Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, known professionally as Lorde (born 7 Nov… Read Full Bio ↴Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, known professionally as Lorde (born 7 November 1996 in Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand), is a New Zealand singer-songwriter. Taking inspiration from aristocracy for her stage name, she is known for her unconventional musical styles and introspective songwriting.

Lorde expressed interest in performing at local venues in her early teens. She signed with Universal Music Group (UMG) in 2009 and collaborated with producer Joel Little in 2011 to start recording music. Their first effort, an EP titled The Love Club, was self-released in 2012 for free download on SoundCloud before UMG's commercial release in 2013. The EP's international chart-topping single "Royals" helped raise Lorde to prominence. Her debut studio album Pure Heroine was released that same year to critical and commercial success. The following year, Lorde curated the soundtrack for the 2014 film The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and recorded several tracks, including the single "Yellow Flicker Beat".

Lorde's second studio album Melodrama (2017) received widespread critical acclaim and debuted atop the US Billboard 200. For her third studio album, Solar Power (2021), she ventured into indie folk and psychedelic styles. The album reached number one in Australia and New Zealand and charted inside the top-10 in numerous countries, although it polarised music critics and fans alike.

Lorde's accolades include two Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards, and a Golden Globe nomination. She appeared in Time's list of the most influential teenagers in 2013 and 2014, and the 2014 edition of Forbes 30 Under 30. In addition to her solo work, she has co-written songs for other artists, including Broods and Bleachers. As of June 2017, Lorde has sold over five million albums worldwide.

Million Dollar Bills 2.0
Lorde Lyrics

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There's nothing I want but money and time
Million dollar bills and a tick tick tick tick
There's nothing more cruel
Than only nine lives
A limit in spite
Will do the trick trick trick trick

We can leave the house lead the party let the people know

Go drown the colors of our minds and watch the cards go

There's nothing as fun as coming untied
And running with the kids in the park park park park
There's nothing that hurts like letting you go
Tiger burn eyes in the dark dark dark dark

We can leave the house lead the party let the people know
Go drown the colors of our minds and watch the cards go
It's not about just being out with all our people
'Cause we can get in trouble just by going free throw

And now I'm letting you know and now I'm letting you know
And now I'm letting you know and now I'm letting you know

Overall Meaning

In "MillionDollarBills," Lorde expresses her desire for both money and time. She states that there is nothing else she wants more than these two things, singing about "million dollar bills" and the sound of a ticking clock. She then contrasts this idea with the concept of limits and mortality, stating that having only nine lives is a cruel limitation, but that this limit can also be motivating. The chorus encourages leaving the house and leading the party, running wild and carefree with friends in the park. But even in these moments of fun and freedom, there is a sense of pain and darkness underlying the lyrics. The reference to "tiger burn eyes in the dark" conjures a sense of danger and uncertainty, even as the music remains upbeat and energetic.

The second verse reinforces this idea of reveling in youthful exuberance while also acknowledging the pain of lost love. The words "coming untied" suggest a loosening of all restraints, while the line "letting you go" hints at a difficult breakup. Even in the midst of this emotional turmoil, however, Lorde continues to focus on the idea of living in the moment, of enjoying the present and letting go of fears and regrets. This message is reinforced in the final repetition of the chorus, which encourages listeners to "go free throw" and embrace life with reckless abandon.

Line by Line Meaning

There's nothing I want but money and time
All I desire is financial security and the freedom to enjoy my time.

Million dollar bills and a tick tick tick tick
Not just any amount of money will do, I want to be rich and see the digits on my bank account ticking up.

There's nothing more cruel
No feeling is more painful.

Than only nine lives
Life is limited and we only have a few chances to get it right.

A limit in spite
This limitation is a source of frustration.

Will do the trick trick trick trick
It will make me work harder to achieve my goals.

We can leave the house lead the party let the people know
We have the power to influence and lead others.

Go drown the colors of our minds and watch the cards go
Let's forget our worries and indulge in the moment, taking risks and seeing where life takes us.

There's nothing as fun as coming untied
Nothing feels better than breaking free from the restraints of life and being carefree.

And running with the kids in the park park park park
Enjoying life's simple pleasures, like playing in the park, is what brings us true joy.

There's nothing that hurts like letting you go
Saying goodbye to someone we love is one of the most painful experiences in life.

Tiger burn eyes in the dark dark dark dark
The memories of this person burn brightly in our minds and break our hearts.

It's not about just being out with all our people
Hanging out with friends is not enough, I need something more.

'Cause we can get in trouble just by going free throw
Even simple actions, like taking a chance and doing something unexpected, can have consequences.

And now I'm letting you know and now I'm letting you know
I want to be clear in my communication and make sure you understand what I am saying.

And now I'm letting you know and now I'm letting you know
I am repeating myself to emphasize the importance of my message.

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOEL LITTLE, ELLA MARIJA LANI YELICH-O'CONNOR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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