Chained To The Rhythm

Although Katy Perry dropped her Rio Olympics single “Rise” in 2016, it’s been almost four years since the release of her last album, 2013’s Prism. Now, she’s back with “Chained to the Rhythm”—the first single from her long-awaited fourth album—and she verified all the lyrics on Genius, too. The song is produced by pop hit-makers Max Martin and Ali Payami, and co-written by Max, Aly, and Sia. It features Skip Marley—reggae icon Bob Marley’s grandson—who recently signed to Island Records. “Chained to the Rhythm” is about living life in a bubble and being “lonely up there in utopia.” On the chorus, Katy sings about being carefree and enjoying music that makes you feel good: "Turn it up, it’s your favorite song Dance, dance, dance to the distortion Turn it up, keep it on repeat Stumbling around like a wasted zombie Yeah, we think we’re free Drink, this one’s on me We’re all chained to the rhythm Skip Marley comes through on the bridge and sings: "Time is ticking for the empire The truth they feed is feeble As so many times before They greed over the people They stumbling and fumbling And we about to riot They woke up, they woke up the lions The song’s release culminates a recent guerrilla marketing effort in which disco balls with headphone jacks were strategically placed in cities around the world. Fans who hunted them down got to listen to “Chained to the Rhythm” before its official debut. Katy is expected to perform “Chained to the Rhythm” at the Grammys this Sunday on CBS. The song will be part of her untitled fourth album, which doesn’t have a release date just yet. There’s not much information about the potential track list, but the song “Witness,” which leaked on SoundCloud after Katy’s Twitter was hacked last May, is thought to be part of the album.

[Verse 1: Katy Perry] Are we crazy? Living our lives through a lens Trapped in our white picket fence Like ornaments So comfortable, we're living in a bubble, bubble So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, trouble Aren't you lonely Up there in utopia Where nothing will ever be enough? Happily numb So comfortable, we're living in a bubble, bubble So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, trouble [Pre-Chorus: Katy Perry] So put your rose-colored glasses on And party on [Chorus: Katy Perry] Turn it up, it's your favorite song Dance, dance, dance to the distortion Come on, turn it up, keep it on repeat Stumbling around like a wasted zombie Yeah, we think we're free Drink, this one is on me We're all chained to the rhythm To the rhythm To the rhythm Turn it up, it's your favorite song Dance, dance, dance to the distortion Come on, turn it up, keep it on repeat Stumbling around like a wasted zombie Yeah, we think we're free Drink, this one is on me We're all chained to the rhythm To the rhythm To the rhythm [Verse 2: Katy Perry] Are we tone deaf? Keep sweeping it under the mat Thought we could do better than that I hope we can So comfortable, we're living in a bubble, bubble So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, trouble [Pre-Chorus: Katy Perry] So put your rose-colored glasses on And party on [Chorus: Katy Perry] Turn it up, it's your favorite song Dance, dance, dance to the distortion Come on, turn it up, keep it on repeat Stumbling around like a wasted zombie Yeah, we think we're free Drink, this one is on me We're all chained to the rhythm To the rhythm To the rhythm Turn it up, it's your favorite song Dance, dance, dance to the distortion Come on, turn it up, keep it on repeat Stumbling around like a wasted zombie Yeah, we think we're free Drink, this one is on me We're all chained to the rhythm To the rhythm To the rhythm [Bridge: Skip Marley] It is my desire Break down the walls to connect, inspire Ay, up in your high place, liars Time is ticking for the empire The truth they feed is feeble As so many times before They greed over the people They stumbling and fumbling And we're about to riot They woke up, they woke up the lions (Woo!) [Chorus: Katy Perry] Turn it up, it's your favorite song Dance, dance, dance to the distortion Come on, turn it up, keep it on repeat Stumbling around like a wasted zombie Yeah, we think we're free Drink, this one is on me We're all chained to the rhythm To the rhythm To the rhythm [Outro: Katy Perry] Turn it up Turn it up It goes on, and on, and on It goes on, and on, and on It goes on, and on, and on 'Cause we're all chained to the rhythm