T.R.E. started writing lyrics at age 13, but didn't get serious about music until he was 17 years old. "I was going through a lot of shit at the time, having some family problems, and music was a way for me to get everything I had inside of me out in a constructive way." T.R.E. began recording with a local independent record label, working in the studio almost every night, perfecting his flow and song writing ability
Whatever It Takes
T.R.E. Lyrics
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Though it's hurting me, now it's history
I've played all my cards and that's what you've done too
Nothing more to say, no more ace to play
The winner takes it all
The loser standing small beside the victory, that's her destiny
I was in your arms thinking I belonged there
Building me a home, thinking I'd be strong there
But I was a fool, playing by the rules
The gods may throw a dice, their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here loses someone dear
The winner takes it all, the loser has to fall
It's simple and it's plain, why should I complain
But tell me, does she kiss like I used to kiss you
Does it feel the same when she calls your name
Somewhere deep inside you must know I miss you
But what can I say, rules must be obeyed
The judges will decide the likes of me abide
Spectators of the show always staying low
The game is on again, a lover or a friend
A big thing or a small, the winner takes it all
I don't wanna talk if it makes you feel sad
And I understand you've come to shake my hand
I apologize if it makes you feel bad seeing me so tense, no self confidence
The lyrics of T.R.E.'s Whatever It Takes portrays a feeling of heartbreak and longing for a love that is lost. The singer doesn't want to talk about the events that led to the end of the relationship, despite the pain that it causes. Both parties have played their cards, but there's no ace to play, and the winner takes it all while the loser, the singer, stands small. The song is a melancholic depiction of love and its various complexities.
The chorus accentuates the idea of a winner and a loser. The singer was in love, believing that it made sense, building a home and thinking that he'd be strong there. However, he played by the rules, and the gods threw a dice, and his fate was to lose someone dear. The judges, in this case, society, have decided that people like him should abide, while the winner takes it all. He wonders if the new person kisses like he used to, if it feels the same when she calls his name, and somewhere deep inside, he knows he misses his past love.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna talk about things we've gone through
I do not want to discuss our shared experiences in the past
Though it's hurting me, now it's history
Even though it pains me, it is now a thing of the past
I've played all my cards and that's what you've done too
I have used all my strategies, and that is what you have done as well
Nothing more to say, no more ace to play
There is nothing left to say or do that will give an advantage
The winner takes it all
The person who succeeds receives everything
The loser standing small beside the victory, that's her destiny
The person left behind after losing will feel small in comparison to the victor
I was in your arms thinking I belonged there
When I was with you, I felt like I belonged
I figured it made sense, building me a fence
I thought it was logical to build a barrier around myself
Building me a home, thinking I'd be strong there
Creating a dwelling, believing it would make me stronger there
But I was a fool, playing by the rules
I was foolish to follow the guidelines and regulations
The gods may throw a dice, their minds as cold as ice
Fate can be unpredictable and impartial
And someone way down here loses someone dear
Somebody further down the hierarchy loses something they cherish
The winner takes it all, the loser has to fall
The winner takes everything while the loser loses everything
It's simple and it's plain, why should I complain
It is easy to understand and straightforward, so what is the point of complaining?
But tell me, does she kiss like I used to kiss you
However, tell me, does she kiss you the way I used to?
Does it feel the same when she calls your name
When she says your name, does it stir up the same emotions?
Somewhere deep inside you must know I miss you
Surely some part of you understands that I still long for you
But what can I say, rules must be obeyed
Yet, what can I say? We must obey the rules
The judges will decide the likes of me abide
The referees will choose if someone like me can stay
Spectators of the show always staying low
The viewers always remain in the background
The game is on again, a lover or a friend
The game has resumed - are we lovers or friends?
A big thing or a small, the winner takes it all
No matter how important or insignificant, the victor will receive all
I don't wanna talk if it makes you feel sad
If discussing the situation causes you pain, I do not want to bring it up
And I understand you've come to shake my hand
I comprehend that you have approached to greet me
I apologize if it makes you feel bad seeing me so tense, no self confidence
I apologize if my anxiety and lack of self-assurance makes you uncomfortable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Bjoern K Ulvaeus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind