King Of Kings
Echo a The Bunnymen Lyrics

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Met Jesus up on a hill
He confessed I was dressed to kill
Saw fear eternal in his eyes
He's seen what happens when the soul dies

[Chorus]
I'm the king of kings
Wearing broken wings

I've lost my crown
The world so far below
And all I really know
Is that you don't look down

Came alive in the dead of night
Sought salvation in the city lights
One more drink then one drink more
Every hour like the one before

[Chorus]

Don't look down

It's such a long way to fall
Came alive in the dead of night
Sought salvation in the city lights
One more drink then one drink more
Every hour like the one before
You're like me, and I'm like you
Can't see the point in a point of view
All time lows we're hitting the high
Two wrongs tryin' to make it alright

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Echo and The Bunnymen's song "King of Kings" possess a certain elusive quality that forces the listener to ponder on its meaning. The song seems to be narrated by someone who has encountered Jesus, confessing that they are dressed to kill, a line that likely speaks of their arrogance and rebellious nature. The singer sees eternal fear in the eyes of Jesus and implies that he has witnessed the consequences of lost souls left unattended.

The chorus of the song declares the singer to be the "king of kings" wearing broken wings and having lost their crown, indicating some sense of fall from grace or loss of control. The world is depicted as far below, and the line, "you don't look down" implies ignorance or denial of the situation. The lyrics also seem to depict addiction, with lines like "came alive in the dead of night, sought salvation in the city lights, one more drink, then one drink more, every hour like the one before." The singer seems to find solace in drinking, but the addiction is cyclical, leaving them trapped in a routine they cannot escape.

The lyrics of "King of Kings," in essence, critiques the arrogance of man and the addiction that comes with a lack of self-awareness. The line "two wrongs trying to make it alright" is reminiscent of the idiom, "two wrongs don't make a right," imploring the listener to reflect on their actions and possibly strive to better themselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Met Jesus up on a hill
Encountered Jesus in a high place

He confessed I was dressed to kill
Jesus acknowledged my fashionable clothing

Saw fear eternal in his eyes
Witnessed the perpetual terror in his gaze

He's seen what happens when the soul dies
Jesus has witnessed the aftermath of spiritual death

I'm the king of kings
I proclaim myself as the most exalted ruler

Wearing broken wings
Despite being superior, I am impaired

I've lost my crown
I no longer possess my royal headpiece

The world so far below
The planet is distant from my lofty position

And all I really know
My sole understanding

Is that you don't look down
The only advice I offer is to not scrutinize beneath oneself

Came alive in the dead of night
Became animated during nighttime's stasis