Love game
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Something's burning, I can't figure out what (out what)
It's either lust or a cloud of dust, judgement is clouded
Must just be the powder from the power of (love)
But I'm in something I don't know how to get out of
Left my girl in the house alone
Is that my soon-to-be-spouse's moan?
And the further I walk, the louder
Pause for a minute to make certain that's what I heard
'Cause after all, this is her place
So I give her the benefit of the doubt, I
Think I might be about to bust her, bust her
The thought's scary, yo, though and it hurts, brace
Hope it ain't, "Here we go, yo"
'Cause my head already goes to worst case scenario
Though in the first place (ah, fuck)
But you confirmed my low-end theory, though
Should've known when I made it all the way to third base
And that was only the first date, could've made it to home plate
But you slid straight for the dome and dove face first
"No you don't understand, I don't do this for anyone, ever"
Yeah, that ain't what they all say? I'll say
You can suck a softball through a straw, used to be my fiancé
'Til you sucked on Wayne, André, and Kanye
Lebron, Akon, Jay, Lil Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e
Polow da Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwamé
Guess I'm gettin' my g-goddang Jigga on, eh?
'Cause your name, I'm beyond sayin'
But fuck it, I'm movin' on, you women are all cray
But I'll probably always keep on playin'

The game of love (love), love (love)
La-la-la-la-la love

She doesn't love me, no, she don't love me no more
She hates my company, guess, she don't love me no more
I tried to get her up out of my head, left my bags at the door
She screamed she loved me like she never did before
And I told her (go where you wanna
Go do whatcha want to do, I don't care)
And I told her (go where you wanna
Go do whatcha want to do, I don't care)

I told that bitch
"I'm a sucker for love, you a sucker for dick"
Sucking dick in your momma tub, then your granny walked in
Told the stupid nigga to duck under the water, he drowned like an abortion
They booked you for manslaughter, you beat the case and I called ya
"Sherane is not available, now leave a message at the tone
And Kendrick, don't forget to buy two pair of those expensive heels
You little fucking Ferris Wheel, fucking spinning on me?
Fuck you think? We gon' get married still?
Fucking Mary had a little lamb, this ain't a fairy tale
Fairy godmomma better tell you how I fucking feel
Like you should fuckin' beat it or fucking eat it while I'm on my period
Now have a blessed day"
Bitch, you serious?
I'm in the mirror with this look on my face, curious
Why you ain't fucking with me? You cut me deep as Caesarean
You know I want you bad as a Benjamin, I'm delirious
I want you bad as the head shattered on George Zimmerman
After the Dillinger hit him diligently and killing him
His mouthpiece for a Cadillac emblem
That's analogy and metaphor for you
I should win a medal for all the ways I adore you
This is me talking cordial, yeah, I got some home trainin'
That ain't what you like, ain't it?
What about if I was as famous as Marshall?
Would you give fellatio in the carpool?
Cops pull us over, they just wanna know if you gargle
Singing, "I hope she's good enough
Meanwhile you're chasing her"
Chlamydia couldn't even get rid of her
Pity the fool and pity the fool in me, I'ma live with the

Game of love (love), love (love)
La-la-la-la-la love

She doesn't love me, no, she don't love me no more
She hates my company, guess, she don't love me no more
I tried to get her up out of my head, left my bags at the door
She screamed she loved me like she never did before
And I told her (go where you wanna
Go do whatcha want to do, I don't care)
And I told her (go where you wanna
Go do whatcha want to do, I don't care)

