Dark Horse is a song released by Katy Perry in 2013, featuring Juicy J, extracted from her album Prism. It was a worldwide success, reaching the top positions on music charts in the United States, Canada, and other countries. But people talk about it today because of its lyrics: specifically, a line that mentions Jeffrey Dahmer, one of the most brutal serial killers in the history of the United States, who’s often covered by movies and TV shows in recent times. In this article, we will explore the song lyrics and their meaning, debunking the debates about its lines. You will also find the complete lyrics at the end.
You can find the official video of Dark Horse below.
Dark Horse: the lyrics and their meaning
Dark Horse is a song about the dark side of love. In its lyrics, Katy Perry impersonates an evil woman who can offer immense love but can also become your worst enemy. That’s why the singer warns the guy: before falling in love with me, think it through carefully, because once you choose me, there is no way back.
The warning is evident already in the first lines, where Katy Perry talks like an evil Goddess or a witch:
Make me your Aphrodite
Make me your one and only
But don’t make me your enemy (Enemy)
Your enemy (Your enemy), your enemy
The chorus explicitly mentions magic, proving that Katy Perry loves to talk like a supernatural entity. People often interpret the line “Coming like a dark horse” as the unexpected winner in a contest, but in this context, it probably has a much more practical image of a dark animal. This evil presence can come on you if you deserve it.
So you wanna play with magic?
Boy, you should know what you’re fallin’ for
Baby, do you dare to do this?
‘Cause I’m coming at you like a dark horse
Are you ready for, ready for
A perfect storm, perfect storm?
‘Cause once you’re mine, once you’re mine
There’s no going back
The evil side of the singer doesn’t exclude her ability to love most intensely, and that’s stated clearly in Dark Horse lyrics. The only condition she asks is that he will have to be with her forever.
Mark my words, this love will make you levitate
Like a bird, like a bird without a cage
We’re down to earth if you choose to walk away
Don’t walk away (Walk away)
That’s the general meaning of the lyrics inside Dark Horse: before loving me, evaluate carefully what you are doing. I can be the best love you will ever feel, but I can also be an evil witch who will give you great pain and suffering if you deserve it. Make your choice.
The lyrics mentioning Jeffrey Dahmer
The song lyrics mention Jeffrey Dahmer in the verse sung by Juicy J. In those lines, the rapper impersonates a guy who starts to fall in love with Katy Perry and recognizes her dark side. In his first two lines h,e says:
She’s a beast, I call her Karma
She eat your heart out like Jeffrey Dahmer
Juicy J first compares her to karma, as a supernatural force that can turn your destiny upside down against your will. After that comes the comparison with Jeffrey Dahmer, who represents the image of evil on human appearance in the collective imaginary. These lines have been the object of a public debate lately because they were considered irrespectful to Dahmer’s victims. The use of his name, though, had only the purpose of representing an evil character with direct symbolism, as often rap does.
The verse continues with Juicy J explaining the two faces of the girl, who can love but also be evil. And it ends with the awareness that she already caught him and he can no longer escape.
You may fall in love when you meet her (Meet her)
If you get the chance, you better keep her (Keep her)
She’s sweet as pie, but if you break her heart
She turn cold as a freezer (Freezer)
Her love is like a drug, I was tryna hit it and quit it
But lil mama so dope, I messed around and got addicted
Read other popular song lyrics meaning on Auralcrave
The complete lyrics
I knew you were, you were gonna come to me
And here you are, but you better choose carefully
‘Cause I, I’m capable of anything
Of anything, and everything
Make me your Aphrodite
Make me your one and only
But don’t make me your enemy (Enemy)
Your enemy (Your enemy), your enemy
So you wanna play with magic?
Boy, you should know what you’re fallin’ for
Baby, do you dare to do this?
‘Cause I’m coming at you like a dark horse
Are you ready for, ready for
A perfect storm, perfect storm?
‘Cause once you’re mine, once you’re mine
There’s no going back
Mark my words, this love will make you levitate
Like a bird, like a bird without a cage
We’re down to earth if you choose to walk away
Don’t walk away (Walk away)
It’s in the palm of your hand now, baby
It’s a yes or a no, no maybe
So just be sure before you give it all to me
All to me, give it all to me
So you wanna play with magic?
Boy, you should know what you’re fallin’ for
Baby, do you dare to do this?
‘Cause I’m coming at you like a dark horse
Are you ready for, ready for
A perfect storm, perfect storm?
‘Cause once you’re mine, once you’re mine
There’s no going back
(Juicy J)
She’s a beast, I call her Karma (Come back)
She eat your heart out like Jeffrey Dahmer (Woo!)
Be careful, try not to lead her on
Shawty’s heart is on steroids, ’cause her love is so strong
You may fall in love when you meet her (Meet her)
If you get the chance, you better keep her (Keep her)
She’s sweet as pie, but if you break her heart
She turn cold as a freezer (Freezer)
That fairy tale ending with a knight in shining armor
She can be my sleeping beauty, I’m gon’ put her in a coma (Woo!)
Damn, I think I love her, shawty’s so bad
I’m sprung and I don’t care
She ride me like a roller coaster, turn the bedroom into a fair (A fair)
Her love is like a drug, I was tryna hit it and quit it
But lil mama so dope, I messed around and got addicted
So you wanna play with magic?
Boy, you should know what you’re fallin’ for (You should know)
Baby, do you dare to do this?
‘Cause I’m coming at you like a dark horse (Like a dark horse)
Are you ready for, ready for (Ready for)
A perfect storm, perfect storm? (A perfect storm)
‘Cause once you’re mine, once you’re mine
There’s no going back
