King
A Million Dead Birds Laughing Lyrics

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Call me king!
I made the rules...
Orphans...
Call me king!
I made the world...
Worship me

Obliterate ordinance; i require a sacrifice

The sheep shall remember the diligent plight of the wise
The brave can remember but i'd pawn the weak for a thimble of rice
Less their innocence...
It's best their mothers don't remember them

The moths; i can see them racing toward the flame..

Quit complaining; you're alive!

Affiliates
Why have i been awaiting a feast?
Deliverance tastes of the innocent
Torment is written in gold
The beast has a face to behold

Come on! Feed me worms
Commemorate the herd...

"This is all i know here... The natives call me king!"

I made the rules
Orphans...
Call me king!

I made the world
I am salvation!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to A Million Dead Birds Laughing's song "King" present a brutal and dictatorial leader who demands obedience and sacrifice from his followers. The singer of the song, who is presumably the "King" referred to in the chorus, boasts of having "made the rules" and "made the world," and insists that others worship him. The King seems to relish in the power he holds over the lives of his subjects, proclaiming that he can "pawn the weak for a thimble of rice" and musing that it is best if their mothers do not remember them. The King's authority is reinforced by the fear he inspires in those around him; the metaphor of moths racing towards a flame suggests that his followers are drawn to him despite the danger he poses to them.

Despite the grim subject matter, the lyrics to "King" are strikingly well-crafted. The use of repetition in the chorus ("Call me king!" "I made the world") drives home the message of the song and reinforces the King's sense of self-importance. The line "Deliverance tastes of the innocent" is particularly haunting, suggesting that the King sees the suffering of others as necessary for his own sake. The reference to the herd in the final verse implies that the King sees his followers as nothing more than animals to be slaughtered for his pleasure.

Overall, "King" is a chilling portrait of a tyrant who revels in his own power and the suffering of those he rules over.

Line by Line Meaning

Call me king!
Address me with the honorific title of king.

I made the rules...
I am responsible for dictating the laws and regulations.

Orphans...
Children without parents or families to care for them.

Call me king!
Address me with the honorific title of king.

I made the world...
I possess authority over the entire world, having created it.

Worship me
Adore me as divine and pay homage.

Obliterate ordinance; i require a sacrifice
Eliminate any directives opposing me; I demand an offering.

The sheep shall remember the diligent plight of the wise
The docile masses will recall the valiant struggle of the clever.

The brave can remember but i'd pawn the weak for a thimble of rice
The courageous may retain their memories, but I would sell out the feeble for a trivial amount of food.

Less their innocence...
Unless they maintain their naivety...

It's best their mothers don't remember them
It would be preferable if their mothers did not recollect their existence.

The moths; i can see them racing toward the flame..
Like moths drawn to a flame, individuals gravitate towards danger.

Quit complaining; you're alive!
Stop whining; you have the gift of life!

Affiliates
Associates or parties aligned with me.

Why have i been awaiting a feast?
Why am I anticipating a feast?

Deliverance tastes of the innocent
Freedom and liberation are savored by the guiltless.

Torment is written in gold
Agony and misery are regarded highly, as reflected by the precious metal, gold.

The beast has a face to behold
The animalistic side of me is apparent for all to see.

Come on! Feed me worms
Entice me or provide something intriguing.

Commemorate the herd...
Celebrate and remember the masses...

"This is all i know here... The natives call me king!"
"This is the only reality I comprehend... The indigenous people consider me their ruler!"