The Tradition

Album: If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (2021)
Play Video
  • Oh, the loneliest girl in town is bought for pennies a price
    We dress her up in lovely gowns, she's easy on the eyes
    Her soul is black and it's a fact that her sneer will eat you alive
    And the buyer always brings her back, because all she does is cry

    So take what you want
    Take what you can
    Take what you please
    Don't give a damn
    Ask for forgiveness
    Never permission

    Take what you want
    Take what you can
    Take what you please
    Don't give a damn
    It's in the blood and
    This is tradition

    Oh
    Oh, the loneliest girl in town was bought for plenty a price
    Well they dress her up in golden crowns, his smile hides a lie
    She's smiles back, but it's a fact that her fear will eat her alive
    Well she got the life that she wanted, but now all she does is cry

    Take what you want
    Take what you can
    Take what you please
    Don't give a damn
    Ask for forgiveness
    Never permission

    Take what you want
    Take what you can
    Take what you please
    Don't give a damn
    It's in the blood and
    This is tradition

    You can't take it back
    It's good as gone
    Flesh amnesiac
    This is your song

    And I hope what's left will last all summer long
    And they said that, "Boys were boys", but they were wrong

    Take what you want
    Take what you can
    Take what you please
    Don't give a damn
    Ask for forgiveness
    Never permission

    Take what you want
    Take what you can
    Take what you please
    Don't give a damn
    It's in the blood and
    This is tradition

    Take what you want
    Take what you can
    Take what you please
    Don't give a damn
    Ask for forgiveness
    Never permission

    Take what you want
    Take what you can
    Take what you please
    Don't give a damn
    It's in the blood and
    This is tradition Writer/s: Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, Atticus Ross, Greg Kurstin, Trent Reznor
    Publisher: Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • RileeI just love Halsey for who she is and who she tries to be, like all the people dissin can f--k off.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Leslie West of Mountain

Leslie West of MountainSongwriter Interviews

From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.

Country Song Titles

Country Song TitlesFact or Fiction

Country songs with titles so bizarre they can't possibly be real... or can they?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

The Girl in That Song

The Girl in That SongFact or Fiction

Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?