Song of the Day #5,771: ‘Tyrant’ – Beyoncé

Continuing my countdown of the songs on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter

#1d. ‘Tyrant’

As I get to my four favorite tracks on this excellent album, the order doesn’t really matter. Depending on my mood, any one of these could be my #1. So that’s how I’m numbering them.

‘Tyrant’ is definitely a contender for the album’s best track, and the blend of country themes with a trap beat (and Dolly Parton!) makes it one of the songs that exemplifies Cowboy Carter‘s approach to genre. Queen Bey has said “this isn’t a country album, it’s a Beyoncé album.” ‘Tyrant’ is thrilling proof that it’s both.

Along with its addictive groove, this song has fascinating lyrics. ‘Tyrant’ finds Beyoncé confident in her sexuality and power even as she admits feelings of jealousy and anger. Who is the hangman? Who is the tyrant? Is this another shot at Becky with the good hair?

When Jay-Z cheated on his remarkable wife, do you think he knew he’d be paying the price publicly through groundbreaking album releases for the next decade or more?

[Intro: Dolly Parton & Beyoncé]
Cowboy Carter
Time to strike a match and light up this juke joint
One-one-one by one, you hang them high
Your hands are steady and you sleep at night
How did you turn your heart to stone?
I don’t want him back, but I can’t let go
Hangman, answer me now
You owe me a debt, you stole him from me
I hated you once, I envy you now
Just tell me how, tell me how
(d.a. got that—)

[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, she got that whoa there, hangman got that whoa there
Don’t act like you don’t know, giddy up, giddy up (d.a. got that dope)
Don’t pay me in gold, giddy up, giddy up
Back outside, I’m on the road, giddy up, giddy up
When the sun goes down (It’s night-night, hey)
Can hear her body howl (In the moonlight, hey)
I feel her eyein’ me like owls (It’s on sight, hey)
Hide your man when the hangman come in town (Ooh, yikes)

[Chorus]
She’s a tyrant every time I ride it, every time I ride it
Make it look so good, try to justify it
Boy, you know they’re lookin’ for me, how we gonna hide it?
Ride it like hydraulics, I am such a tyrant
Every time I ride it, every time I ride this
I don’t like to sit up in the saddle, boy, I got it
Just relax, I got this, I got that exotic
Hips are so hypnotic, I am such a tyrant

[Verse]
Send me some shots, are you with me or not?
Throw it back, shoot up the bar
Then tell the law we don’t remember nothin’ after that
Scot-free (Scot-free), whole city after me
Have you seen her? 5’9”, thick and fine, what a tragedy
Hey, hey, ridin’ you while we tryna get away
Ridin’ you while we tryna catch a wave
That’s so sexy and I know it, and I ain’t afraid to show it
Baby, I’m goated, baby, I’m glowin’
Hey, hey, on the run, run
Tap me on the shoulder when you reload the gun

[Chorus]
Tyrant every time I ride it, every time I ride it
Make it look so good, try to justify it
Boy, you know they’re lookin’ for me, how we gonna hide it?
Ride it like hydraulics, I am such a tyrant

[Bridge]
How did you get used to the haunting? (The haunting)
The willing, the missing, the wanting (The wanting)
Dry eyes just send me across the divide
Hangman, teach me how not to cry
How not to cry, how not to cry

[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh, she got that whoa there, hangman got that whoa there
Don’t act like you don’t know, yeah, giddy up, giddy up (d.a. got that—)
Don’t pay me in gold, giddy up, giddy up
Back outside, I’m on the road, giddy up, giddy up (Hey)
When the sun goes down (When the suns goes down)
You can hear this body howl (You can hear this body howl)
Giddy up now, diggadont, diggadont
Digga daddy, can’t leave me ‘lone, leave me ‘lone
Damn if I do, dammit if I don’t
Lady with a whip, want what she wanna want, okay

[Chorus]
Tyrant every time I ride it, every time I ride it
Make it look so good, cowboys justify it
Boy, you know they lookin’ for me, how we gonna hide it?
Ride it like hydraulics, I am such a tyrant
Every time I ride it, every time I ride it
Baby, I just don’t sit up in the saddle, boy, I got it
Just relax, I got this, I got that exotic
These hips so hypnotic, I am such a tyrant

[Outro]
Hangman, answer me now
You owe me a debt, you stole him from me (Giddy up, giddy up)
I hated you once, I envy you now (Hey)
Just tell me how, tell me how
(Giddy up, giddy up)

2 thoughts on “Song of the Day #5,771: ‘Tyrant’ – Beyoncé

  1. Dana Gallup says:

    We played some of this album while relaxing at the pool this weekend. Thoroughly enjoyed it!

  2. Amy says:

    Start to finish, this is a great album. This one would be in the bottom half of my top 10 after just a few listens as I lose patience with the repetitiveness of many songs, and this one is no different. Still, that bridge cuts through.

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