Riley B. King
Keb' Mo' Lyrics


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He's a king without a castle or crown
And every night he lays his body down
In a different town but one thing stays the same
Everybody knows his name

People may laugh or cry as his stories are told
To tell the truth like this a man must be bold
And the people are glad, for the things he shares
Everybody knows he cares

By the light of the moon comes a flood of emotion
Riley B. King, be the king of the ocean
He's royal blue like the deep blue sea
Riley B. King

Out of the darkness and into the light
To fight the peaceful warrior's fight
Such a beautiful sight and the way you feel
Watchin' him with Lucille

The heart of the man is open wide
And he closes his eyes and looks inside
To a love of the world through the song he sings
Giving it everything

By the light of the moon comes a flood of emotion
Riley B. King, be the king of the ocean
He's royal blue like the deep blue sea
Riley B. King

By the light of the moon comes a flood of emotion
Riley B. King, be the king of the ocean
He's royal blue like the deep blue sea
Riley B. King

By the light of the moon comes a flood of emotion
Riley B. King, be the king of the ocean




He's royal blue like the deep blue sea
Riley B. King

Overall Meaning

The song "Riley B. King" by Keb' Mo' is a tribute to the legendary blues musician B.B. King, also known as Riley B. King. The song is about the impact he had on people through his music and the legacy he left behind. The first verse describes how despite not having a traditional "castle or crown", B.B. King's name is known all around due to his talent and impact. The lyrics in the following verse describe how he told stories that made people laugh and cry, and that to do so requires great bravery. People appreciate him for his openness and his compassion, demonstrated through the things he shares and the passion with which he performs.


The second half of the song speaks more directly to B.B. King himself, describing how his music brings forth an "ocean" of emotion and that he is "royal blue like the deep blue sea". The peaceful warrior's fight is also mentioned, and it is clear that B.B. King brought a unique power and beauty to his music. The final verse speaks to his ability to look deeply within himself and then translate that love for the world through his music. The repetition of the chorus at the end reinforces that he made an impact that will never be forgotten.


Line by Line Meaning

He's a king without a castle or crown
Although he doesn't have a castle or crown, he is still regarded as the king; he is respected and adored by many.


And every night he lays his body down
Despite his fame and busy schedule, he takes the time to rest every night.


In a different town but one thing stays the same
He travels to different places, but his reputation precedes him - everyone recognizes him.


Everybody knows his name
He has become a legend, and his name is well-known worldwide.


People may laugh or cry as his stories are told
His stories can elicit different emotions from people, but they are always heartfelt.


To tell the truth like this a man must be bold
In order to share stories that are true and genuine, one needs to be courageous enough to speak their mind.


And the people are glad, for the things he shares
The people appreciate and value the stories he tells and the pearls of wisdom he imparts.


By the light of the moon comes a flood of emotion
The moon seems to evoke feelings of intense emotion or nostalgia in him, which inspire him to create music.


Riley B. King, be the king of the ocean
He is a musical legend, and as such, he rules over the vast ocean of music.


He's royal blue like the deep blue sea
The color blue typically symbolizes melancholy, loneliness, or sadness, but in this instance, the deep blue color is associated with royalty, strength, and confidence.


Out of the darkness and into the light
He has come out of difficult times and emerged into the light, which symbolizes positivity, hope, and renewal.


To fight the peaceful warrior's fight
Although he advocates for peace, he fights through his music, using it as a tool to bring people together.


Such a beautiful sight and the way you feel
His performance and the emotions it evokes are both visually and viscerally stunning.


Watchin' him with Lucille
Lucille is his beloved guitar, which he plays with great skill and passion, and this is a sight to behold.


The heart of the man is open wide
He wears his heart on his sleeve, is vulnerable, and shares his innermost thoughts and feelings with his audience.


And he closes his eyes and looks inside
He takes a moment to reflect and introspect, connecting with his emotions, music, and audience.


To a love of the world through the song he sings
Through his music, he expresses his love for the world and all its people, bringing them together.


Giving it everything
He puts his heart and soul into his music, giving his all to his art and his audience.




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FORD ROBBEN, KEVIN (KEB' MO') MOORE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Angel Flores


on The Whole Enchilada (Bonus Acoustic)

You gon die if u put yo hands on me nigga

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