Kingdom Come's albums were Galactic Zoo Dossier (1971), the self-titled Kingdom Come (1972), and Journey (1973). Brown stated in an interview with an English music magazine that the three albums were intended to present a thematic progression. The first focused on the state of humankind in the present, the second on the human animal itself and the dichotomy between the body and mind, and the third focusing on cosmic and spiritual matters. The band was marketed as Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come in the United States due to name conflicts.
A number of factors contributed to the end of Kingdom Come.
The band dissolved rather than officially breaking up, with Brown citing a desire to play simpler music and opt for a simpler lifestyle in general in later interviews. However, the music that Kingdom Come left behind is certainly worth exploration for progressive rock and psychedelic rock enthusiasts, and stands up well as a part of Arthur Brown's 30-plus year legacy.
Metal Monster
Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Splits me arse to head
Computer sets dials in my brain
To buggery of the dead
Wooden puppets suck me dry
Then wire up my destiny
My soul a prisoner with no eye
"Metal Monster" by Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come is a song that describes the dehumanizing impact of technology on individuals. In this metal world, the singer is a victim/survivor who is being labored in a system that has no care for the dignity of individuals. In this system, the singer is a pawn who is being savaged by machines that do not care either way. The lyrics "Metal monster cold-tipped prick" suggest a sense of helplessness and dehumanization in the face of such technology.
The "wooden puppets" refer to faceless and dehumanized persons or entities that are being used to manipulate and control others. The “wiring up of the destiny” of the singer is a metaphor for the loss of individuality and personal choice. The singer rides the "pulse of a speeding lie," which is a metaphor for the way technology can be used to manipulate and control individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Metal monster cold tipped prick
The pain inflicted by the metallic object is cold and sharp, like a needle.
Splits me arse to head
The pain is so intense that it seems to divide the body from bottom to top.
Computer sets dials in my brain
The machinery is altering the workings of the brain, essentially 'programming' it to do something specific.
To buggery of the dead
The programming is so extreme that the person affected loses all semblance of life and vitality, becoming essentially 'dead.'
Wooden puppets suck me dry
The machinery is supported by human operators who are emotionally empty, essentially sucking any life out of the person being affected.
Then wire up my destiny
The actions of the operators dictate what the person being affected will do, as if they are connected to a pre-planned system.
My soul a prisoner with no eye
The person being affected is stripped of their individuality and spirit, becoming essentially a slave to the machinery around them.
Rides the pulse of a speeding lie
The 'programming' force is so strong that the affected person is forced into action, moving quickly and without resistance, almost like they are on autopilot.
Contributed by Liam R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.