They know what is what
But they don't know what is what
They just strut
What the fuck?
[Verse 1: Katy Perry]
A tiger
Don't lose no sleep
Don't need opinions
From a shellfish or a sheep
Don't you come for me
No, not today
You're calculated
I got your number
'Cause you're a joker
And I'm a courtside killer queen
And you will kiss the ring
You best believe
[Pre-Chorus: Katy Perry]
So keep calm, honey, I'ma stick around
For more than a minute, get used to it
Funny my name keeps comin' out your mouth
'Cause I stay winnin', lay 'em up like
Swish, swish, bish
Another one in the basket
Can't touch this
Another one in the casket
[Verse 2: Katy Perry]
Your game is tired
You should retire
You're 'bout as cute as
An old coupon expired
And karma's not a liar
She keeps receipts
[Pre-Chorus: Katy Perry]
So keep calm, honey, I'ma stick around
For more than a minute, get used to it
Funny my name keeps comin' out your mouth
'Cause I stay winnin', lay 'em up like
[Chorus: Katy Perry]
Swish, swish, bish
Another one in the basket
Can't touch this
Another one in the casket (Let's go)
Swish, swish, bish
Another one in the basket
Can't touch this
Another one in the casket
They know what is what
But they don't know what is what (Katy Perry, what)
They just, know what is what (Young Money)
But they don't know what is what (What)
They just, know what is what
But they don't know what is what
They just strut
What the fuck? (Yo)
[Verse 3: Nicki Minaj]
Pink Ferragamo sliders on deck
Silly rap beefs just get me more checks
My life is a movie, I'm never off set
Me and my amigos, no, not Offset
Swish swish, aw, I got them upset
But my shooters'll make 'em dance like dubstep
Swish, swish, aw, my haters is obsessed
'Cause I make M's, they get much less
Don't be tryna double back, I already despise you (Yeah)
All that fake love you showin' couldn't even disguise you
Yo, yo
Ran? When? Nicki gettin' tan
Mirror, mirror, who's the fairest bitch in all the land?
Damn, man, this bitch is a Stan
The generous queen'll kiss a fan
Ass goodbye, I'ma be ridin' by
I'ma tell my **** Biggz, yeah, that's the guy
A star's a star, da-ha-da-ha
They never thought the swish god would take it this far
Get my pimp cup, this is pimp shit, baby
I only rock with Queens, so I'm makin' hits with Katy
Swish, swish, bish
Another one in the basket (And another one, and another one)
Can't touch this (Can't touch this)
Another one in the casket (And another one, and another one)
[Outro: Fatboy Slim, Katy Perry, Both]
They know what is what (Do they know?)
But they don't know what is what
They just, know what is what
But they don't know what is what
They just, know what is what
But they don't know what is what
They just strut
What the
About
“Swish Swish” is the third single from Katy Perry’s fifth studio album, Witness and marks the first song featuring vocals from both Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj. It is a self-empowerment anthem that calls out haters. Katy has mentioned that her album is about a “360° liberation” and this song is about escaping pointless negativity. The central hook uses the image of a basketball player consistently scoring points, imitating the ‘swish’ sound of the hoop’s net.
Fans speculated the song to be a response to Taylor Swift’s 2014 hit “Bad Blood,” citing many lyrical references.
This was later confirmed when she starred in James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke interview. Katy explained:
She started it and it’s time for her to finish it. Now, there is the law of cause and effect. You do something, there’s going to be a reaction, and trust me, daddy, there’s going to be a reaction.
The song was indirectly confirmed days prior by EDM artist and ex-Taylor flame Calvin Harris, who said he “wasn’t involved” in a now-deleted tweet.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
We were going to do a song before called “Get On Your Knees” which her and Ariana Grande ended up doing, but I wrote on it. We’ve always wanted to collaborate, we’ve done so many things together … we did a VH1 show. She asked me to come in on the song that ended up with Ariana singing it. … I actually sent her a couple of songs before these songs were out and she loved “Swish Swish” the most and she just did it so much justice. Honestly, I just want her to do the whole song.
On Nicki providing her verse:
We’re both so busy, sometimes you’re in the same room with people and sometimes you just have to send them the stems of the track. Sometimes you can send stuff to people and it’s not as good as when you’re in the room. With Nicki, she’s such a [boss-ass bitch] that you can send her anything and her pen game is crazy.
Although this is the very first track featuring vocals from both artists, this isn’t their first collaboration.
Katy is credited as a writer on the rapper’s track,
“Get On Your Knees.”
Katy Perry’s appearance on Carpool Karaoke with James Corden (May 22, 2017), confirmed that this song is about their ongoing feud. Katy talked about the ‘feud’ after the song ended
- 1.Witness
- 2.Hey Hey Hey
- 3.Roulette
- 4.Swish Swish
- 5.Déjà Vu
- 6.Power
- 7.Mind Maze
- 10.Tsunami
- 11.Bon Appétit
- 12.Bigger Than Me
- 13.Save as Draft
- 14.Pendulum
- 15.Into Me You See
- 17.Act My Age
