King Of Kings
Blakey Rev. Johnny Lyrics
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You can't make it at the cotton mill
If you gonna be king of the hill
You can't make it at the cotton mill
Get put on at the Harlan mine
Be the last one out at quittin' time
Never complain about a job to do
When they say who can, you say I will
If you ever gonna be king of the hill
If you gonna be king of the hill
You can't make it at the cotton mill
You need a good woman to share your bed
To keep you loved and to keep you fed
To help you to face another day
To get you up and on your way
Where the golden rule don't rule out true
You do to them before they do to you
Watch out for yourself or nobody will
If you ever gonna be king of the hill
If you gonna be king of the hill
You can't make it at the cotton mill
Saturday night you go to Harlan town
You shoot some pool and you fool around
You watch the girls and you drink bootleg
Get starved to death before you beg
You trust in luck till your luck is gone
Then jump right in and you hang right on
There may be times you would have to kill
If you ever gonna be king of the hill
If you gonna be king of the hill
You can't make it at the cotton mill
When the last of the coals out of every vein
Had long been gone on the northbound train
Walk up to the top and if you're standing still
You can call yourself king of the hill
But if you fall like a lot have done
By accident or knife or gun
When they lay you high on the mountain still
You can call yourself king of the hill
If you gonna be king of the hill
You can't make it at the cotton mill
The song "King of Kings" by Blakey Rev. Johnny is a cautionary tale about the pursuit of success and power. The lyrics draw a parallel between the hard life of working in a cotton mill and the metaphorical climb to become "king of the hill." The song advises that if someone wants to become the top of their game, they must be willing to work hard, never complain, and have the determination to succeed.
The song also suggests that to rise to the top, a person needs a good support system, including a loving partner that will help them face each day. The lyrics advise being cautious in one's dealings with others and sometimes taking drastic measures to protect oneself. The song ends with the sobering reminder that despite reaching the pinnacle of success, one must always be careful and never let their guard down.
Overall, the song "King of Kings" provides a message of hard work, determination, and caution in the pursuit of success. The lyrics offer valuable advice for those striving for greatness.
Line by Line Meaning
If you gonna be king of the hill
To be the best, you have to strive for excellence.
You can't make it at the cotton mill
Working a dead-end job won't lead to success.
Get put on at the Harlan mine
One must find a way to stand out and get recognized.
Be the last one out at quittin' time
Hard work and dedication are crucial to success.
You already workin' when the whistle blew
Success requires putting in extra effort.
Never complain about a job to do
A good attitude is necessary for success.
When they say who can, you say I will
Seize opportunities as they arise.
You need a good woman to share your bed
Having someone supportive in your life is important.
To keep you loved and to keep you fed
Support is more than just emotional - it's also practical.
To help you to face another day
Having someone to rely on can help you through tough times.
To get you up and on your way
Motivation is easier to find with someone by your side.
Where the golden rule don't rule out true
Sometimes life is tough and not everyone plays fair.
You do to them before they do to you
Sometimes it's necessary to take matters into your own hands.
Watch out for yourself or nobody will
Self-preservation is important in a tough world.
Saturday night you go to Harlan town
Everyone deserves to have a little fun every so often.
You shoot some pool and you fool around
Relaxation is important for mental health and wellness.
You watch the girls and you drink bootleg
Letting loose can help you feel freer and more alive.
Get starved to death before you beg
Never lose your dignity, even when things get tough.
You trust in luck till your luck is gone
Sometimes you have to take risks and hope for the best.
Then jump right in and you hang right on
When you take those risks, commit fully to the outcome.
There may be times you would have to kill
Life can present tough situations that require tough responses.
When the last of the coals out of every vein
Success requires persistence in the face of adversity.
Had long been gone on the northbound train
Success requires seizing opportunities when they arise.
Walk up to the top and if you're standing still
Success requires climbing higher and moving further.
You can call yourself king of the hill
Success means achieving your goals and rising to the top.
But if you fall like a lot have done
Success is not guaranteed and failure is always a possibility.
By accident or knife or gun
There are always risks and dangers involved in life.
When they lay you high on the mountain still
Even in failure, one can still be remembered for trying.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHNNY R. CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind