Conundrum
Jethro Tull Lyrics


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Away out in Egypt in the valley of kings
Where the mummified pharaohs
Pretend dead in their sleep

Don't touch, never ever steal
Unless you're in for the kill
Or you'll be hit by the curse of the pharaohs
Yes, you'll be hit and the curse is on you

Now if you're breakin' the seals
And disturbing the peace
Then you're startin' up a curse
Bringin' evil disease

Don't touch, never ever steal
Unless you're in for the kill
Or you'll be hit by the curse of the pharaohs
Yes, you'll be hit and the curse is on you

The curse of the pharaohs can be so deadly
Or just destroying your future
Takin' it all shady

Don't touch, never ever steal
Unless you're in for the kill




Or you'll be hit by the curse of the pharaohs
Yes, you'll be hit and the curse is on you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jethro Tull's "Conundrum" depicts a cautionary tale of entering the Valley of Kings in Egypt where the pharaohs are mummified and buried with their treasures. The singer warns that one should never touch or steal from these tombs, as they risk encountering the curse of the pharaohs, which brings evil and disease. The curse is deadly and can destroy one's future. The repeated refrain emphasizes the importance of not taking anything from these tombs unless the person is in it for the long haul to kill or sufficiently exploit the riches.


The song's meaning goes beyond just a myth about the curse of the pharaohs, as it highlights the greed and consequences of unethical behavior. The theme of the curse of the pharaohs is a metaphor for the concept of karma, where one's actions have consequences. The song warns the listener to respect history and culture and to not exploit people or their heritage for one's gain. The song's message is powerful and timeless in its message about the dangers of selfishness and disrespect.


Line by Line Meaning

Away out in Egypt in the valley of kings
Jethro Tull starts by setting the scene by describing the location, Egypt, in the valley of kings.


Where the mummified pharaohs
The song emphasizes the presence of the pharaohs in Egypt's valley of kings


Pretend dead in their sleep
The pharaohs are dead but not really, as they continue to exert their power even beyond their death


Don't touch, never ever steal
If you are not ready to face the curse of the pharaohs, Jethro Tull admonishes that you should never touch nor steal anything belonging to the pharaohs as it can be deadly.


Unless you're in for the kill
However, if you are willing to pay the price, then you can steal from the pharaohs, which may result in a good reward.


Or you'll be hit by the curse of the pharaohs
The curse of the pharaohs is real, and anyone who breaks the rules will suffer the consequences.


Yes, you'll be hit and the curse is on you
The curse of the pharaohs is inescapable, and whoever is hit by it will be affected by it forever.


Now if you're breakin' the seals
The song highlights that breaking the seals, which may be on a pharaoh's tomb, can bring dire consequences.


And disturbing the peace
The pharaohs have been at rest for an extended period, and any disturbance can lead to the curse of the pharaohs being unleashed.


Then you're startin' up a curse
Any action, even the slightest one, which disrupts the resting place of the pharaohs can arouse the curse of the pharaohs.


Bringin' evil disease
The curse of the pharaohs is not limited to physical harm, but it can also lead to emotional and mental damage.


The curse of the pharaohs can be so deadly
The song reiterates that the curse of the pharaohs can lead to horrible outcomes that may be deadly.


Or just destroying your future
However, even if the curse does not harm you physically, it can impact your future.


Takin' it all shady
Jethro Tull implies that the curse of the pharaohs can be very sinister and may take the form of punishment or consequences that are not apparent at first glance.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BARRIMORE BARLOW, MARTIN BARRE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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