling represents the join or die mentality.
you are either with us (the modern social system) or you are sick, wrong, faulty, against us.
also represents trump wanting to build a wall. a big giant comfort zone.

people waiting for 2000 hours represents people wanting the "american dream" the "high life" the next pleasure waiting and longing forever.


The hamster wheel.
We are all so busy chasing pleasures, it never ends.
we always want to go to the next pleasure. stuck in a loop.
we don't even realise it is causing us misery chasing it.
hamster don't realise they are in a wheel.
humans don't realise they are forever chasing the next pleasure.
ignoring important issues.


"we think we are free"
we live in a prison of freedom.



Firewater is the poison we eat without questioning wtf it is.
like MacDonald's.
The firewater could also represent oil, and the power that comes with it.

The video generally presents the Royalty.
We are the modern day Royalty, and we have completely lost it, without realising it.


When Katy Pery realizes the truth at the end.
The people around her, still don't.
They keep dancing like robots, and the attractions keep on going.

The dancing people with 3D glasses represents
the people that seem to get it.
It can't get any more clear with those 3D glasses.
But even us are so programmed, that we are talking about it on YouTube. instead of real life.
Dancing like robots around Katy.



At the end, she is alone.
She does not want to be "happy" anymore, she wants to be free.

She has found a purpose.
-robo



@Hoosje11

0:02 The theme park is called Oblivia, meaning we're oblivious to what's going on in the world
0:22 people continuously making selfies: referring to today's social media obsession
0:29 the cotton candy are shaped like atomic bomb clouds
0:37 American dream enablers wearing space masks. They very much resemble the World Nobles from One Piece; a privileged rank in humanity that cannot bear to breathe the same air as normal humans so they wear this uniforms. They would always keep a gun with them in case anyone lesser would question or fight them, then they would kill them instantly
1:05 The "Great American Dream Drop", the ride with the houses falling symbolizing the housing crisis with people getting evicted because they can't make their mortgage payments
1:20 more reference to social media obsession
1:30 the sign indicates the year ''1984'', could very much be a reference to ''1984'' by George Orwell, a book about a dystopian society
1:35 the man next to Katy gets more validation, despite doing the exact same thing as her
1:48 an attraction named ''No Place Like Home'' throws people over a white picket fence, obviously referring to Trump's immigration policies. The woman who gets thrown over the fence looks like she's wearing some type of headscarf, so that might be a reference to the Muslim ban
1:50 "BOMBS AWAY" when Katy sings "thought we could do better than that"
2:00 people in line for a wheel. The white man 2:05 continues to run successfully without running out, but the black man (2:35) and Asian woman (2:38) fall down on their way
2:23 oil/water crisis
2:45 the people around Katy watch a big event and continue to be in a trance-like state, unable to notice what is happening around them. Katy however (3:02) realizes that something is wrong. Could be a reference to the election.
The 3D glasses could also, however, be about the media controlling people/references how people watch cable news passively without really taking in what's going on in the world



All comments from YouTube:

@miainsong5063

Oblivia. i get it now. The world of Oblivion. No one knows the truth. This kind of song should emerge and not songs about how the guy loves sex so much

@deacon3651

Mia Insong or oblivious because we are all oblivious

@jessicasenasilva8632

Mia Insong traduz

@furkankucukgoncu8092

"How the guys loves sex so much" 😂 Well, you have right ;)

@andrewlagno9482

Mia Insong Sovngarde awaits!

@andrewlagno9482

Saucy Lady Also, i saw your other comments. let me take a guess, you're here from the musical autopsy video as well?

1 More Replies...

@zoubidasalah2418

cause we are all chained to the system......

@miikaylaaa

Zoubida Salah Rhythm not system

@bland.2219

Lydayla MSP lmao no they meant "system" purposely.

@indxgo3400

you didn't got it gurl XDDD

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