Never Gonna Give You Up was released by British singer Rick Astley in 1987 and became a number one hit in many countries. The song returned as an internet joke in the mid 2000s through rickrolling, where a promising link secretly led to its music video instead. The prank spread across forums, YouTube and social media, turning this specific lyric into a recognisable cue that the trick has landed. It remains in use because almost everyone online recognises the voice, melody and setup instantly, even years after the original chart run.
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Rick Astley singing you know the rules and so do I from Never Gonna Give You Up, the classic rickroll line used for bait and switch meme videos.
This clip captures Rick Astley delivering the line you know the rules and so do I in his smooth baritone, right before the commitment lyric in Never Gonna Give You Up. The short excerpt keeps the clean 1980s pop production, with a steady beat and warm synths under the vocal. Hearing it instantly signals a rickroll, so viewers brace for a joke even when the setup looked serious. That recognition makes the moment work as both a nostalgic throwback and a punchline, landing in a few seconds without any extra context needed for the gag.
