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King of the Hill
Thundercat Lyrics


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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 much

Overall Meaning

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 singer dismissing any interest in games, but despite their intentions, they find themselves caught up in the game anyway. The singer 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 singer 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 singer 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 singer may feel that they are being taken advantage of financially in their relationship. The song expresses a sense of helplessness, with the singer admitting that they don't know what to do. In the end, the singer 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
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Comments from YouTube:

@JasmineGoodenDisciple

Idk how no one else is obsessed with this song as much as I am 😭

@ReetaBo

I'm completely taken by this song. 2 years ago, I asked Siri to play something I'd like and this is what she played me. I've been in love since

@ReetaBo

I'm completely taken by this song. 2 years ago, I asked Siri to play something I'd like and this is what she played me. I've been in love since

@JasmineGoodenDisciple

@@ReetaBo oh dang Siri knew what she was doing for once 😭😭🙌🏾 congrats to you haha

@ytggdbhu1865

can’t get enough of this song or his tiny desk this is a taaaalented man

@tonyferra2134

“No one like you”

@Madvillainy91

Thundercat and BBNG is like adding honey to tea

@vagabond8460

Madvillainy91 I love the name and profile pic

@seanpasquarella4149

Good ass album

@driftspirit5756

Where's my earl grey gang at?!

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