King of the Rotten
C.O.C.: Corrosion of Conformity Lyrics
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Stealing filth from those forgotten
Would you be my queen of this desperate land, do you give a damn?
What if I had to scold you
Listen once but never tried and true
What if I had to trade you for another man, do you think I can?
I won't call on the angels, no
Beating on the line as I turn to amputate...
I'm bleeding on you
What if you were torn in two
What if I wanted to be like you
What if I was high like an aeroplane, would you look at me the same?
[Chorus]
If we walked side by side
Would you step stab my back and kill my pride
Or would you fall ahead, or would you move behind,
Tell me what's unkind
Now if I was king of all the rotten
Stealing filth from those forgotten
Would you be my queen of this desperate land, do you think I give a damn?
[Chorus]
"King of the Rotten" by Corrosion of Conformity is a deeply melancholic song where the singer expresses his desire to be the ruler of a society that has been forgotten by everyone. To be the king of the rotten means to reign over the lowest and most desperate parts of society. The lyrics have an intense and dark feel to them, as the singer delves into a world of desperation and abandonment. The questions posed to the listener in the verses and choruses show the singer's uncertainty and lack of confidence in his own abilities, as he questions what it takes to be a leader and whether he is up to the task.
The first verse poses the question of whether the listener would be the singer's queen if he was the king of all the rotten. The second verse then goes on to question what he would do if he had to scold the queen, or worse, trade her for another man. The chorus explains that he won't call on the angels, and instead, he is willing to amputate. The third verse goes on to pose the question of what would happen if she was torn in two, or worse, if he wanted to be like her. In the last verse, the singer asks if they walked side by side, would the listener stab him in the back, or move ahead or behind.
Line by Line Meaning
If I was king of all the rotten
If I held power among those deemed unworthy
Stealing filth from those forgotten
Taking what others have left behind or deemed worthless
Would you be my queen of this desperate land, do you give a damn?
Will you join me in this repulsive environment, caring about nothing else?
What if I had to scold you
What if I needed to reprimand you for your actions
Listen once but never tried and true
Saying you'll obey, but never following through with that promise
What if I had to trade you for another man, do you think I can?
Would I swap you for someone else, and do you think I would be capable?
I won't call on the angels, no
I won't seek help from divine beings
Beating on the line as I turn to amputate...
Continually pushing the boundaries but ultimately cutting ties
I'm bleeding on you
My pain and struggles are affecting you
What if you were torn in two
What if you were shattered and broken in half
What if I wanted to be like you
What if I yearned to have qualities like yours
What if I was high like an aeroplane, would you look at me the same?
If I were under the influence and not myself, would you still view me in the same way?
If we walked side by side
If we traveled together
Would you step stab my back and kill my pride
Would you betray me and destroy my confidence
Or would you fall ahead, or would you move behind,
Or would you lead or follow behind me
Tell me what's unkind
Please explain what is hurtful
Would you be my queen of this desperate land, do you think I give a damn?
Would you willingly be with me in this unsavory place, knowing that I don't care?
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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