Somewhere in the world there is a father and a mother
And the father is a son, who has a mother
The mother has a daughter who gets married to the brother of a mother
And they all just tryna multiply with one another
‘Cause that’s just the way of the world
It never ends till the end, then you start again
That’s just the way of the world
That’s just the way of the world
Somewhere in the world they think they’re working for themselves
They get up everyday to go to work for someone else
And somebody works for them and so they think they’ve got it made
But they’re all just working to get paid the very same
And so they keep on twiddlin’ them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
They gonna keep on twiddlin’ them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum
And so they keep on twiddlin’ them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
(Skiddly-dee-da-dum)
They gonna keep on twiddlin’ them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum
Somewhere in the world you got a robber and a bank
And the bank robbed the people, so the people rob the bank
And the police came to get him but they let him get away
‘Cause they’re all just workin’ to get paid the very same
‘Cause that’s just the way of the world
It never ends till the end, then you start again
That’s just the way of the world
That’s just the way of the world
And so they keep on twiddlin’ them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
(Skiddly-dee-da-dum)
They gonna keep on twiddlin’ them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum
And so they keep on twiddlin’ them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
(Skiddly-dee-da-dum)
They gonna keep on twiddlin’ them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum
Don’t believe everything that you hear
Let it go through your left and right ear
Don’t just march to the beat of that drum
Don’t be one of them people just twiddlin’ them thumbs
‘Cause that’s just the way of the world
It never ends till the end and then you start again
That’s just the way of the world
That’s just the way of the world
And so they keep on twiddlin’ them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
(Skiddly-dee-da-dum)
They gonna keep on twiddlin’ them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum
And so they keep on twiddlin’ them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
(Skiddly-dee-da-dum)
They gonna keep on twiddlin’ them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum
And so they keep on twiddling them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum
They gonna keep on twiddling them thumbs
Skiddly-dee-da-dum-dum
‘Cause that’s just the way of the world
The Cycles of Everyday Life
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Thumbs” offers a sharp, witty commentary on the repetitive patterns that shape society. The lyrics paint vivid pictures of interconnected families, work dynamics, and even crime, revealing how people often fall into cycles that seem impossible to break. Through clever wordplay and the catchy refrain “twiddlin’ them thumbs,” Carpenter calls attention to the ways individuals get stuck in routines, sometimes without ever questioning them.
Breaking Free from the Ordinary
Beyond its social observations, the song encourages listeners to resist passivity. With lines that warn against blindly following the crowd, “Thumbs” urges us not to be content with simply “twiddling our thumbs.” Instead, Carpenter invites us to think critically and forge our own paths, making the song both a relatable anthem and a call to action.
Song Credits
- Songwriter(s): Steve Mac, Priscilla Renea
- Release Year: 2016
- Label: Hollywood Records