Sneak Preview were offered a recording contract in 1985 if they relocated to Houston, TX, which they did, but the deal failed to materialize. Undeterred, the trio continued on and perfected its sound and songwriting further, catching a break when ZZ Top video producer Sam Taylor took the group under his wing, helping it secure a recording contract with New York's Megaforce label in 1987, and suggesting that the band change its name to King's X (the name of a local outfit that Taylor was an admirer of back in his high-school days).
In 1988, King's X released their debut album, Out of the Silent Planet. Despite praise among critics, the public didn't know exactly what to make of the group's original and multiple genre-encompassing style, and the album sank without a trace. But with the band's sophomore release, 1989's classic Gretchen Goes to Nebraska, a buzz began to develop around King's X in the metal community, as members of Anthrax and Living Colour praised them in the press, and MTV granted a few airings of their anthemic track "Over My Head." The stage was set for the group's big breakthrough, and things appeared to be going according to plan when the band's third release, Faith Hope Love, surfaced in late 1990.
The album just missed the U.S. Top 30 and nearly reached gold certification, due to landing a lengthy spot opening on AC/DC's sold-out arena tour in both the States and Europe, while the Beatlesque "It's Love" received major air time on MTV. What should have been an exciting time for the group quickly turned sour, however, as the bandmembers began to experience trouble with manager Taylor. King's X's self-titled release from 1992 (and first to appear on Atlantic Records without the Megaforce imprint) proved not to be as focused as their previous pair of albums, resulting in the album disappearing quickly from sight after release (and their ensuing tour halted), as they ended their relationship with Taylor.
But it appeared as though the change had refueled the group's musical desire once again, as evidenced by the Brendan O'Brien-produced stellar 1994 release, Dogman, which performed respectfully on the charts. This success resulted in the band opening shows for Pearl Jam and a show-stopping performance on the opening night of the mammoth Woodstock '94 festival. Atlantic Records began putting pressure on the trio to deliver a breakthrough hit but when Ear Candy failed to live up to expectations, King's X left the label (Atlantic would issue one more release from the band a year later, The Best Of, which featured 13 fan favorites, as well as three unreleased compositions and a live track).
In 1998 the group signed to the Metal Blade label, as both Pinnick and Tabor issued their first solo albums (Tabor with Moonflower Lane and Pinnick with Massive Grooves, the latter issued under the alias Poundhound), followed by the group's seventh studio release overall, Tape Head. Now free to issue albums at their own pace, the group issued two more albums only a year apart -- 2000s Please Come Home...Mr. Bulbous and 2001's Manic Moonlight. Pinnick continued his solo career in conjunction with King's X, issuing Poundhound's second release, Pineappleskunk, the same year (as well as forming a side project with former members of Trouble, dubbed Supershine), while Tabor issued two albums with the prog metal supergroup Platypus -- 1998's When Pus Comes to Shove and 2000s Ice Cycles. Around the same time, King's X received a pleasant accolade from their peers when they were voted as one of the "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" on a VH1 TV special. In 2003, they released Black Like Sunday, a collection of re-recorded songs from early in their career that had previously only existed as demos or bootlegs. Their first concert album, Live All Over the Place, arrived the following year, followed by their 11th studio recording, Ogre Tones, in 2005. King's X released XV on the InsideOut label in 2008.
Bebop
King’s X Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These momentums all about you
This confusion is clearer than most
My freedom has been challenged
Chains freedom buried with in
Walls of this kingdom always been thin
Stubborn fragile full of contempt
Bebop be alive ya'll
Awhop boba lo bop a wop bam boom!
Fighting the balance in between
Biting and living terrible scenes
Emotional animals standing to fall
Addicted to religion
God is something I don't understand
I know nothing it's what I am
Tsunamis, earthquakes, terrible things
A hundred million reasons
Bebop be alive ya'll
Awhop boba lo bop a wop bam boom!
The opening lines of King’s X's song Bebop suggest a moment of clarity amidst confusion. The “drop in the grey” refers to an epiphany, and the “awful truth” to the realization that everything going on around the singer is all about them. Despite the clarity, the singer admits that this confusion is clearer than most – suggesting that their situation may still be in turmoil. The following lines suggest that their personal freedom has been challenged, and that they feel trapped or imprisoned. The concept of chains and walls representing a lack of freedom is a common theme in poetry and lyrics, but King’s X’s use of language adds a deeper layer to the metaphor.
The chorus of the song – “Bebop be alive ya'll, Awhop boba lo bop a wop bam boom!” – is a seemingly-random collection of syllables that do not add any meaning to the lyrics. However, it adds a musicality and a sense of freedom to the song. The lyrics continue with the singer fighting to balance their emotions, and standing to fall. They admit to being addicted to religion, but suggest that they do not understand God. The song concludes with a line referring to the many terrible things that happen in the world, highlighting the singer’s struggle to find meaning in the chaos.
Overall, Bebop is a song about fighting for personal freedom and meaning amidst chaos and confusion. The use of language and metaphor add depth and musicality to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
A drop in the grey an awful truth
A depressing realization that hits hard and brings to light a harsh reality.
These momentums all about you
The current situation is all-consuming and revolves solely around you.
This confusion is clearer than most
Despite the chaos and confusion, the situation is somewhat understandable and clear.
My freedom has been challenged
The freedom that was once thought to be a given has now become threatened and uncertain.
Chains freedom buried with in
The chains of captivity and restriction are buried deep within, an invisible but powerful force.
Walls of this kingdom always been thin
The walls of this structure have always been easily penetrable.
Stubborn fragile full of contempt
The stubbornness and contempt held within is a fragile and uncertain trait.
Addicted to this prison
Despite the constraints and limitations, there is an unexplainable addiction to this situation and lifestyle.
Bebop be alive ya'll
An exuberant expression of the joy of living and existing.
Awhop boba lo bop a wop bam boom!
An exclamation of happiness and excitement for life.
Fighting the balance in between
Struggling to find a balance between opposing forces and ideas.
Biting and living terrible scenes
Living through and enduring painful and difficult experiences.
Emotional animals standing to fall
Humans being vulnerable and prone to failure, yet still standing and surviving.
Addicted to religion
Being addicted to religious beliefs and practices that provide comfort and guidance.
God is something I don't understand
A recognition of the complex and ineffable nature of divinity.
I know nothing it's what I am
Acknowledging one's ignorance and uncertainty is a fundamental part of human existence.
Tsunamis, earthquakes, terrible things
The world is filled with unpredictable and terrifying events.
A hundred million reasons
Countless explanations and justifications for the way things are.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DOUG PINNICK, JERRY GASKILL, TY TABOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind