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King Of The World
Steely Dan Lyrics


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Hello one and all
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

Overall Meaning

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
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