So needless to say I'm feelin' betrayed
Snatch my house key off her key chain
She jumps off Wee-Bey from The Wire's dick
Now she's chasing me with a cheese grater
Here goes that broken record, cliché, it's all my fault anyway
She's turning the tables, I'm a beat-break
She treats my face like Serato, she cuts and scratches like a DJ
Each day is an instant replay
They say what we display is symptomatic of addict behavior
Back together but forgot today was her B-day
She cut me off on the freeway, simple misunderstanding
But just as I went to slam on the brakes
That's when I realized that she may be as crazy as me, wait
Bitch cut my fucking brake line, stepped on them fuckers eight times
Still goin' seventy-three, thank God there's an exit coming up
What the mother F-U-C-K's wrong with her?
Hit the off ramp 'til I coasted to a goshdamn halt
Hit a fucking tree, now here she comes at full speed
She's racing at me, okay, you wanna fuck with me, eh?
Snatch the bitch out her car through the window
She screamin', I body slam her on the cement
Until the concrete gave and created a sinkhole
Buried the stink ho in it, then pay to have the street repaved
(The fuck?) Woke up in a dream state, in a cold sweat
Like I got hit with a freeze ray during a heat wave
Guess I eventually caved though, 'cause she's laying next to me in bed
Directly aiming a gat at my head, woke up again and jumped up like
"Fuck it, I've had it, I'm checking into rehab"
I confess I'm a static addict, I guess that's why I'm so clingy
Every girl I've ever had either says I got too much baggage
Or I'm too fucking dramatic
Man, what the fuck is the matter? I'm just a fucking romantic
I fucking love you, you fucking bitch
Combative, possessive, in fact last time I was mad at an ex
I actually set off a chain reaction of tragic events
I said, "Hit the road" and after she left, I sent that bitch a text
I said, "Be careful driving, don't read this and have an accident"
She glanced to look at it and wrecked
Too bad, thought we had a connect, no sense dwelling makes
Never been a more compelling case
Than the model covered in L'Oreal and mace
Who fell from grace eleven stories for storytelling
While the whore was yelling, "Rape" 'til her vocal cords were swelling
And her voice were more hoarser than Tori Spelling's face
Still they swarm the gates and my fancy estates
To greet Norman Bates with a warm embrace
'Less you're Andrea Yates, don't ask me for a date, though
You're late, well, the sentiment's great
But wait, think there's been a mistake
You wanted an intimate date, I wanna intimidate
I have infinite hate in my blood, it's mainly because of the game of
Wait, dinner at eight?
I have infinite hate in my blood, it's mainly 'cause of the





Game of love (love), love (love)
La-la-la-la-la love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kendrick Lamar's Love Game depict the struggles of a relationship that is plagued by infidelity and a lack of love. The singer is contemplating whether the burning feeling inside them is lust or love, but they soon find out that it is the pain of a broken heart as they walk in on their partner cheating. The song becomes more chaotic as the singer and their partner engage in a vicious cycle of arguments, craziness, and betrayal. The lyrics confront the idea of loving someone who doesn't reciprocate that love, and the resulting pain that comes from it.


Line by Line Meaning

Something's burning, I can't figure out what (out what)
There's a feeling of uncertainty and confusion, as something is wrong but I can't pinpoint what it is.


It's either lust or a cloud of dust, judgement is clouded
The intense desire for someone or the chaos and confusion of a situation has clouded my ability to make rational decisions or judgments.


Must just be the powder from the power of (love)
The intoxicating nature of love has led to this state of confusion and uncertainty.


But I'm in something I don't know how to get out of
I am entangled in a situation or relationship that I feel trapped in and don't know how to escape.


Left my girl in the house alone
I left my girlfriend alone in our house.


Is that my soon-to-be-spouse's moan?
Could that be the sound of my soon-to-be wife expressing pleasure?


And the further I walk, the louder
As I continue to investigate or explore, the sound becomes more pronounced or noticeable.


Pause for a minute to make certain that's what I heard
I take a moment to make sure I didn't misinterpret or imagine what I heard.


'Cause after all, this is her place
Considering that this is her residence, there may be a valid explanation for the sounds I heard.


So I give her the benefit of the doubt, I
I choose to trust her and believe that there is a reasonable explanation.


Think I might be about to bust her, bust her
I suspect that she might be cheating on me or engaging in inappropriate behavior.


The thought's scary, yo, though and it hurts, brace
The idea is alarming and painful, so I mentally prepare myself.


Hope it ain't, "Here we go, yo"
I hope that my suspicions are unfounded and that I won't have to confront her about infidelity.


'Cause my head already goes to worst case scenario
My mind automatically jumps to the most negative and devastating outcome.


Though in the first place (ah, fuck)
Despite hoping for the best, it turns out that my initial suspicions were correct.


But you confirmed my low-end theory, though
You have unknowingly validated my assumption or suspicion about your unfaithfulness.


Should've known when I made it all the way to third base
I should have realized something was wrong when we engaged in intimate activity early on in our relationship.


And that was only the first date, could've made it to home plate
We moved too quickly physically, and there was potential for a deeper connection if we had taken more time.


But you slid straight for the dome and dove face first
You prioritized physical pleasure and engaged in oral sex without emotional intimacy.


"No you don't understand, I don't do this for anyone, ever"
You attempt to justify your actions by claiming that you never engage in such behaviors with others.


Yeah, that ain't what they all say? I'll say
That may be your claim, but it's a common excuse used by others in similar situations.


You can suck a softball through a straw, used to be my fiancé
You are skilled at performing oral sex, but you once held a significant position in my life as my future spouse.


'Til you sucked on Wayne, André, and Kanye
However, your actions of engaging in sexual encounters with other famous individuals like Lil Wayne, André 3000, and Kanye West changed our relationship.


Lebron, Akon, Jay, Lil Jon, Raekwon, Ma$e
You continued to betray my trust by involving yourself sexually with celebrities such as LeBron James, Akon, JAY-Z, Lil Jon, Raekwon, and Ma$e.


Polow da Don, Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, Kwamé
You extended the list to include Polow da Don, Dr. Dre, Dante Ross, James Conway, and Kwamé.


Guess I'm gettin' my g-goddang Jigga on, eh?
I suppose I'm emulating JAY-Z by involving myself with multiple partners, just like he has been known to do.


'Cause your name, I'm beyond sayin'
This lyric references Beyoncé, playing on the words 'beyond saying,' suggesting that your actions have caused me to move beyond being able to say your name.


But fuck it, I'm movin' on, you women are all cray
Regardless, I am choosing to move forward and leave behind the chaos and instability that women often bring.


But I'll probably always keep on playin'
Although I may be wary, I will likely continue to engage in relationships and pursue love.


She doesn't love me, no, she don't love me no more
I have come to the realization that she no longer feels love for me.


She hates my company, guess, she don't love me no more
Her aversion to being around me indicates her lack of love and affection.


I tried to get her up out of my head, left my bags at the door
I attempted to remove thoughts of her from my mind and prepared myself to leave the relationship.


She screamed she loved me like she never did before
Suddenly, she expressed a deep love for me that she hadn't shown previously.


And I told her (go where you wanna Go do whatcha want to do, I don't care)
I urged her to go wherever she desired and do as she pleased because I no longer cared about the relationship.


I told that bitch "I'm a sucker for love, you a sucker for dick"
In a derogatory manner, I informed her that I may easily fall in love while she is simply driven by sexual desires.


Sucking dick in your momma tub, then your granny walked in
I shared an explicit sexual encounter she had in her mother's bathtub, only for her grandmother to unexpectedly enter the room.


Told the stupid nigga to duck under the water, he drowned like an abortion
The grandmother instructed the other person involved to submerge their body in the water, leading to their death, symbolizing the end of an unborn child's life through abortion.


They booked you for manslaughter, you beat the case and I called ya
You were charged with manslaughter for your role in the death but managed to avoid conviction. Despite this, I reached out to you.


"Sherane is not available, now leave a message at the tone And Kendrick, don't forget to buy two pair of those expensive heels You little fucking Ferris Wheel, fucking spinning on me? Fuck you think? We gon' get married still?"
When I tried to contact you, I received an automated response stating that Sherane, your name, was not available. You mockingly remind me to buy expensive heels and insult me by referring to me as a metaphorical Ferris Wheel. Additionally, you question our future marriage.


"Fucking Mary had a little lamb, this ain't a fairy tale Fairy godmomma better tell you how I fucking feel Like you should fuckin' beat it or fucking eat it while I'm on my period Now have a blessed day"
Using explicit language and a reference to the nursery rhyme 'Mary Had a Little Lamb,' I express my anger and frustration. I suggest you either leave or engage in sexual activities while I am menstruating. I conclude with a sarcastic wish for a blessed day.


Bitch, you serious?
I respond to your insulting message in disbelief and anger.


I'm in the mirror with this look on my face, curious
I stand in front of the mirror, wearing an expression of curiosity mixed with various emotions.


Why you ain't fucking with me? You cut me deep as Caesarean
I question why you no longer desire me, as your rejection has hurt me deeply, similar to the emotional impact of a Caesarean section.


You know I want you bad as a Benjamin, I'm delirious
I express my strong desire for you, comparing it to the intensity with which one desires a one hundred dollar bill. This longing has reached a state of delirium.


I want you bad as the head shattered on George Zimmerman
I desire you intensely, similar to the magnitude of the impact and destruction caused by the head injury sustained by George Zimmerman during the Trayvon Martin incident.


After the Dillinger hit him diligently and killing him
Referencing an assassin, John Dillinger, I suggest that I would exert great effort and persistently pursue you until I cause harm or ruin, just like the assassination of George Zimmerman.


His mouthpiece for a Cadillac emblem
I compare George Zimmerman's mouth, his voice or words, to the emblem on a Cadillac, implying that what he says carries weight and importance.


That's analogy and metaphor for you
I clarify that my previous statements have been figurative, using analogy and metaphor to convey my emotions and desires.


I should win a medal for all the ways I adore you
I express my dedication and admiration for you, suggesting that my efforts and feelings towards you are deserving of recognition and reward.


This is me talking cordial, yeah, I got some home trainin'
I explain that my current tone is relatively polite and respectful, highlighting my upbringing and the manners instilled in me.


That ain't what you like, ain't it?
I imply that my current behavior and words do not align with what you desire or prefer in a partner.


What about if I was as famous as Marshall?
I question whether you would treat me differently if I were as famous as Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers.


Would you give fellatio in the carpool?
I suggest that if I were as famous as Eminem, would you be willing to engage in oral sex with me while I am chauffeuring you in a carpool setting.


Cops pull us over, they just wanna know if you gargle
Hypothetically, if we were stopped by the police, they wouldn't care about the traffic violation; they would only be interested in knowing if you perform oral sex.


Singing, "I hope she's good enough
Mockingly singing a line from a song, I express my hopes that you, as my partner, are worthy and capable of satisfying me in intimate ways.


Meanwhile you're chasing her"
In contrast to my desires and expectations, you are pursuing another person or allowing someone else to pursue you.


Chlamydia couldn't even get rid of her
Even contracting a sexually transmitted infection like chlamydia hasn't deterred or removed your interest in this other person.


Pity the fool and pity the fool in me, I'ma live with the
I express a sense of pity for myself and the foolishness in my behavior as I accept the consequences of my actions.


She doesn't love me, no, she don't love me no more
Repeating the earlier statement, I acknowledge that she no longer loves me.


She hates my company, guess, she don't love me no more
Restating her aversion to being around me, it becomes clear that her feelings of love have vanished.


I tried to get her up out of my head, left my bags at the door
Reiterating my attempt to remove thoughts of her from my mind, I emphasize that I have mentally prepared myself to move on.


She screamed she loved me like she never did before
Again emphasizing her sudden declaration of love, she claims to love me more intensely than ever before.


And I told her (go where you wanna Go do whatcha want to do, I don't care)
Repeating my previous response, I give her the freedom to go wherever and do whatever she wants because I no longer care about our relationship.


And I told her (go where you wanna Go do whatcha want to do, I don't care)
Rehearsing the same response, I reconfirm my lack of concern for her actions or choices.


So needless to say I'm feelin' betrayed
It is unnecessary to state explicitly, but I am experiencing a sense of betrayal.


Snatch my house key off her key chain
In response to feeling betrayed, I violently take back the key to my house that she had on her keychain.


She jumps off Wee-Bey from The Wire's dick
She immediately engages in sexual activity with another person, likening him to a character named Wee-Bey from the television series The Wire.


Now she's chasing me with a cheese grater
In a disturbing turn of events, she threatens me with a cheese grater, becoming the aggressor in our relationship.


Here goes that broken record, cliché, it's all my fault anyway
This situation repeats like a broken record, a common cliché describing my tendency to blame myself for everything that goes wrong.


She's turning the tables, I'm a beat-break
The power dynamics have shifted, and she has taken control, leaving me feeling defeated and broken.


She treats my face like Serato, she cuts and scratches like a DJ
Metaphorically, she treats my face like a DJ manipulating a Serato turntable, causing pain and leaving scars like scratching vinyl records.


Each day is an instant replay
Every day feels like a repeat of the previous, as I am subjected to the same cycle of abuse and mistreatment.


They say what we display is symptomatic of addict behavior
Others claim that our actions and patterns reflect traits commonly associated with addiction.


Back together but forgot today was her B-day
Despite reconciling, I have forgotten an important date, her birthday, highlighting my lack of thoughtfulness and attention.


She cut me off on the freeway, simple misunderstanding
During an argument or disagreement, she abruptly ends communication while we are driving on the freeway, which I dismiss as a minor misunderstanding.


But just as I went to slam on the brakes
As I was about to forcefully hit the brakes to stop the car, something unexpected happened.


That's when I realized that she may be as crazy as me, wait
In that moment, I come to the realization that she might possess the same level of irrationality or instability as me.


Bitch cut my fucking brake line, stepped on them fuckers eight times
Shockingly, she deliberately disables the brakes by cutting the brake line and then proceeds to stomp on them multiple times, dangerously disregarding our safety.


Still goin' seventy-three, thank God there's an exit coming up
Despite the lack of functioning brakes, we continue to travel at a high speed of seventy-three miles per hour, expressing relief that an exit is approaching.


What the mother F-U-C-K's wrong with her?
I question what is fundamentally wrong or mentally disturbed about her, using a vulgar expression to emphasize my disbelief.


Hit the off ramp 'til I coasted to a goshdamn halt
Taking the exit, I eventually come to a complete stop with the car, relieved to have avoided a potentially fatal accident.


Hit a fucking tree, now here she comes at full speed
Unfortunately, the car collides with a tree, and she approaches me aggressively and at a high velocity.


She's racing at me, okay, you wanna fuck with me, eh?
As she charges toward me, I challenge her, questioning if she really wants to engage in conflict with me.


Snatch the bitch out her car through the window
In an act of aggression and self-defense, I forcefully remove her from the car through the window.


She screamin', I body slam her on the cement
To subdue her and protect myself, I physically lift her and forcefully slam her onto the concrete ground.


Until the concrete gave and created a sinkhole
The impact with the concrete results in its deterioration, causing a sinkhole to form, symbolizing the destructive consequences of our tumultuous relationship.


Buried the stink ho in it, then pay to have the street repaved
I metaphorically bury her in the sinkhole, as a derogatory term, and then cover up the evidence by paying for the repair of the street surface.


(The fuck?) Woke up in a dream state, in a cold sweat
Confused and startled, I awaken as if from a dream, perspiring heavily.


Like I got hit with a freeze ray during a heat wave
The sudden awakening and intense sweating make me feel as though I have been frozen and then exposed to extreme heat simultaneously.


Guess I eventually caved though, 'cause she's laying next to me in bed
Despite everything, I ultimately give in and reconcile with her, as she is now lying beside me in bed.


Directly aiming a gat at my head, woke up again and jumped up like
Startled, I notice that she is pointing a gun directly at my head. In a reflexive response, I quickly wake up and rise from the bed.


"Fuck it, I've had it, I'm checking into rehab"
Fed up with the tumultuous relationship and the dangers it poses, I decide to seek help by voluntarily admitting myself to a rehabilitation program.


