King Of The World
Steely Dan Lyrics
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Was it you I used to know
Can't you hear me call
On this old ham radio
All I got to say
I'm alive and feeling fine
If you come my way
You can share my poison wine
No marigolds in the promised land
There's a hole in the ground
Where they used to grow
Any man left on the Rio Grande
Is the king of the world
As far as I know
I don't want your bread
I don't need your helping hand
I can't be no savage
I can't be no highwayman
Show me where you are
You and I will spend this day
Driving in my car
Through the ruins of Santa Fe
No marigolds in the promised land
There's a hole in the ground
Where they used to grow
Any man left on the Rio Grande
Is the king of the world
As far as I know
I'm reading last year's papers
Although I don't know why
Assassins cons and rapers
Might as well die
If you come around
No more pain and no regrets
Watch the sun go brown
Smoking cobalt cigarettes
There's no need to hide
Taking things the easy way
If I stay inside
I might live til Saturday
No marigolds in the promised land
There's a hole in the ground
Where they used to grow
Any man left on the Rio Grande
Is the king of the world
As far as I know
The lyrics to Steely Dan's song "King of the World" evoke a sense of nostalgia for a past that has been lost. The opening lines, "Hello one and all / Was it you I used to know / Can't you hear me call / On this old ham radio" suggest a longing to reconnect with the past and the people who once inhabited it. This is echoed later in the song when the singer states, "I'm reading last year's papers / Although I don't know why / Assassins cons and rapers / Might as well die."
The song also conjures up a sense of desperation and a desire for escape. The line, "Any man left on the Rio Grande / Is the king of the world / As far as I know" suggests that the singer is searching for something that he cannot find in his current reality. This is reinforced by the line, "I don't want your bread /I don't need your helping hand /I can't be no savage /I can't be no highwayman" which suggests he wants to be independent and free.
Overall, the lyrics to "King of the World" reflect a longing for escape and a desire to reconnect with a past that has been lost. The song's melancholy tone, combined with its nostalgic and desperate lyrics, make it a powerful reflection of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello one and all
Greetings to everyone listening
Was it you I used to know
Do I recognize your voice as someone I knew before?
Can't you hear me call
I am trying to connect with you through this ham radio
On this old ham radio
I am using this outdated technology to communicate with you
All I got to say
I want to share some news with you
I'm alive and feeling fine
I am happy to be alive and well
If you come my way
I would be happy to meet up with you
You can share my poison wine
I am willing to share what I have, even if it may be harmful
No marigolds in the promised land
There are no beautiful flowers in the supposed utopia
There's a hole in the ground
The earth is damaged and barren
Where they used to grow
The flowers and plants that once grew are no longer there
Any man left on the Rio Grande
The only remaining survivor on this river is considered the 'king' of the area
Is the king of the world
Having the last claim to territory comes hand-in-hand with great responsibility and power
As far as I know
This is only from what I have seen and heard
I don't want your bread
I do not need your charity
I don't need your helping hand
I am an independent person and do not require assistance
I can't be no savage
I am not a violent person
I can't be no highwayman
I cannot be a bandit or thief
Show me where you are
Please let me know your location so I can visit
You and I will spend this day
We can enjoy each other's company today
Driving in my car
We can explore the ruins of this city in my vehicle
Through the ruins of Santa Fe
We can visit the destroyed remains of this once-thriving city
I'm reading last year's papers
I am reading old news that may no longer be relevant
Although I don't know why
I am not sure why I am doing this
Assassins cons and rapers
The news is full of tragic events and people committing crimes
Might as well die
The world is in such bad shape that death may be better than life at this point
If you come around
I would be glad to see you
No more pain and no regrets
I hope to find peace and be free from emotional turmoil
Watch the sun go brown
Witness the destruction of the Earth
Smoking cobalt cigarettes
Indulging in harmful behavior because the outcome seems inevitable
There's no need to hide
There is no one left to judge or care about my actions
Taking things the easy way
At this point, trying to live life as stress-free as possible
If I stay inside
If I do not venture out into the dangerous world
I might live til Saturday
This could prolong my life just a little longer
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Walter Carl Becker, Donald Jay Fagen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind