Royals

Album: Love Club (2013)
Charted: 1 1
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  • I've never seen a diamond in the flesh
    I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
    And I'm not proud of my address
    In a torn up town, no postcode envy

    But every song's like
    Gold teeth, Grey Goose, trippin' in the bathroom
    Bloodstains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room
    We don't care
    We're driving Cadillacs in our dreams
    But everybody's like
    Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece
    Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash
    We don't care
    We aren't caught up in your love affair

    And we'll never be royals (royals)
    It don't run in our blood
    That kind of luxe just ain't for us
    We crave a different kind of buzz
    Let me be your ruler (ruler)
    You can call me queen bee
    And baby, I'll rule (I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule)
    Let me live that fantasy

    My friends and I, we've cracked the code
    We count our dollars on the train to the party
    And everyone who knows us knows
    That we're fine with this, we didn't come from money

    But every song's like
    Gold teeth, Grey Goose, trippin' in the bathroom
    Bloodstains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room
    We don't care
    We're driving Cadillacs in our dreams
    But everybody's like
    Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece
    Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash
    We don't care
    We aren't caught up in your love affair

    And we'll never be royals (royals)
    It don't run in our blood
    That kind of luxe just ain't for us
    We crave a different kind of buzz
    Let me be your ruler (ruler)
    You can call me queen bee
    And baby, I'll rule (I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule)
    Let me live that fantasy

    Oh
    Oh (oh, oh)
    We're bigger than we ever dreamed
    And I'm in love with being queen
    Oh
    Oh (oh, oh)
    Life is great without a care
    We aren't caught up in your love affair

    And we'll never be royals (royals)
    It don't run in our blood
    That kind of luxe just ain't for us
    We crave a different kind of buzz
    Let me be your ruler (ruler)
    You can call me queen bee
    And baby, I'll rule (I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule)
    Let me live that fantasy Writer/s: Ella Marija La Yelich O'Connor, Joel Little
    Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 10

  • Piper from San Franciscothis song blows in the wind, the lyrics are whinny, the music is good, but what are you against other than the same thing you are craving. I see this hypocrisy all around me in California, same type mentality, complaining and begging for the same garbage your complaining about. I am tired.
  • Moonie from United StatesI always heard it as "that kind of lust just ain't for us", which still makes sense -- to me -- in place of luxe.

    Anyway, is it just me or does anyone else think the "I'll rule" harmony sounds like a pack of wolves...?
  • Shandroise De Laeken from Davao City, PhilippinesFor the fans of this song, only a few are fans because of what it means. They're just caught up with the catchy melody.
    Its nice that through this song she disapproves the luxurious lifestyles of the Hollywood life. At first I thought she was referring to European royals (I'm surprised she's a fan of Nicholas II - I'm also a fan of him and his entire family!). With my first interpretation in mind, I didn't understand her second stanza. But after reading this here, I'm relieved she's not talking about the European royals.
    I also have the same complaint as Prashant. Hmm? Why wish to be a queen B? Why ask us to let you become our ruler?
  • Shawn from MarylandI found the song sort of in reverse. I had heard it on the radio but never paid attention to it. Then I heard a 6 foot (1.9 meters for people outside the US) clown sing it. Check out Puddles Pity Party. He nailed the song. Anyway, it made me listen to Lorde's original version more closely. I bought her CD because, like she says, "I'm kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air."
  • Manoel from São Gonçalo, BrazilRoyals, although a little difficult to be translated and interpreted, it has a musical arrangement that involve us, lyrics without pretensions and a choir with Ella which gives color to the music. When I realize, I have it in my mind. Fantastic.
  • Prashant from Kathmandu, NepalI'm confused... If they crave a different kind of buzz than royals do, then why do they say they want to be our rulers? Queen B...? Sounds to me like the exact same kind of buzz... I hate stupid lyrics.
  • Richard from Coon Rapids, MnDoes anyone know if she has background vocalists for this song? I don't mean when performing on tour, but the studio recording version. Were background vocalists used? Or was it just her (with the help of her producer adding those layers to the track.) Because they really make the song sound great to me.
  • Camille from Toronto, OhHeard the song just recently after it became the #1 video on VH1 but didn't understand what the appeal of the song was. Happened to hear it again, shortly after that, and it got stuck in my head. I came on Songfacts to read up about it, and after hearing what the song was written about, I LOVE it, and the philosophy behind the words. For years, I hear songs, see the videos that Lorde refers to as: "this ridiculous, unrelatable, unattainable opulence that runs throughout". For a song that I never heard before, now I've heard it about 10 times in jus the past couple days.
  • Kimberly from Landing, NjAren't we all royals? Yes! Codes are the royals as we see them. And we are ever blessed to have that spirit. We all have it in us.
  • Jwc082 from Missouri, MoSince I get the feeling that this song is going to be misunderstood by people who hear it thinking that it's about being wealthy and partying, this song actually says the opposite. Lorde here rejects the lifestyle of mainstream popstars who live like "Royals." Lady Gaga and Ke$ha are two who come to mind easily who live the lifestyle that Lorde is talking about, but she says that "That kind of luxe just ain't for us." She's saying that a great deal of the popular music that's out there today is about living the Hollywood high life and partying, doing things like drinking Grey Goose, trashing hotel rooms, owning watches with diamonds, and even owning tigers like housecats, the same as Mike Tyson in "The Hangover."

    Instead, Lorde wants something different. Instead of counting Benjamins in the back of a limo (or in her case, a Maybach), she talks about counting dollars on a train on her way to a party. It's a much more populist idea, I guess you could say. She doesn't desire the same stereotypical Hollywood lifestyle of conspicuous consumption.
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