Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Applause
Lady Gaga Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I stand here waiting for you to bang the gong
To crash the critics saying, "is it right or is it wrong?"
If only fame had an IV, baby could I bear
Being away from you, I found the vein, put it in here

I live for the applause, applause, applause
I live for the applause-plause, live for the applause-plause
Live for the way that you cheer and scream for me
The applause, applause, applause

Give me that thing that I love (Turn the lights on)
Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch (Make it real loud)
Give me that thing that I love (Turn the lights on)
Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch (Make it real loud)

(A-P-P-L-A-U-S-E) Make it real loud
Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch
(A-P-P-L-A-U-S-E) Make it real loud
Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch

I've overheard your theory
"Nostalgia's for geeks"
I guess sir, if you say so
Some of us just like to read

One second I'm a kunst
Then suddenly the kunst is me
Pop culture was in art
Now, art's in pop culture in me

I live for the applause, applause, applause
I live for the applause-plause, live for the applause-plause
Live for the way that you cheer and scream for me
The applause, applause, applause

Give me that thing that I love (Turn the lights on)
Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch (Make it real loud)
Give me that thing that I love (Turn the lights on)
Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch (Make it real loud)

(A-P-P-L-A-U-S-E) Make it real loud
Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch
(A-P-P-L-A-U-S-E) Make it real loud
Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch

Ooh touch, touch ooh
Touch, touch now ooh ooh ooh ooh

I live for the applause, applause, applause
I live for the applause-plause, live for the applause-plause
Live for the way that you cheer and scream for me
The applause, applause, applause

Give me that thing that I love (Turn the lights on)
Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch (Make it real loud)
Give me that thing that I love (Turn the lights on)
Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch (Make it real loud)

(A-P-P-L-A-U-S-E) Make it real loud
Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch (Make it real loud)
(A-P-P-L-A-U-S-E) Make it real loud
Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch

A-R-T-P-O-P

Overall Meaning

Lady Gaga's "Applause" is a song that speaks volumes about her desire for the limelight, the pressure that comes with fame, and the significance of the unconditional love and support from fans. The song's lyrics begin with Lady Gaga waiting anxiously for her fans to cheer her on and counter the criticisms she faces from the critics. The fact that she mentions fame as the IV shows that she considers it a drug that can make her stronger, but only if she has the support to keep going.


The song also talks about how Lady Gaga lives for applause and thrives on the love and support she receives from her fans. With this greater desire than anything else, Lady Gaga puts pop culture into art, making herself an embodiment of that. As the song progresses, Gaga acknowledges that she has heard the critics who think nostalgia is for geeks, but she doesn't agree with them. Instead, she recognizes that she and her fans value different things and dismisses their theory.


On the whole, the song suggests that performing for an audience is Lady Gaga's raison d'être, and their appreciation is what keeps her going. She even inserts several letters into the chorus, spelling out applause, to reinforce the importance of an audience's cheering.


Line by Line Meaning

I stand here waiting for you to bang the gong
I am waiting for your applause, for your praise, for your acknowledgement of my work.


To crash the critics saying, "is it right or is it wrong?"
To shut down the critics who try to judge my work and determine its worth.


If only fame had an IV, baby could I bear
If only fame was a tangible thing I could inject myself with, I could handle being away from you, my fans.


Being away from you, I found the vein, put it in here
When I am away from my fans, I crave their attention and love so much that I have to create some sort of connection like a drug addict finding a vein to inject.


I live for the applause, applause, applause
I live for the love and praise I receive from my fans.


I live for the applause-plause, live for the applause-plause
I live for the enthusiastic cheers and screams from my fans when I perform.


Live for the way that you cheer and scream for me
I feed off of the energy of my fans, and their reactions to my performances give me life.


Give me that thing that I love (Turn the lights on)
I want my fans to give me their attention and love, to turn the spotlight on me.


Put your hands up, make 'em touch, touch (Make it real loud)
I want to see my fans show their love, to put their hands up and touch each other while they scream and cheer for me to make sure they are heard loud and clear.


(A-P-P-L-A-U-S-E) Make it real loud
Spell out the word applause and make sure we can hear your cheers and screams loud and clear.


I've overheard your theory "Nostalgia's for geeks"
I have heard people say it is uncool to hold onto old memories, but I disagree.


I guess sir, if you say so Some of us just like to read
I respect your opinion, but I also think that some people like to revisit old memories, like reading an old book they loved.


One second I'm a kunst Then suddenly the kunst is me
I am a work of art, and at any moment I can change or become something new.


Pop culture was in art Now, art's in pop culture in me
Pop culture and art have become intertwined, and I embody this combination as a pop icon who creates art.


Ooh touch, touch ooh Touch, touch now ooh ooh ooh ooh
These lines are simply catchy phrases repeated for emphasis and energy.


A-R-T-P-O-P
The song's title and Gaga's album title, her way of announcing her new era and her artistic vision.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stefani J Germanotta, Paul Edward Blair, Julien Arias, William Sami Etienne Grigahcine, Nicolas David Mercier, Nick Monson, Martin Bresso, Dino Zisis

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@jeremiasmatos6862

"She will never be famous" 13 years later:
Edit 5 years after, can’t believe time flies ♥️

11 GRAMMY
18 VMAs
5 Songs at # 1 on Billboard Hot 100
6 Albums at # 1 on Billboard 200
Woman of the Year
More than 11 billion views on YouTube
More than 11 Billion streams on Spotify
2 Golden Globe
1 Oscar
2 Digital Diamond Award
More than 500 million dollars on tours
+300 Awards in total

LMAO Haters



All comments from YouTube:

@TylerOakley

STILL ICONIC

@dejahporter3275

hey rat

@teodorrysev7890

deffenetly true

@trailblazzin5441

What the fuck, it's actually Tyler.

@ashleighsanford3747

MY TWO QUEENS <3

@marconroger8220

that boy?

250 More Replies...

@DrBeauHightower

The jam TBH

@Novaurawr

Ikr! Despite being a decade old feels like a masterpiece that came from the future

@JoshuaOdionson

Dr. Beau!

@ghostintrina

She was so ahead of her time 😢

More Comments

More Versions