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King of Anything
Sara Bareilles Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Keep drinking coffee, stare me down across the table
While I look outside
So many things I'd say if only I were able
But I just keep quiet and count the cars that pass by

You've got opinions, man
We're all entitled to 'em, but I never asked
So let me thank you for your time
And try not to waste anymore of mine
And get out of here fast

I hate to break it to you babe, but I'm not drowning
There's no one here to save

Who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?

You sound so innocent, all full of good intent
Swear you know best
But you expect me to jump up on board with you
And ride off into your delusional sunset

I'm not the one who's lost with no direction
But you'll never see
You're so busy making masks with my name on them in all caps
You got the talking down, just not the listening

And who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?

All my life I've tried to make everybody happy
While I just hurt and hide
Waiting for someone to tell me it's my turn to decide

Who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?

Who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be?
Who died and made you king of anything?

Let me hold your crown, babe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sara Bareilles's song "King of Anything" speak to the theme of asserting one's individuality and rejecting the pressure from others to conform to their expectations. The first verse sets the tone, as the singer seems to be in a conversation with someone whose opinions she doesn't respect. She wants to speak her mind, but can't find the words, so she just "keeps quiet and counts the cars that pass by." The chorus is the central message of the song, as the singer tells the other person that they are not her, and thus have no right to tell her who to be or what to do. She mocks their arrogance by asking, "Who made you king of anything?" and states that she is not looking for anyone to save her.


The second verse further reinforces this message, as the singer dismisses the other person's attempts at persuasion and stresses her own sense of purpose and self-awareness. She accuses them of being too caught up in their own image and not really listening to her, and suggests that they are the ones who are lost. The final chorus is the most passionate, as the singer declares her independence and refuses to let anyone else dictate her life choices. The final line, "Let me hold your crown, babe," is a bit of a taunt, as the singer seems to be saying that the other person's power is illusory, and that she is ready to take control of her own destiny.


Line by Line Meaning

Keep drinking coffee, stare me down across the table
You are avoiding conversation with me while staring at me over your cup of coffee.


While I look outside
I wish I could say so many things, but instead I just look out the window.


So many things I'd say if only I were able
I have many thoughts, but I can not express them to you.


But I just keep quiet and count the cars that pass by
Instead, I stay silent and count the cars that pass by.


You've got opinions, man
You have opinions, but I didn't ask for them.


We're all entitled to 'em, but I never asked
Even though we are allowed to have our own opinions, you are not entitled to share them with me.


So let me thank you for your time,
Thank you for spending time with me.


And try not to waste anymore of mine
But please do not waste any more of my time.


And get out of here fast
Please leave quickly.


I hate to break it to you babe, but I'm not drowning
I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not in trouble.


There's no one here to save
I do not need anyone to save me.


Who cares if you disagree?
I do not care if you disagree with me.


You are not me
We have our own individual lives.


Who made you king of anything?
Who gave you the authority to make decisions for me?


So you dare tell me who to be?
Do you really think you have the right to tell me who I should be?


Who died and made you king of anything?
No one gave you the power to control me.


You sound so innocent, all full of good intent
You seem like you have good intentions.


Swear you know best
You insist that you know what is best for me.


But you expect me to jump up on board with you
You want me to just fall in line with your views.


And ride off into your delusional sunset
You are living in a reality that is not based in truth.


I'm not the one who's lost with no direction
I know where I am going.


But you'll never see
You refuse to listen to me or see things from my perspective.


You're so busy making masks with my name on them in all caps
Instead, you are more focused on creating negative images of me in your mind.


You got the talking down, just not the listening
You are really good at talking, but you do not listen to what I have to say.


All my life I've tried to make everybody happy
I have spent my whole life trying to please everyone around me.


While I just hurt and hide
But in doing so, I have been hiding my true self and it has been hurting me emotionally.


Waiting for someone to tell me it's my turn to decide
I have been waiting for someone to give me permission to make my own decisions.


Let me hold your crown, babe
I will gladly take your title, but you should not have it in the first place.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sara Beth Bareilles

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@allisonm4493

You've got opinions, man
We're all entitled to 'em
But I never asked


Who cares if you disagree?
You are not me
Who made you king of anything?
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died and made you king of anything?

Thats what I relate to!



All comments from YouTube:

@ghostshipmoth7158

I like how she basically says "fuck you" in the most graceful way ever.

@anissa9492

Yup. But then Taylor Swift also does the same thing...

@BendeY9o

she really doesnt though

@anissa9492

Ben Skrabal She kinda does, by making songs about them everytime they break up.

@heavanjohnson9414

+iCantEven yeah but Taylor never makes meaningfully songs like Sara or Christina Aguilar she only makes songs about her ex's if it wasn't for them she wouldn't have a career

@averyanderson9300

+Heavan Johnson ha that's funny
*note the sarcasm

34 More Replies...

@meganmart-kirven1604

“let me hold your crown babe” such glorious sarcasm

@abrahammohamed5655

"She really does" Wo to the man that finds that and receives that.

@MemoriesInMonochrome

While it is on her finger like a marriage ring. World's smallest handcuff. 😆

@jordonlittle5

Just caught that line lol! Love it. I’ve been hearing this song for years and never knew who sang it!

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