“Games” details a toxic relationship which Tessa’s partner tried to assure her was normal. In the song Tessa stands up for herself and breaks away from the relationship.
The artist played this song for the first time during an Instagram live stream in October 2018, though she changed the chorus and...
[Verse 1]
I don't want a piece of that
'Cause I know there's no peace in that
I can tell myself a thousand times
But you can make a toy of me
And I'll agree that maybe I just couldn't see
Couldn't see that there ain't nothin' wrong with us at all
[Chorus]
But you keep on playing games with me, games
And you always gotta play with me, play
And I hate the way you break and you take and you tear me down
Boy, you really oughta knock it off right now
Games with me, games
And you always gotta play with me, play
And I hate the way you break and you take and you tear me down
Boy, you really oughta knock it off right now
[Verse 2]
I know I should trust my gut
'Cause I know that there's somethin' up
I just hate the place that that path would lead me down
And you say that there's nothin' wrong
And I long to take you at your word, but then
All along you're hiding even when you're by my side
[Chorus]
And you keep on playing games with me, games
And you always gotta play with me, play
And I hate the way you break and you take and you tear me down
Boy, you really oughta knock it off right now
Games with me, games
And you always gotta play with me, play
And I hate the way you break and you take and you tear me down
Boy, you really oughta knock it off right now
[Bridge]
You lying
And everything with you is tryin'
And I don't wanna keep on cryin'
If I'm the only one
And I been tellin' everyone I'm fine
But I feel like I lost my mind, oh
Am I the only one?
[Verse 3]
If I knew it all along
Was I wrong to take you at your word but then
All along you're hiding even when you're by my side
[Chorus]
And you keep on playing games with me, games
And you always gotta play with me, play
And I hate the way you break and you take and you tear me down
Boy, you really oughta knock it off right now
Games with me, games
And you always gotta play with me, play
And I hate the way you break and you take and you tear me down
Boy, you really oughta knock it off right now
[Post-Chorus]
You lying
And everything with you is tryin'
And I don't wanna keep on cryin'
If I'm the only one
(Off right now)
And I been tellin' everyone I'm fine
But I feel like I lost my mind, oh
Am I the only one?
(Off right now)
[Outro]
Boy, you really oughta knock it off right now
Games was written by Tessa Violet.
Games was produced by Seth Earnest.
Tessa Violet released Games on Fri Sep 27 2019.
[“Games”] is about the frustration and madness of trying to get the truth out of someone while they boldly tell you nothing’s wrong at all, being treated like you’re paranoid by the person you’re dating, all the while they’re playing the field.
— Tessa Violet to Fader