The Kingdom
Jesca Hoop Lyrics


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All of the fallen on the ground
Hollarin ground
I lay down a shrine and I
Come with the autumn
To tear it down
Orange and brown
And I lay a soft down
For all are waiting
All in line
Brethren bathin'
Bones in brine
Separate your light from lime
Our mortal bind

Under the spell of full November moon
Light on the broom
Frost in my room
In through the window
Came a ghost I knew

She paid me a visit while I was in my bed
Sleepy she said
Sleep as though dead
For in the morning you are called
Is what she said

To the high desert
War is raging
You must go to the battlefield
And follow the cry of men rampaging
And gather the ones that won't heal

Down through a cloud of smoke to the promise land
Many are dead
River runs red
"For my god and for my king" is what he said

I came to my knees with my lips to his ear
My hand to his chest
His wounded breast
For my god and for my king I will not rest

But in the high desert
You are dying
For your god and his ghost and the son
Do not hold to the earth on which you are lying
For the kingdom can never be won

All of the fallen under ground
Hollarin ground
I lay down a shrine and i
Come with the autumn to
Tear it down
Orange and brown
And I lay a soft down

For all are waiting
All in line
Brethren bathing bones in brine




Separate your light from lime
Let go of the earth

Overall Meaning

Jesca Hoop's song "The Kingdom" is a deeply symbolic and metaphorical work that explores themes of mortality, spirituality, and the ephemeral nature of human life. The song opens with the singer laying down a shrine in honor of all the fallen who are "hollarin" on the ground. She describes tearing it down each year with the arrival of autumn, symbolizing the transience of human life and the cycle of death and rebirth. The imagery of orange and brown leaves falling contributes to the sense of impermanence and the passing of time.


The chorus suggests a sense of unity in death, with all being "in line" and "brethren bathin' / bones in brine." This imagery creates a sense of peaceful dissolution of the physical body, where all are equal in death. The line "Our mortal bind" references the inescapable nature of our physical bodies and the inevitability of death.


The second verse describes the singer being visited by a ghost, who instructs her to go to war in the high desert, gathering those who won't heal. This is likely a metaphor for spiritual warfare, with the singer being tasked with guiding those who are struggling towards healing and salvation. The line "For my god and for my king I will not rest" demonstrates the singer's devotion to her faith and duty.


The final verses repeat the imagery of the fallen on the ground and the laying of a shrine. The line "let go of the earth" encourages the listener to embrace the transient nature of life and let go of earthly attachments.


Line by Line Meaning

All of the fallen on the ground
Referring to the dead lying on the ground


Hollarin ground
Ground that is crying out, perhaps due to the death and destruction around it


I lay down a shrine and I
Creating a memorial or remembrance of those who have died


Come with the autumn
Referring to the fall season and the changes it brings


To tear it down
Destroying the shrine that was created earlier


Orange and brown
Colors often associated with autumn


And I lay a soft down
Perhaps referencing a bed, pillow, or blanket


For all are waiting
Those who have died are waiting for something


All in line
Referring to the dead lined up in graves


Brethren bathin'
Reference to bodies being prepared for burial, possibly in a ritualistic way


Bones in brine
Preserving the bodies in a salty solution to prevent decay


Separate your light from lime
Separating one's soul or 'light' from their physical body, possibly in a reference to death and the afterlife


Our mortal bind
Our physical bodies that bind us to this world and eventually decay


Under the spell of full November moon
Reference to the full moon in November, possibly implying a sense of magic or enchantment


Light on the broom
Referring to the moonlight shining on a broomstick, possibly in a symbolic or mystical way


Frost in my room
Describing a cold and possibly eerie or uncomfortable environment


In through the window
Someone/something entered through an open window


Came a ghost I knew
A familiar ghost appeared


She paid me a visit while I was in my bed
The ghost appeared to the singer while they were sleeping in bed


Sleepy she said
The ghost seemed tired or lethargic


Sleep as though dead
The ghost advises the artist to sleep deeply or restfully, as though they were dead


For in the morning you are called
The artist will be summoned in the morning for something important


