The Tradition

Album:If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power

Length:3:46

Tempo: BPM

Versions:The Tradition

Live:N/A

"The Tradition" is the first track on If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power by Halsey.

Song Credits

Written by Ashley Frangipane, Greg Kurstin, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross

• Halsey: Vocalist

• Trent Reznor: Piano, Programming, Samplers, Synthesizers

• Atticus Ross: Programming, Treatments

• Engineered by Atticus Ross, Trent Reznor, Mat Mitchell at NullCo Studios, Los Angeles, CA

• Vocals recorded by Greg Kurstin and Julian Burg at No Expectations Studios, Hollywood, CA
• 
Greg Kurstin: Vocal Production
• 
Mixed by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach, VA

• Engineer – John Hanes

Appearances

• If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power

Versions

The Tradition

This is the only known version.

Lyrics

    Oh the loneliest girl in town
    Is bought for pennies a price
    we dress her up
    In lovely gowns
    She’s easy on the eyes
    
    Her soul is black
    and it’s a fact
    that her sneer will eat you alive
    the buyer always
    brings her back
    because all she does is cry
    
    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 give a damn
    It’s in the blood and
    This is tradition
    
    Oh the loneliest girl in town
    Was bought for plenty a price
    They dress her up
    In golden crowns
    His smile hides a lie
    
    She’s smiles back
    But it’s a fact
    That her fear will eat her alive
    She got the life that she wanted
    But now all she does is cry
    
    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
    
    You can’t take it back
    It’s good as gone
    flesh Amnesiac
    this is your song
    And I hope what’s left will last
    all summer long
    and they said that boys were boys
    But they were wrong
    
    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

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