Royals

Lorde · Pure Heroine [2013]

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, tripping in the bathroom

Bloodstains, ball gowns, trashing 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, tiger's on a gold leash

We don't care

We're aren't caught up in your love affair



[Chorus]

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 every one 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, tripping in the bathroom

Bloodstains, ball gowns, trashing 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, tiger's on a gold leash

We don't care

We're aren't caught up in your love affair



[Chorus]

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



[Chorus]

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

Royals

Lorde's 'Royals' stands as a defining track of the 2010s indie-pop landscape, emerging from her debut album *Pure Heroine*. The song captures the complex emotions of growing up, specifically the tension between materialism and authenticity that often accompanies adolescence. With its minimalist production and Lorde's distinctive vocal delivery, the recording became an instant cultural phenomenon, resonating with listeners who felt alienated by consumer culture. Its success propelled Lorde to international stardom and established her as a significant voice in modern pop music, influencing countless artists to explore themes of self-identity and social commentary through their own work.