Poker Face
Mika Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Mum mum mum mah)
(Mum mum mum mah)
(Mum mum mum mah)
(Mum mum mum mah)
(Mum mum mum mah)

Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah

I wanna hold 'em like they do in Texas please
Fold 'em let 'em hit me raise it baby stay with me, I love it
Luck and intuition play the cards with spades to start
And after he's been hooked I'll play the one that's on his heart

Oh, oh, oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got

Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

I wanna roll with him a hard pair we will be
A little gambling is fun when you're with me, I love it
Russian roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby when it's love if it's not rough it isn't fun, fun

Oh, oh, oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got

Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
(Mum mum mum mah)
(Mum mum mum mah)

I won't tell you that I love you
Kiss or hug you
Cause I'm bluffin' with my muffin
I'm not lying I'm just stunnin' with my love-glue-gunning

Just like a chick in the casino
Take your bank before I pay you out
I promise this, promise this
Check this hand 'cause I'm marvelous

Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
Can't read my, can't read my
No he can't read my poker face
(She's got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(She's got to love nobody)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)




P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

Overall Meaning

Mika's rendition of Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face' is a pop hit that describes the game of poker metaphorically, describing the way Lady Gaga uses her feminine wiles to trick her man. The lyrics are from the perspective of a woman who is playing a game of poker with her love interest. The song starts with the singer explaining that she wants to hold her cards the way people do in Texas. She then goes on to say that she wants to fold her cards, but she will let her man hit her so that he stays with her. She uses luck and intuition to play this game with spades.


The chorus builds on Lady Gaga’s poker face by stating that her man can't read it, and he can't read her mind. She tells him that she is going to "get him hot" and show him what things she's got to offer. The second verse refers to Russian roulette not being the same without a gun, which could be interpreted as not being as exciting. Lady Gaga sings about love not being fun unless it's rough, and compares bluffing in poker to bluffing with her "muffin," alluding to her sexuality.


In conclusion, Mika's 'Poker Face' is a song about a woman playing a game with her man and using her feminine wiles to keep him interested. Throughout the song, Lady Gaga describes the ways in which she can hold her cards the right way and play the game of poker with ease.


Line by Line Meaning

Mum mum mum mah
The sound of a catchy beat to set the mood


I wanna hold 'em like they do in Texas please
I want to play high stakes poker like the pros in the state of Texas


Fold 'em let 'em hit me raise it baby stay with me, I love it
I am willing to take risks and will do so with my partner by my side, and I enjoy doing so


Luck and intuition play the cards with spades to start
Playing poker requires a combination of chance and gut feeling to begin with the strong hand of spades


And after he's been hooked I'll play the one that's on his heart
Once my opponent is committed, I will then control the emotional side of the game and use it to my advantage


Oh, oh, oh I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
I will use my skill at poker to overpower my opponent and impress them


Can't read my, can't read my No he can't read my poker face (She's got to love nobody)
My poker face is too good for my opponent to read, and I am independent and do not rely on anyone else's love


P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face (Mum mum mum mah)
Repetitive fun lyrics with the catchy beat


I wanna roll with him a hard pair we will be
I want the challenge of playing against a skilled opponent, and we will make a tough team


A little gambling is fun when you're with me, I love it
Gambling a bit with a partner is enjoyable to me


Russian roulette is not the same without a gun
The game of Russian Roulette without the risk of death is not as thrilling


And baby when it's love if it's not rough it isn't fun, fun
In a romantic relationship, it is more exciting when there is an element of challenge or difficulty


I won't tell you that I love you Kiss or hug you Cause I'm bluffin' with my muffin I'm not lying I'm just stunnin' with my love-glue-gunning
I will withhold my love and use my skills and charm to impress my opponent


Just like a chick in the casino Take your bank before I pay you out
I will take control of the game and win my opponent's money before I pay them out


I promise this, promise this Check this hand 'cause I'm marvelous
I am confident in my abilities and performance, and I challenge my opponent to check this hand


P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face (Mum mum mum mah)
Repeating the fun and catchy lyrics again


Can't read my, can't read my No he can't read my poker face (She's got to love nobody)
Restating that my opponent cannot read my facial expressions and that I rely only on myself


P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face (Mum mum mum mah)
More repetition of the fun lyrics and beat




Contributed by John H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Serena Matthews

Lady Gaga and Mika are both completely different artists with different styles- to those saying either one is better- they're both brilliant! :)

hoomhoom

This is just such a great cover, and I like how he sang it the way Lady Gaga did when she sang it acoustically. HE'S SO AMAZING.

Jedidiah750

I love this version! He's so original & classy, not to mention that voice, but it is GaGa's song that she wrote & she sings it best with her own inflections, I love her version on Ellen as well as her acoustic version live in Tokyo, they're both amazing! <3

Schuyler Hart

Mika, you never stop making me smile. I love Gaga, but this version is...is...just...I'm speechless.Thank you, Mika. For all you do. <3

Kyron Sumeragi

His voice is amazing in a time where the younger generation is so focused on rap and hip hop. Brings some life into new music :D

zzoom21

i love both mika and lady gaga, and i have to say i thought this was fantastic. sometimes it's really annoying when artists take songs and completely change the tone or whatever, but this is so much mika's style that i can't help but love it.

IanGDown

It's amazing how he can make someone's song better. He's amazing!

Mary Ruth Walsh

Usually I don't think covers can match up to the originals; this one exceeds it <3

DefyingGravityNaruto

Omg i love this cover soo much!!! Such a great singer MIKA FOREVER <3

Indigo Skies

Mika does this in such a different way, that you can't not LOVE it! I Love this version :D

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