Tik Tok

Song Meaning of Tik Tok by Kesha

Kesha's debut single "TiK ToK" was released in 2009 on RCA Records and peaked at number 1 worldwide. It earned a multi-platinum certification and spawned a popular dance trend. It was even a hit in video games and Kesha named a color shade from her make-up line after it.

The first lyrics of the song was inspired by a dream Kesha had in which she woke up surrounded by gorgeous women and envisioned P. Diddy to be in a similar situation. The song was written as a result of the event and given to Dr. Luke, her producer, who was subsequently contacted by P. Diddy in an effort to collaborate. He arrived at the recording studio that day and recorded his lines, and the song was then finished.

Kesha claimed that the experience of stumbling home from a night of partying while still intoxicated served as the idea for the song. Then she would jot down a few lyrics for a song, and the next morning she would awaken with the tale ready to be recounted.

Kesha claims that the song's lyrics accurately reflect her and her life. The narrator sings in the lyrics, which have a lighthearted vibe, about refusing to let anything get them down.

"I tried to rewrite the verses of 'TiK ToK,' I was like, 'This doesn't make sense. "Brushing your teeth with Jack Daniel's"-are people going to get what I'm talking about? Is this too much? Is it clever enough?' And he [Dr. Luke] literally had to fight me off, and then Benny Blanco had to chase me out of the studio when I got a mind to rewrite it."

—Kesha on wanting to rewrite the track due to fear of not making a connection with the audience.

Tik Tok lyrics by Kesha

Wake up in the morning feelin' like P. Diddy (Hey. What up, girl?)

Grab my glasses, I'm out the door, I'm gonna hit this city (Let's go)

Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack

'Cause when I leave for the night, I ain't coming back

I'm talkin' pedicure on our toes, toes

Tryin' on all our clothes, clothes

Boys blowin' up our phones, phones

Drop-toppin', playin' our favorite CDs

Pullin' up to the parties

Tryna get a little bit tipsy

Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up

Tonight, I'ma fight 'til we see the sunlight

Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop, no

Oh, whoa, whoa, oh, oh, whoa, whoa, oh

Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up

Tonight, I'ma fight 'til we see the sunlight

Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop, no

Oh, whoa, whoa, oh, oh, whoa, whoa, oh

Ain't got a care in the world, but got plenty of beer

Ain't got no money in my pocket, but I'm already here

And now the dudes are linin' up, 'cause they hear we got swagger

But we kick 'em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger

I'm talkin' 'bout everybody gettin' crunk, crunk

Boys tryna touch my junk, junk

Gonna smack him if he gettin' too drunk, drunk

No-now we go until they kick us out, out or the police shut us down, down

Police shut us down, down, po-po shut us down

Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up

Tonight, I'ma fight 'til we see the sunlight

Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop, no

Oh, whoa, whoa, oh, oh, whoa, whoa, oh

Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up

Tonight, I'ma fight 'til we see the sunlight

Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop, no

Oh, whoa, whoa, oh, oh, whoa, whoa, oh

(DJ) You build me up, you break me down

My heart, it pounds, yeah, you got me

With my hands up, you got me now

You got that sound, yeah, you got me

(DJ) You build me up, you break me down

My heart, it pounds, yeah, you got me

With my hands up, put your hands up

Put your hands up

Now, the party don't start 'til I walk in

Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up

Tonight, I'ma fight 'til we see the sunlight

Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop, no

Oh, whoa, whoa, oh, oh, whoa, whoa, oh

Don't stop, make it pop, DJ, blow my speakers up

Tonight, I'ma fight 'til we see the sunlight

Tick tock on the clock, but the party don't stop, no

Oh, whoa, whoa, oh, oh, whoa, whoa, oh