Since the band's inception, there have been over fifteen musicians in and out of King Diamond, with the only two mainstays being vocalist King Diamond and guitarist Andy LaRocque. In 1987 the band released their second studio release Abigail (their first concept album). Throughout the 1980s, King Diamond released a total of four studio albums. In the early 1990s, the band was put on hold when King Diamond reunited with his former outfit Mercyful Fate. After reforming King Diamond in 1994, Diamond would balance recording and touring with both Mercyful Fate and his eponymous band throughout the 90's. Since the early 2000s, King Diamond have kept recording and touring and, since 2014, the band has been composed of vocalist King Diamond, guitarist Andy LaRocque, guitarist Mike Wead, drummer Matt Thompson, and bassist Pontus Egberg.
Room 17
King Diamond Lyrics
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A few stains on the wall
But that was nothing new to Harry's head
Even though he was strapped down to his bed
Strapped down
Harry felt pretty good
Knock knock
Knock knock is anybody there?
Room 17 was nice and cool, oh yeah
But it didn't have the string that would ring the nurse
It wasn't there
Poor harry, he had it coming
Poor harry
Sow he didn't feel so good
Here comes doctor eastmann and nursie needle dear
Look at what they got you the crawly box
"Don't be such a baby, harry stop that now
The doctor's here to help you it's eastmann time!"
In room 17, everything is so clean
In room 17, there is nothing to be seen
"Black, brown, grey and hairy
We've got them all
Big, small, fast and scary
Yeah, we've got them all
I can hear hit, the spider's lullaby
I can feel it, the spider's crawl on by"
In room 17, everything is so clean
In room 17, there is nothing to be seen
"Nurse needle, it is time to begin
Nurse needle, stick it in
A brown lycosa's what I've got inside this box
I'm gonna let him out to see just how you feel
When he's around
If you move too much he might just bite you
But we'll just have to wait
And see about that"
Deep into the night, they were testing him
So many different species, harry could not win
They forgot the grey one, she was full of eggs
And she would find a warm spot back in Harry's neck
It's so moist and warm in here
Knock knock
Knock knock is anybody there?
"You forgot some spiders in my room yesterday
Now I've got this stunning pain
And my neck is feeling weird, oh I might die
Overnight some of your spiders must have bit me
They were all over me!"
"Oh harry, don't be such a fool."
That same night harry died
When they found him he was grey and white
Black, brown, grey and hairy
We've got them all
Big, small, fast and scary
Yeah, we've got them all
I can hear hit, the spider's lullaby
I can feel it, the spider's crawl on by
In room 17, everything is so clean
In room 17, there is nothing to be seen
Take him to the morgue
Take him to the morgue
The song Room 17 by King Diamond is a dark and disturbing story about a man named Harry who is trapped in a mental institution. The song describes the eerie atmosphere in his room, with stains on the wall, and Harry being strapped to his bed. The imagery of the crawling spiders and the doctor and nurse injecting Harry with a venomous spider creates a creepy and unsettling tone to the song. The lyrics describe the way the hospital staff disregards Harry's mental state, and how they torment him with the spiders, which ultimately leads to his death.
The song's lyrics are haunting and paint a vivid picture of a patient who is being mistreated in a mental hospital. The lyrics take the listener into the dark and eerie room with Harry and portrays the negligence of the staff in charge of helping him. The song has a slow and haunting melody that complements the lyrics, creating an overall sense of unease.
Line by Line Meaning
Room 17 was nice and cool, oh yeah
Harry's room was comfortable, with good air-conditioning.
A few stains on the wall
The room had minor cleanliness issues.
But that was nothing new to Harry's head
Harry was accustomed to poor living conditions.
Even though he was strapped down to his bed
Harry was restrained in his bed.
Harry felt pretty good
Despite his restraints, Harry was content.
Knock knock
Someone is at the door.
Knock knock is anybody there?
Harry is trying to see who is at the door.
But it didn't have the string that would ring the nurse
Harry's bed did not have a call-button to notify a nurse.
It wasn't there
The call-button was missing or broken.
Poor harry, he had it coming
Harry was being punished for something.
So he didn't feel so good
Harry was experiencing negative emotions.
Here comes doctor eastmann and nursie needle dear
The doctor and nurse are entering Harry's room.
Look at what they got you the crawly box
They brought a box of spiders to inflict Harry with.
"Don't be such a baby, harry stop that now
The doctor is telling Harry to stop complaining.
The doctor's here to help you it's eastmann time!"
The doctor is attempting to appear helpful to Harry.
"Black, brown, grey and hairy
The spiders come in a variety of colors and sizes.
We've got them all
The doctor has a collection of spiders.
Big, small, fast and scary
The spiders have various characteristics.
Yeah, we've got them all
The doctor has collected many different types of spiders.
I can hear it, the spider's lullaby
Harry can hear the spiders crawling around.
I can feel it, the spider's crawl on by
Harry can feel the spiders crawling on him.
Nurse needle, it is time to begin
The nurse is preparing to inject Harry with a spider.
Nurse needle, stick it in
The nurse is injecting Harry with a spider.
A brown lycosa's what I've got inside this box
The doctor has a particular type of spider in the box.
I'm gonna let him out to see just how you feel
The doctor is testing Harry's reaction to the spider.
When he's around, if you move too much he might just bite you
The spider may bite Harry if he moves too much.
But we'll just have to wait and see about that"
The outcome of the experiment is still unknown.
Deep into the night, they were testing him
The doctor and nurse were conducting experiments on Harry through the night.
So many different species, harry could not win
The doctor tested Harry with many types of spiders.
They forgot the grey one, she was full of eggs
The doctor overlooked using one kind of spider on Harry.
And she would find a warm spot back in Harry's neck
The spider moved to Harry's neck area.
It's so moist and warm in here
The spider found Harry's neck to be comfortable.
Knock knock
Someone is at the door.
Knock knock is anybody there?
Harry is trying to see who is at the door.
"You forgot some spiders in my room yesterday
Harry is complaining about the presence of spiders.
Now I've got this stunning pain
Harry is experiencing intense discomfort.
And my neck is feeling weird, oh I might die
Harry is concerned that his symptoms may be life-threatening.
Overnight some of your spiders must have bit me
Harry believes he was bitten by spiders while he slept.
They were all over me!"
The spiders had invaded Harry's personal space.
"Oh harry, don't be such a fool."
The doctor dismisses Harry's complaints.
That same night harry died
Harry passed away that night.
When they found him he was grey and white
Harry's body had changed color after his death.
"Take him to the morgue
Harry's body is to be taken to the morgue.
Take him to the morgue"
The doctor orders for Harry's body to be taken away.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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