Play The Game
Redbox and the Chilipeppers Lyrics
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Is scaring the operator, threatening to smack her,
He's saying he'll choke my fucking neck too,
(Dude, you don't fucking get it, do you?)
I wish I was smarter to find the first clue,
But I'm just a punk-ass imbreeded fool,
(How stupid can you fuckin' be?)
I'm hardly a genius like you are on phones,
I don't have a central computer in my home,
Tapping my lines and tracing my calls,
Jesus, Curtis, you're like a fucking god!
How do you get these impression footprints?
(You made me a fucking god, bitch!)
Jesus, what are you going to do to me, Curt?
(Dude, you should have did your homework.)
Let's play the game like the devil says,
It's not time to speak until I say it is,
Your time is up because the devil says so,
You understand that it's the devil's show.
Play the rules the way the game is played,
Or the devil's hands will take your life away,
Each step is countered by a step of mine,
Just like every time, every fucking time.
Wow, Curtis, this whole thing's a mess,
(I do have a way of getting your address.)
I didn't mean to piss off a hacker this much,
I just wanted to hear you yell at me a bunch.
Now it seems like my whole life is through,
(Let me tell you exactly what I'm gonna do.)
Can you really find me through the telephone switch?
(You best understand who you're fucking with.)
Please, Curtis, just let me go free,
I'll never call your number again, you'll see,
You win this round, Curtis, you're the fucking boss,
(Now, motherfucker, you've pissed me off!)
Actually I'm kidding, your threats crack me up,
I know that you're nothing to be afraid of,
Your crazy delusions of your hacker past,
(I'm gonna be stomping a mudhole in your fuckin' ass!)
Let's play the game like the devil says,
It's not time to speak until I say it is,
Your time is up because the devil says so,
You understand that it's the devil's show.
Play the rules the way the game is played,
Or the devil's hands will take your life away,
Each step is countered by a step of mine,
Just like every time, every fucking time.
The lyrics to Redbox and the Chilipeppers' "Play the Game" describe a tense conversation between the singer and a skilled hacker named Curtis Lee Jones who has been threatening the singer over the phone. The singer is intimidated by Curtis' abilities and tries to reason with him, but it quickly becomes clear that Curtis is in control and the singer is powerless. The repeated refrain "Let's play the game like the devil says" underscores the sense of powerlessness and inevitability the singer feels in the face of Curtis' threats.
The song explores themes of power, control, and vulnerability in the digital age. The singer, who initially tries to assert his own power and control by insulting Curtis, is ultimately shown to be at the mercy of the hacker's abilities. The song raises questions about how technology has changed the nature of power and control, and how easily individuals can be subjected to danger and manipulation.
Line by Line Meaning
Curtis Lee Jones, the top fucking hacker,
Introducing Curtis Lee Jones as a notorious hacker
Is scaring the operator, threatening to smack her,
Curtis is intimidating and threatening the operator
He's saying he'll choke my fucking neck too,
Curtis is making violent threats to the operator
(Dude, you don't fucking get it, do you?)
The operator is expressing confusion and fear
I wish I was smarter to find the first clue,
The artist wishes they were more knowledgeable to anticipate these events
But I'm just a punk-ass imbreeded fool,
The singer acknowledges their own inadequacy
(How stupid can you fuckin' be?)
The operator is harshly judging the singer's intelligence
I guess I need to go to my libarry!
The artist is considering going to the library for resources
I'm hardly a genius like you are on phones,
The artist is not as skilled as Curtis in phone technology
I don't have a central computer in my home,
The artist lacks the resources Curtis has
Tapping my lines and tracing my calls,
Curtis is monitoring and tracking the singer's communications
Jesus, Curtis, you're like a fucking god!
The artist is in awe of Curtis's abilities
How do you get these impression footprints?
The singer is confused about how Curtis is tracking them
(You made me a fucking god, bitch!)
Curtis is insulting the operator and asserting his power
Jesus, what are you going to do to me, Curt?
The singer is expressing fear for their safety
(Dude, you should have did your homework.)
Curtis is taunting the artist for not being prepared
Let's play the game like the devil says,
Curtis sees this as a game, under control of the devil
It's not time to speak until I say it is,
Curtis is controlling the conversation
Your time is up because the devil says so,
The singer's time is limited, in Curtis's mind
You understand that it's the devil's show.
Curtis emphasizes the power of the devil in this situation
Play the rules the way the game is played,
Curtis expects the artist to follow his lead
Or the devil's hands will take your life away,
Curtis is making a direct threat to the artist
Each step is countered by a step of mine,
Curtis is always one step ahead
Just like every time, every fucking time.
The artist acknowledges that Curtis has always been in control
Wow, Curtis, this whole thing's a mess,
The singer is overwhelmed and intimidated by the situation
(I do have a way of getting your address.)
Curtis is confident in his ability to track and locate the singer
I didn't mean to piss off a hacker this much,
The singer regrets provoking Curtis
I just wanted to hear you yell at me a bunch.
The artist was seeking a reaction from Curtis
Now it seems like my whole life is through,
The artist feels like their life is in danger
(Let me tell you exactly what I'm gonna do.)
Curtis is making another threat
Can you really find me through the telephone switch?
The singer doubts Curtis's capabilities
(You best understand who you're fucking with.)
Curtis is asserting his dominance and threatening the artist
Please, Curtis, just let me go free,
The artist is begging for mercy
I'll never call your number again, you'll see,
The artist promises not to provoke Curtis again
You win this round, Curtis, you're the fucking boss,
The singer acknowledges Curtis's power and control over the situation
(Now, motherfucker, you've pissed me off!)
Curtis is angry and ready to escalate the situation
Actually I'm kidding, your threats crack me up,
The singer is making light of the situation to avoid further conflict
I know that you're nothing to be afraid of,
The singer realizes that Curtis is not invincible
Your crazy delusions of your hacker past,
The singer sees Curtis's claims as exaggerated
(I'm gonna be stomping a mudhole in your fuckin' ass!)
Curtis is making one final threat before ending the conversation
Let's play the game like the devil says,
The cycle of threats and intimidation continues
It's not time to speak until I say it is,
Curtis is still in control
Your time is up because the devil says so,
Curtis continues to limit the singer's time
You understand that it's the devil's show.
The devil is the driving force behind this confrontation, in Curtis's mind
Play the rules the way the game is played,
Curtis continues to expect obedience from the artist
Or the devil's hands will take your life away,
Curtis is making yet another threat
Each step is countered by a step of mine,
Curtis continues to assert his superiority
Just like every time, every fucking time.
The artist acknowledges that Curtis has always been in control
Contributed by James I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.