Lorde, ‘Team’ – Song Meaning

In her new single 'Team,' Lorde wants her peeps and her bros to know she's got their back.

It's a similar theme to the New Zealander's put-her-on-the-map single 'Royals,' which is about desiring something with more substance and more depth than the supposed finer things in life. Love and loyalty prevail over a Maybach or a mansion!

"We live in cities you'll never see on screen / Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run free / Living in ruins of the palace within my dreams / And you know, we're on each other's team."

Lorde thinks it's better to be poor and beautiful than rich and hollow. She has referenced this before, and she's proud of where she is from. After all, it's better to be in chains with friends than in a garden with strangers, right? Right.

"I’m kind of over getting told to throw my hands up in the air / So there / I’m kinda older than I was when rebelled without a care / So there."

In this line, the Kiwi singer is indicating that rebellion is no longer reserved as the war or the battle of youth, and as you get older and care more about things, there is more at stake when you take a stand. So choose your battles wisely.

"And everyone’s competing for a love they won't receive."

This is the most poignant and nerve-striking lyric of the song.  Lorde is once again suggesting that you pick your battles. Why compete for a love you won't receive? The effort will never satisfy the desire, so the end never justifies the means. We might all fight for things that are futile in life, despite knowing better. But you can survive such situations when you have your team behind you and supporting you.

There you have it -- our assessment of Lorde's 'Team.' What's your take on the track, PopCrushers?