A música Royals foi inspirada pela realeza e pela luxúria percebidas em outras canções e vídeos musicais, particularmente os que exibem excessos de riqueza e fama. Lorde, também conhecida como Ella Yelich-OConnor, juntamente com seu co-autor Joel Little, foi influenciada pelo glamour e opulência associados à realeza, o que a levou a questionar o contraste entre essas representações e sua própria vida mais modesta na Nova Zelândia.
Tom: D
D
I've never seen a diamond in the flesh
D
I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
D
And I'm not proud of my address - in the torn up town
D
But every song's like: gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom Blood stains, ballgowns, trashin' the hotel room
C
G
We don't care - we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams
D
But everybody's like Cristal, Mayback, diamonds on your timepiece Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash
C
G
We don't care - we aren't caught up in your love affair
D
And we'll never be royals - It don't run in our blood
C
That kind of lux just ain't for us
G
We crave a different kind of buzz
D
Let me be your ruler - you can call me Queen Bee
C
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule
G
D
Let me live that fantasy
D
My friends and I, we've cracked the code
D
We count our dollars on the train to the party
D
And everyone who knows us knows that we're fine with this
D
But every song's like: gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom Blood stains, ballgowns, trashin' the hotel room
C
G
We don't care - we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams
D
But everybody's like Cristal, Mayback, diamonds on your timepiece Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash
C
G
We don't care - we aren't caught up in your love affair
D
And we'll never be royals - It don't run in our blood
C
That kind of lux just ain't for us
G
We crave a different kind of buzz
D
Let me be your ruler - you can call me Queen Bee
C
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule
G
D
Let me live that fantasy
C
We're bigger than we ever dreamed
G
And I'm in love with being queen (king)
D
oh ooh oh ohh
C
Life's a game without a care
G
We aren't caught up in your love affair
D
And we'll never be royals - It don't run in our blood
C
That kind of lux just ain't for us
G
We crave a different kind of buzz
D
Let me be your ruler - you can call me Queen Bee
C
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule