King was born on the 24th August 1979 in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A., the first of two daughters. While King was a small child, her father noticed her natural musical ability, and encouraged her interest in music. She was introduced to the guitar at the age of four, and played for several years, but after taking up the drums a few years later, they became her primary instrument as an adolescent.
Convinced that her break in music would come from being a drummer, King played in bands in high school with classmate Morgan Jahnig, who would later become the bassist of Old Crow Medicine Show. Upon graduating from The Westminster Schools in Atlanta in 1998, the two friends made their way to New York University. During her time there, King picked up the guitar again, and revisited the finger-style techniques that intrigued her as a child. From there, King played a few occasional gigs and busked in the New York subways.
In February 2006, Rolling Stone released a list of "The New Guitar Gods", with King as the sole woman and youngest artist honoured. In addition to a ten-year career that includes six LP and two EP albums, King has also spent significant time scoring music for television and film. She worked alongside Eddie Vedder and Michael Brook, contributing the music for the soundtrack to Sean Penn's Into the Wild, for which King, Vedder, and Brook were nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.
King's style combines fret-tapping with slap bass techniques, using the guitar for percussive beats, as well as sound layering and looping. Her playing style has been compared to Michael Hedges and Preston Reed; she explicitly cites the latter as an influence.
The Betrayer
Kaki King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen to what I say, before you go & kill yourself
Somehow you've been exposed
Headquarters thinks the case is closed
You need to hit the road, they're on your trail again
I've become someone else, someone new
It's up to you
I am guardian, I am the only one who knows
Gonna get you to a safe-house where nobody goes
They know your face, they know your names
That was our deal
They've put the borders on alert so don't get hurt again
I've become someone else, someone new
It's up to me
If I live or die too
I did this to you, yes I did
I had my own life to save
I did this to you yes I did
Again, I've become someone else
Someone new
It's up to them
Will they let me through
Running on rooftops now
The great escape
Kaki King's The Betrayer is a narrative that tells the story of someone who is trying to save their loved one from being captured and killed. The lyrics speak directly to this person, begging them to listen before they take deadly action. The urgency in the first two lines indicates that this is a life or death situation. The singer is trying to convince their loved one not to kill themselves or anyone else. The next line reveals that this person has been exposed and headquarters thinks the case is closed. The chorus talks about the singer becoming someone new, but they still have the power to determine the fate of their loved one. They promise to take their loved one to a safe house where they can't be found.
In the second verse, the singer reveals that they are the only one who knows how to keep their loved one safe. They are a guardian, and they will get them to a place where nobody goes. The deal was that their loved one would stay hidden, but their faces and names are known, and the borders are on high alert. The chorus repeats, with the singer taking control of the situation. Again, they reveal that they did this to their loved one to save their own life. The last line is a reminder of the urgency of the situation as they are running on rooftops for the great escape.
Line by Line Meaning
Please now just hear me out, before you kill somebody now
Listen to what I say, before you go & kill yourself
Somehow you've been exposed
Your cover has been blown
Headquarters thinks the case is closed
The authorities believe the case has been solved
You need to hit the road, they're on your trail again
You must flee, as they are chasing after you once again
I've become someone else, someone new
I have changed and taken on a new identity
It's up to you if I live or die too
My survival depends on your actions
I am guardian, I am the only one who knows
I am your protector, the only one aware of our situation
Gonna get you to a safe-house where nobody goes
I will take you to a secure location, where we will not be found
They know your face, they know your names
The authorities are aware of your identity
That was our deal
We agreed to keep our identities and location hidden
They've put the borders on alert so don't get hurt again
The authorities have heightened security at the borders, so we must be careful not to get caught or injured again
I did this to you, yes I did
I am responsible for putting you in this situation
I had my own life to save
I took this action to ensure my own survival
Again, I've become someone else
Once again, I have taken on a new identity
It's up to them, will they let me through
My fate is in their hands, will they allow me to pass
Running on rooftops now, the great escape
We are making a daring escape, running across rooftops to avoid being caught
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@armacorthgaming8708
Still holds up well
@lauwie0
she is playing tonight in the melkweg in Amsterdam :D can't wait :)
@Pastahunter
God.. so fresh
@valenecia
Junior actually reminds me of a really good movie, filled with suspense (The Betrayer), sadness (Hallucinations on My Poisonous German Streets), some dark humor (My Communist Friends), a kick-ass fight (Death Head) and ending with lost, bitter love (Sunnside). One of the best albums this year so far, imo.
@fashionandmusic921
@rambadibow I'm sensing some rainbows, too. Same syncopation in rhythm guitar line.That's probably why I like it.
@MagicalSunrise1984
in love
@BleuWaterStones
I just have to listen to her past work to know she is an original. As for this Radiohead business well it may sound similar but thats as far as it will go.
@ForeverInDreams237
if i could learn that riff at 1:48 id be happy as fuck
@JsRf13
@rambadibow the meter and drum sounds similar, but other than that not really.
@ATOMINESRAZINOS
was that allan watts voice 1:51 ?