I confess I'm a static addict, I guess that's why I'm so clingy
I openly admit that I am addicted to drama and chaos, which explains my clingy and dependent behavior in relationships.


Every girl I've ever had either says I got too much baggage
Every woman I have been involved with claims that I have excessive emotional baggage or unresolved issues.


Or I'm too fucking dramatic
Alternatively, they believe that I am overly dramatic in my behavior and reactions.


Man, what the fuck is the matter? I'm just a fucking romantic
Confused and frustrated, I question why my passionate and romantic nature is considered problematic.


I fucking love you, you fucking bitch
Despite the conflicts and challenges we face, I still possess strong feelings of love for you, even though I refer to you with an offensive term.


Combative, possessive, in fact last time I was mad at an ex
I acknowledge my tendencies to be argumentative and possessive, remembering the last time I was upset with a former partner.


I actually set off a chain reaction of tragic events
My anger and actions contributed to a series of unfortunate and disastrous incidents.


I said, "Hit the road" and after she left, I sent that bitch a text
During an argument, I told her to leave, and once she did, I proceeded to send her a text message.


I said, "Be careful driving, don't read this and have an accident"
In a seemingly caring manner, I caution her to focus on driving and not read my text, fearing that it may cause her to have an accident.


She glanced to look at it and wrecked
Unfortunately, she disregards my warning and glances at the text, leading to a car accident.


Too bad, thought we had a connect, no sense dwelling makes
Although I believed we had a strong bond, I acknowledge that it is futile to dwell on the situation or the lost connection.


Never been a more compelling case
The circumstances surrounding our relationship are undeniably impactful and intriguing.


Than the model covered in L'Oreal and mace
I compare the intensity of our relationship to a model who is both adorned with L'Oreal cosmetics and also sprayed with mace, representing beauty and pain.


Who fell from grace eleven stories for storytelling
Metaphorically, the model has fallen from grace by descending eleven stories, symbolizing the decline and deterioration of our relationship. The act of storytelling exacerbates this decline.


While the whore was yelling, "Rape" 'til her vocal cords were swelling
As the model tells her story, she accuses others of rape relentlessly until her vocal cords become inflamed or swollen from screaming and shouting.


And her voice were more hoarser than Tori Spelling's face
As a result of her vocal strain, her voice becomes even huskier or rougher than the appearance of Tori Spelling's face.


Still they swarm the gates and my fancy estates
Despite the negative events and public scrutiny, people continue to surround and invade my luxurious properties.


To greet Norman Bates with a warm embrace
In an allusion to the character Norman Bates from the film Psycho, people eagerly approach me, just as they would embrace a famous character.


'Less you're Andrea Yates, don't ask me for a date, though
Using another cultural reference, I make it clear that unless someone is like Andrea Yates, who committed a notorious crime, they should not seek a romantic relationship with me.


You're late, well, the sentiment's great
If someone were to ask me out, I would reject them, claiming that they are too late. While I appreciate the sentiment, it is no longer applicable.


But wait, think there's been a mistake
However, upon further reflection, I realize that I may have made a mistake or have been hasty in my judgment.


You wanted an intimate date, I wanna intimidate
You desired a close and personal connection, while I aim to assert power or dominance in relationships.


I have infinite hate in my blood, it's mainly because of the game of
I harbor an everlasting hatred within me, which is predominantly due to the experiences and challenges associated with the game of love.


Wait, dinner at eight?
In a slightly puzzled tone, I question whether we had planned to have dinner together at eight o'clock.


I have infinite hate in my blood, it's mainly 'cause of the
Reiterating my endless animosity, I link it to the ongoing challenges and disappointments experienced as a result of love.


Game of love (love), love (love)
In chorus form, I express the recurring theme and topic of the song, the complexities and struggles within the game of love.


La-la-la-la-la love
The repetition of the word 'love' creates a melodic and rhythmic element to the song.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Clint Ballard, H. Coy Poe, Jimmie Grier, Kendrick Duckworth, Marshall B. Mathers, Pinky Tomlin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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