Is what she said
The ghost finished speaking


To the high desert
Referring to a location characterized by a barren and dry landscape, often used in a symbolic way


War is raging
A conflict or battle is taking place


You must go to the battlefield
The singer is being instructed to enter the conflict


And follow the cry of men rampaging
The singer should follow the sounds of men fighting and destroying


And gather the ones that won't heal
Gather those who are wounded beyond repair


Down through a cloud of smoke to the promise land
Descending into a location or state that is desired, but may be associated with danger and destruction


Many are dead
Referencing the casualties of the conflict


River runs red
A metaphorical description of the bloodshed and violence taking place


"For my god and for my king" is what he said
A quote from one of the soldiers, suggesting that their faith is driving them to fight


I came to my knees with my lips to his ear
The artist is on their knees, whispering something to the soldier


My hand to his chest
The artist's hand is on the soldier's chest, possibly checking for a pulse or injury


His wounded breast
Referring to the soldier's chest that has been injured in battle


For my god and for my king I will not rest
The artist pledges their loyalty to God and their monarch


But in the high desert
Returning to the location mentioned earlier


You are dying
Referring to the singer's death or impending death


For your god and his ghost and the son
Possibly invoking religious imagery or ideas, suggesting that the singer is dying for a higher purpose


Do not hold to the earth on which you are lying
Do not cling to this physical world, as death is inevitable


For the kingdom can never be won
Perhaps referencing the idea that certain things will always be beyond human power and control, such as death and the afterlife


Let go of the earth
Release your attachment to this physical world




Contributed by Charlotte J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@_spacegoat_

All of the fallen on the ground
Hollarin ground
I lay down a shrine and I
Come with the autumn
To tear it down
Orange and brown
And I lay a soft down
For all are waiting
All in line
Brethren bathin'
Bones in brine
Separate your light from lime
Our mortal bind

Under the spell of full November moon
Light on the broom
Frost in my room
In through the window
Came a ghost I knew
She paid me a visit while I was in my bed
Sleepy she said
Sleep as though dead
For in the morning you are called
Is what she said
To the high desert
War is raging
You must go to the battlefield
And follow the cry of men rampaging
And gather the ones that won't heal



Down through a cloud of smoke to the promise land
Many are dead
River runs red
"For my god and for my king" is what he said
I came to my knees with my lips to his ear
My hand to his chest
His wounded breast
For my god and for my king I will not rest



But in the high desert
You are dying
For your god and his ghost and the son
Do not hold to the earth on which you are lying
For the kingdom can never be won



All of the fallen under ground
Hollarin ground
I lay down a shrine and i
Come with the autumn to
Tear it down
Orange and brown
And I lay a soft down
For all are waiting
All in line
Brethren bathing bones in brine
Separate your light from lime
Let go of the earth



All comments from YouTube:

@epetridis

Hi Peoples! It's Elia, the director of the kingdom video here. Just wanted to post a thank you all for stopping by and checking this out. It was a great experience to make and work with Jesca who is as enchanting and enigmatic as I'm sure you all expect her to be! I'm so glad you're all enjoying this video - if you'd like to see something else of mine check out my film "How Henri Came To Stay" on Openfilm.com best, Elia

@JustSteve88

This... is actually magical. I love the way the song suddenly takes a new slant, like a flower blooming, or a beast erupting from a slumber... and then slides back to a calm lull. This artist is one I will be following closely.

@some18youknow

I spent 3 years trying to find you! This song is amazing. Hope u kept making music since then. It honestly inspires me to not give up ❤❤

@Eclispestar

Almost memory holed this song. Nice to find it again

@LightNeverFades

Still my all time favourite music video! Even after all these years... <3

@chiara3162

Exquisite. Leaves a reflection long after hearing it, as well as many questions...

@AreliMusiK

My tribal spirit rejoices with this song. Jesca, you're a genius!

@WThomasScott

This is just amazing, her work is so profound.

@MayweedMole

I saw Jesca Hoop live the other nite in Manchester and she was amazing...this is fast becoming one of my fave songs by her...great video...she is brilliant!!

@ReeceWarburton

literally in love with Jesca.

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