King of the Hill
Thundercat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
No more games
But the world got time for games with you
Play your own
Playing with your money and your heart
Just admit you don't know what to do
I've seen a lot of things come and go
Lots of pimps and dirty hoes
How this ends, we'll never know
A king in his castle
A king of the hill
Wasting his time
Chasing cheap thrills
He knows it's gonna cost him
God knows how much
But you know you gotta pay or play (pay or play)
At the end of the day (at the end of the day)
Playing with your money and your heart
There's got to be another way
A king in his castle
A king of the hill
Wasting his time
Chasing cheap thrills
He knows it's gonna cost him
God knows how much
In Thundercat's song "King of the Hill," the lyrics describe a character who seems to be struggling with the difficult balance between love and money. The song begins with the protagonist dismissing any interest in games, but despite their intentions, they find themselves caught up in the game anyway. The protagonist is caught between the worlds of love and money, stating that they have seen a lot of people come and go, but they don't know how this situation will end. The protagonist is also self-aware, acknowledging that they are the king of the hill and that they are wasting their time chasing cheap thrills.
The references to "money and heart" suggest that the protagonist may be in a toxic relationship, where they feel stuck and unable to leave due to financial pressures. The song also points to the idea of playing and paying, where the protagonist may feel that they are being taken advantage of financially in their relationship. The song expresses a sense of helplessness, with the protagonist admitting that they don't know what to do. In the end, the protagonist longs for an alternative solution, indicating that they are searching for a way out of their situation.
Line by Line Meaning
You say you ain't got time for games
You claim to have no time to waste on trivial activities
No more games
You have reached a point where you cannot tolerate playing games anymore
But the world got time for games with you
The world seems to be playing games with you even though you don't want to
Play your own
You are encouraged to create and play your own games
Playing with your money and your heart
You are risking both your finances and emotions in your actions
Just admit you don't know what to do
You need to acknowledge that you are unsure about what you should do
I've seen a lot of things come and go
I have witnessed many things that have emerged and vanished over time
Lots of pimps and dirty hoes
I have encountered many people who are dishonest and immoral
How this ends, we'll never know
We are unsure about what the future holds for us
A king in his castle
You are acting like a king who is secure in his home
A king of the hill
You are trying to dominate others and be above them
Wasting his time
You are not utilizing your time wisely
Chasing cheap thrills
You are pursuing enjoyment and excitement that has little value
He knows it's gonna cost him
You are aware that there will be a price you have to pay
God knows how much
We have no idea how much it will cost you
But you know you gotta pay or play (pay or play)
You realize that you have to choose either to pay the price or to continue playing the games
At the end of the day (at the end of the day)
Ultimately, when everything is said and done
There's got to be another way
There must be another alternative approach to dealing with this situation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alexander Sowinski, Chester A Hansen, Leland Whitty, Matthew Adam Tavares, Stephen Lee Bruner, Steven D Ellison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
“I do believe that hip-hop can be the new jazz, and I’m helping create that”, Bruner said in an interview to Bass Player, in 2008. Read Full BioStephen Lee Bruner, stage name Thundercat (b. October 19 1984, Los Angeles, CA, USA) is a virtuoso bassist, composer, producer and singer. Born into a family of musicians, his brother and he were part of legendary thrash punks Suicidal Tendencies (since 16 years of age) - Bruner has collaborated with many, including jams with Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller and Stanley Clarke.
“I do believe that hip-hop can be the new jazz, and I’m helping create that”, Bruner said in an interview to Bass Player, in 2008.
He is part of the new generation of jazz literate, hip-hop loving instrumentalists who can play beyond traditional limits - a mutant jazz cat - and that’s how 'Thundercat' (a monicker he chose), suits him well (even if it’s purely the result of an unhealthy cartoon addiction dating back to childhood).
PsychXylo
You say you ain't got time for games
No more games
But the world got time for games with you
Play your own
Playing with your money and your heart
Just admit you don't know what to do
I've seen a lot of things come and go
Lots of pimps and dirty hoes
How this ends, we'll never know
A king in his castle
A king of the hill
Wasting his time
Chasing cheap thrills
He knows it's gonna cost him
God knows how much
But you know you gotta pay or play (pay or play)
At the end of the day (at the end of the day)
Playing with your money and your heart
There's got to be another way
A king in his castle
A king of the hill
Wasting his time
Chasing cheap thrills
He knows it's gonna cost him
God knows how muchf
Madvillainy91
Thundercat and BBNG is like adding honey to tea
Jozzuh Edits!
With flylo
Madness and folly Beats
Bruh you do that shit you probably will open up a portal to another dimension the time space continuum can’t handle all that
Paul Johnson
dRIFT SPIriT Yessir! And kombucha (yogi)
Dante Espinoza-Villaseñor
Bro you everywhere
Dante F
Madvillainy91 oooonnnnnn GOD!
ken the janitor
Watch the start of this track get sampled in a rap song 10 years from now
Hailfire_Ice_september
@Jakob Rose yeah but it's different
Bob Bobbity
@Jakob Rose Sampling is plagiarism! I only listen to REAL music! 🤓 - Jakob Rose
Jakob Rose
@Bob Bobbity
Ah. You're lonely. Got it. 👍