The lyrics metaphorically refer to the game of love in which you take chances even though anyone can get hurt. In an interview with Fuse, Rihanna called the song "poetry" and not literally about a game of russian roulette.
Russian Roulette
Rihanna Lyrics
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Take a breath, take it deep
Calm yourself, he says to me
If you play, you play for keeps
Take the gun and count to three
I'm sweating now, moving slow
No time to think, my turn to go
And you can see my heart beating
You can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving
I know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger (trigger, trigger, trigger)
Say a prayer, to yourself
He says, close your eyes
Sometimes it helps
And then I get, a scary thought
That he's here, means he's never lost
And you can see my heart beating
Oh, you can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving
Know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger
As my life flashes before my eyes
I'm wondering will I ever see another sunrise?
So many won't get the chance to say goodbye
But it's too late to think of the value of my life
And you can see my heart beating
Ohh-oh, you can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving, no
Know that I must pass this test
And you can see my heart beating
Oh, you can see it through my chest
I'm terrified but I'm not leaving, no
Know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger (trigger, trigger, trigger)
The lyrics to Rihanna’s “Russian Roulette” explore themes of fear, uncertainty, and testing oneself in a high-stakes situation. The song opens with the singer being instructed by her partner to take a deep breath, calm down, and prepare to play this dangerous and deadly game. She is told that if she chooses to play, she is playing to win everything and to take the gun and count to three. Despite professing her fear and terror, the singer takes the gun and is instructed to say a prayer, with the hopes of making herself feel calmer. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the partner is not simply a lover or romantic interest but may be seen as a metaphor for the greater forces in our lives that push us to our limits.
It ultimately boils down to the test of life and whether one is willing to take a risk to succeed. The singer knows full well that there are high stakes and a high price to pay, with her life literally hanging in the balance. She is terrified, but she understands that she must rise to this challenge and face it head-on. The urgency and anxiety of the song are amplified by the repetition of the phrase “just pull the trigger,” which calls on the singer to be decisive and take charge of her own fate. The song ends with riotous beats and swirling, frantic sounds as the singer faces her moment of truth, showcasing her determination to live and survive, no matter what the stakes.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a breath, take it deep
He's telling her to calm down.
Calm yourself, he says to me
He's giving her instructions on how to handle the situation.
If you play, you play for keeps
He's warning her that this is serious and she needs to be fully committed.
Take the gun and count to three
She's been given the gun and needs to prepare herself.
I'm sweating now, moving slow
She's scared and her body is reacting to the stress.
No time to think, my turn to go
This is it. She has to play the game now.
And you can see my heart beating
She's so scared that her heart is visible.
You can see it through my chest
Her fear is so strong that it's physically affecting her body.
Say a prayer, to yourself
She's looking for any way to calm herself down.
He says, close your eyes
He's trying to help her focus and eliminate distractions.
Sometimes it helps
He's acknowledging that this is a difficult situation and they need to use any tricks they can to get through it.
And then I get, a scary thought
Her mind is racing and she's having trouble staying calm.
That he's here, means he's never lost
She's scared of the person she's playing with because they seem very experienced.
As my life flashes before my eyes
She's realizing how dangerous this situation is and how she might not make it out alive.
I'm wondering will I ever see another sunrise?
She's questioning whether or not she'll survive this game.
So many won't get the chance to say goodbye
She's acknowledging that this is a life or death situation and many people have died playing this game before her.
But it's too late to think of the value of my life
She's realizing too late that maybe this game wasn't worth risking her life over.
I'm terrified but I'm not leaving, no
She's come this far and knows she needs to see it through.
Know that I must pass this test
She knows the stakes and needs to prove to herself (and maybe others) that she's strong enough to handle this situation.
So just pull the trigger (trigger, trigger, trigger)
She's reached the moment of truth and needs to either take the risk or pass on the game altogether.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Harmon, Shaffer Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aliyaismanova5604
Take a breath, take it deep
Calm yourself, he says to me
If you play, you play for keeps
Take the gun, and count to three
I'm sweating now, I'm moving slow
No time to think, my turn to go
And you can see my heart, beating
You can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving
I know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger (trigger, trigger, trigger...)
Say a prayer, to yourself
He says, close your eyes, sometimes it helps
And then I get, a scary thought
That he's here, means he's never lost
And you can see my heart, beating
Now you can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving
I know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger
As my life flashes before my eyes
I'm wondering will I, ever see another sunrise?
So many won't get the chance to say goodbye
But it's too late to think of the value of my life
And you can see my heart, beating
Now you can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified but I'm not leaving, no!
I know that I must pass this test
And you can see my heart, beating
Oh, you can see it through my chest
That I'm terrified but I'm not leaving, no!
I know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger (trigger, trigger, trigger...)
@charlesclimineda8080
Is it me or her songs really never get old?
@BabyBlue1978.
Charles Climineda Nope its not you
@marlenelopez6421
Charles Climineda
except for work i used to love it now its so annoying
@charlesclimineda8080
marlene lopez lol you probably heard it to much
@eses1546
Charles Climineda haha good one
@randyflash2510
U know what is funny? When u never feel that certain songs get old... it means certain times that you are getting old, old people love to stick with what they grew up with... not to be disrespectful, it was just kinda funny to me
@rihannanavy7526
this era of Rihanna was everything
@tyliekinc.
Rated R. 2009-10
@cynthiaisako
Absolutely !!!
@levudehh
I still love her .... take me back.