"The Tradition" is a song performed by Halsey. It is featured as the opening track on their fourth studio album, If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power. It was released on August 27, 2021 through Capitol Records.
Background[]
The song was announced via Amazon's virtual AI assistant, Alexa, on August 10, 2021.[1]
Cross-references[]
- The lyric "Ask for forgiveness, never permission" alludes to a quote from Admiral Grace Hopper: "It is often easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission."
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Oh, the loneliest girl in town
Is bought for pennies of prize
We dress her up in lovely gowns
She's easy on the eyes
Her soul is black and it's a fact
That a snear will eat you alive
And the buyer always brings her back
Because all she does is cry
[Chorus]
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 givе a damn
It's in the blood and this is tradition
Ooh-ooh
[Verse 2]
Oh, the loneliеst girl in town
Was bought for plenty a prize
Well, they dress her up in golden crowns
His smile hides a lie
She 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
[Chorus]
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
[Bridge]
You can't take it back, it's good as gone
Well, flesh amnesiac, this is your soul
And I hope what's left will last all summer long
And they said that boys were boys, but they were wrong
[Chorus]
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
[Outro]
(It's good as gone)
References[]
| If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power | ||
|---|---|---|
| August 27, 2021 • Capitol Records | ||
| Songs | ||
| Standard | 1 The Tradition • 2 Bells In Santa Fe • 3 Easier Than Lying • 4 Lilith • 5 Girl Is A Gun • 6 You Asked For This • 7 Darling • 8 1121 • 9 Honey • 10 Whispers • 11 I Am Not A Woman, I'm A God • 12 The Lighthouse • 13 Ya'aburnee | |
| Deluxe | Nightmare • Nightmare (Reprise) • People Disappear Here • Gasoline (Reimagined) | |
| Cut | I forgive you | |
| Artist(s) | ||
| Halsey | ||