Tyrant
by Beyoncé (featuring Dolly Parton)

Album: Cowboy Carter (2024)
Charted: 83 44
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • According to the Songfacts dictionary, a "Tyrant" is a ruler who uses his power arbitrarily and oppressively. Here, Beyoncé transforms heartbreak into a potent and intimidating brand of sensuality. Picture her, confident and in control, swaggering across the track, a force to be reckoned with.

    Ridin' you while we tryna catch a wave
    That's so sexy and I know it, and I ain't afraid to show it


    Think of "Tyrant" as the feisty cousin to the Renaissance track "Virgo's Groove."
  • "Tyrant" adds another fiery anthem to Beyoncé's collection of sex jams. But while Renaissance tracks like "Thique" and "America Has A Problem" find Beyoncé flexing her booty, "Tyrant" celebrates her riding skills. Buckle up!
  • "Tyrant" is the 21st track on Cowboy Carter, the second installment of Beyoncé's trilogy project conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, following Renaissance. Cowboy Carter is not only the name of the album but also the central character in a narrative about tackling American cultural history.

    Remember Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé's alter ego from the late 2000s? "Cowboy Carter" is like a spiritual successor. Back then, Sasha Fierce embodied Beyoncé's "too aggressive, too strong, too sassy, too sexy." artistic persona. Here, Bey embraces a similar boldness, transforming into the titular "Cowboy Carter."
  • On this track, Beyoncé showcases her undeniable talent and stage presence as this self-proclaimed "Tyrant." This swaggering persona is a way to demand answers from the "Hangman" – a symbol of infidelity, likely referencing Jay-Z's past cheating.

    The "Hangman" is also referenced as "Becky with the good hair" on Beyoncé's Lemonade song "Sorry" and as "Jolene" in her cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene."
  • Cowboy Carter takes the form of a fictional Texas radio broadcast. Dolly Parton herself cameos as the DJ who introduces "Tyrant." Willie Nelson and Linda Martell, a pioneering Black country artist, also join the fun as DJs. Parton also appears on the spoken-word interlude titled "Dolly P."
  • The sexy, fiddle-laden trap beat is courtesy of D.A. Got That Dope. A Chicago-native, Doman is a frequent Eminem collaborator and has also worked with the likes of Chris Brown ("Privacy"), Megan Thee Stallion ("Cry Baby") and Post Malone ("Motley Crew").

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"They're Playing My Song

Shears does very little promotion, which has kept him secluded from the spotlight. What changed when Cyndi Lauper had a hit with his song? Not much, really.

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden

Kim Thayil of SoundgardenSongwriter Interviews

Their frontman (Chris Cornell) started out as their drummer, so Soundgarden takes a linear approach when it comes to songwriting. Kim explains how they do it.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New Words

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New WordsSong Writing

Where words like "email," "thirsty," "Twitter" and "gangsta" first showed up in songs, and which songs popularized them.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")

Barry Dean ("Pontoon," "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools")Songwriter Interviews

A top country songwriter, Barry talks about writing hits for Little Big Town, Tim McGraw and Jason Aldean.