Jesu (English pronunciation: /jeɪ-sʊ:/ yay-sue) is a band formed in 2003 in… Read Full Bio ↴Jesu (English pronunciation: /jeɪ-sʊ:/ yay-sue) is a band formed in 2003 in Abergele, Wales, United Kingdom by Justin Karl Broadrick following the breakup of Godflesh. Jesu was the name of the last song on the final Godflesh release, Hymns, and Broadrick decided to adopt it as the name of his new project.

The first release, the Heart Ache EP, was released in 2004 and featured Broadrick playing all of the instruments. It was followed in 2005 by the full-length self-titled LP, which featured the addition of bassist Diarmuid Dalton and drummer Ted Parsons, although not every song featured both new members.

With their third release, 2006's four song Silver EP, jesu took a more melodic and layered approach, gaining comparison to shoegazing band My Bloody Valentine.

Their second full-length album, titled Conqueror, was released in February 2007 in the US, UK, in Europe and Japan. The Japanese edition also contained a bonus disc featuring the two tracks that constitute the 'Sun Down'/'Sun Rise' EP, released elsewhere as a 12" album on April 23.

The band made their United States live debut, in March of 2007, as an opening act for Isis, although work permit problems caused them to miss the first three weeks of the tour. Neither Ted Parsons nor Diarmuid Dalton were able to participate in the tour and were temporarily replaced by Danny Walker, of Intronaut, and long time Broadrick collaborator, Dave Cochrane, respectively. During this tour, jesu also made its South by Southwest debut as part of a Hydra Head showcase.

'Pale Sketches', a collection of older solo works from 2000-2007 was released in October 2007 on Justin Broadrick's own label, Avalanche along with a new four song EP entitled Lifeline, released by Hydra Head in the United States and Daymare in Japan.

Broadrick has also contributed remixes of songs, using the jesu name, for Agoraphobic Nosebleed and Explosions in the Sky. Future releases include split 12" albums with both Eluvium and Battle of Mice.

Bandcamp / Soundcloud

King Of Kings
Jesu Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Can't you keep it to
Keep it to yourself
Does it eat you up
Like the cancer in us all

Swallow your pride
And what that will bring
Now you're finally

The king of all your kings

You're the king of kings
We'll be the king of kings

We're the king of kings
We'll be your kings of kings

Overall Meaning

The song King of Kings by Jesu is a contemplative and introspective exploration of power, pride, and the human condition. The opening lines, "Can't you keep it to yourself / Does it eat you up / Like the cancer in us all" suggest that everyone has something within them that they struggle with, whether it's an unruly ego or unhealthy attachment to power, and that keeping these things hidden can be a kind of poison that eats away at us from within.

The chorus, "Swallow your pride / And what that will bring / Now you're finally / The king of all your kings" encourages listeners to let go of their need for control and domination and instead embrace a more humble and compassionate way of being. By relinquishing our hold over others, we become the true leaders of our own lives, and can begin to build a world where everyone is regarded as a king (or queen) in their own right.

Overall, the song offers a powerful message of self-reflection and empathy, urging listeners to look within themselves and consider their own privileged positions in society.

Line by Line Meaning

Can't you keep it to
Can't you refrain from expressing it

Keep it to yourself
Keep your thoughts to yourself

Does it eat you up
Do your thoughts trouble you

Like the cancer in us all
Like an illness affecting everyone

Swallow your pride
Overcome your ego

And what that will bring
Accept the consequences

Now you're finally
Now you have become

The king of all your kings
The ruler of your own life

You're the king of kings
You are the ultimate ruler

We'll be the king of kings
We will also achieve ultimate power

We're the king of kings
We have already attained ultimate power