Released: August 27, 2013

Songwriter: Joel Little Lorde

Producer: Joel Little Frano

[Verse 1]
All my life
I've been fighting a war
I can't talk to you or your friends
It's not only you
My heart jumps around when I'm alluded to
This will not do
'Cause I was raised up
To be admired, to be noticed
But when you're withdrawn
It's the closest thing
To assault when all eyes are on you
This will not do

[Verse 2]
I'm faking glory
Lick my lips, toss my hair
And turn the smile on
And the story's brand new
But I can take it from here
I'll find my own bravado

[Pre-Chorus]
It's a switch flipped
It's a pill tipped back, it's a moon eclipse, whoa
And I can tell you that
When the lights come on, I'll be ready for this
It's in your bloodstream
A collision of atoms that happens before your eyes
It's a marathon run
Or a mountain you scaled without thinking of size

[Chorus]
I was frightened of
Every little thing that I thought was out to get me down
To trip me up and laugh at me, but
I learned not to want
The quiet of a room with no-one around to find me out
I want the applause, the approval
The things that make me go, "Oh"

[Instumental Break]

[Pre-Chorus]
It's a switch flipped
It's a pill tipped back, it's a moon eclipse, whoa
And I can tell you that
When the lights come on, I'll be ready for this
It's in your bloodstream
A collision of atoms that happens before your eyes
It's a marathon run
Or a mountain you scaled without thinking of size

[Chorus]
I was frightened of
Every little thing that I thought was out to get me down
To trip me up and laugh at me, but
I learned not to want
The quiet of a room with no-one around to find me out
I want the applause, the approval
The things that make me go, "Oh"

Lorde

Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor (b. November 7, 1996), better known by her stage name Lorde, is a pop star hailing from New Zealand. While her earlier music focused on criticizing fame and the “pop star” culture, she grew into it more with her second album while keeping the superb writing she’s known for.

She first became a figure on the international scene with her debut EP The Love Club but didn’t start to blow up until her song “Royals” reached #1 on charts worldwide, including the US. Her use of apt metaphors and allegories at just sixteen made her a revered and intriguing media figure.

Although she was initially written off as a one-hit-wonder, her top-ten second single “Team,” curation of The Hunger Mockingjay soundtrack, and her friendships with other A-listers like Taylor Swift have kept her in the spotlight, as well as general intrigue about new music.