Who is this maniac Master of Ceremonies who openly confesses to the two grand black bohemians said to be lunatic Sun Ra and George Clinton, and whose stagings certainly remind us of a young Herman Sonny Blount and his Solar Arkestra? In 1995 Khan leaves the frosty soil of the city of Montreal playing the bass for the International-Underground-Legends THE SPACESHITS. The band is produced by Mike Mariconda with a special guest appearance from the Fabulous Andy G (Devil Dogs). Khan founds the secret lodge of the KUKAMONGAS. During the oncoming years Khan tours across the States. Detroit, New Orleans, New York City, LA, San Francisco, Dallas, Tijuana etc. Khan doesn’t return from the first Spaceshits-Europe-Tour in summer of 1999. In Germany the young 22-year old Canadian founds a Psychedlic-Soul-Big-Band THE SENSATIONAL SHRINES. The first line-up includes Ron Streeter (live-percussionist of Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau and other Soul-Legends), as well as a horn section of rowdy teenagers, and a rhythm section which can only be called a german/french version of the Freak Brothers. Khan meets Fredovitch (Bordeaux's wildest organ player) wearing a silver-studded gogo dress, matching cowboy hat and sporting a full beard. He dubs him into shrinehood only one week before recording their first album in Toe Rag Studio in London. THREE HAIRS & YOU’RE MINE is produced by Liam Watson. THE SHRINES grow into an all-star international movement. Their first concert in London is suspended by the police. The band escapes through the back-door. Numerous gigs will follow all across Europe, among others with the Demolition Dollrods, Mr. Quintron and Ms. Pussycat, an after-party for 50 cent, even a legendary stint at the Roskilde festival. In 2003 Khan encounters the Hazelwood-producers-team Gordon “Two Horses” Friedrich and Wolfgang “Amadeus” Gottlieb, who stage the second longplayer MR. SUPERNATURAL in the beginning of 2004.
*****
INTRODUCING THE SHRINES
Mr. Speedfinger: guitar
Original member of the Shrines. He owns a bar in Kassel and hasn’t charged Khan for a drink in five years.
Riddiman: bass
Gypsy-punk and truck-driver. He found his bass in the garbage and plays it up to the very day. Member of the Anarchist-Elektro-Punk-Band EGOTRONIC.
John Boy Adonis: drums
Even though he looks like a bizarre mixture between Jesus Christ and Charlie Manson, no kinship could be proven. Member of the Experimental-Sub-Underground-Band INCLUB EXPLOSIVO.
Ron Streeter: percussion
Percussionist of countless soul-legends. Khan slid a paper with his phone-number under the toilet-door, with one simple plea “don’t wipe your ass with it”. Two days later Ron played with the shrines.
Freddy “Mr. Ovitch” Rococo: lead organ and piano
Khan had organized a show for the French one-man-band FREDOVITCH. Freddie performed in a silver go-go dress with a matching cowboy-hat and full beard. Two weeks later the shrines had him flown into the London studio.
Sam Fransisco: trumpet
Plays in numerous noise-bands with long artful names. After his girlfriend left him, Sam hurled himself into excessive drug abuse, a circumstance that bestowed a heap of good songs upon the Shrines and musical immortality for himself
Ben Ra: tenor saxophone
Plays in the 60’s-Garage-Punk-Band HARAKEEREES. His idols are John Coltrane, Sun Ra and the Sonics. Nevertheless Ben Ra perambulates the universe with his go-go-girl-friend and is easily irritable.
Bid Fred Rollercoaster: baritone saxophone
Plays with the French Trash-Rockabilly-Band BDK & THE ROLLERCOASTERS. Big Fred has got the longest fingers in all of France and has no problem in using them.
Bamboorella: go-go-dance
The appearance of the Japanese go-go-dancer conceals the notorious Rock’n’roll-DJ KITTY ATOMIC. Bamboorella traded a life of crime, sex and drugs for a life of rock’n’roll, sex and drugs. With her salacious dances she enthuses both men and women alike.
Born to Die
King Khan & The Shrines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Numb it out into a sacred layer
There's the living jail
With the ashes of my own hair
Talk about angel loss
Mystics told his soul is fully gloved
Well, here we go
The only hope that's left is in our home
If they're born to die
They shouldn't count with the way of their hands
Trust your bloody hands
Don't leave him mad 'cause you're next in line
If they follow you
Just tell 'em one was dead and I'll be sold
Leave your soul in this
If all else fails just leave with a kiss
The opening lines of King Khan & The Shrines's song 'Born to Die' seem to suggest the desire for a new, purer state of being, where one can strip away the frustrating complexities of the world and enter a 'sacred layer' of numbness. The image of a 'living jail' suggests that this desire comes from a feeling of being trapped or hindered in everyday life. The mention of 'angel loss' hints at the idea that the singer has experienced a great loss or tragedy, and is searching for some way to cope with it. This idea is further developed as the song progresses, with references to a mystical, otherworldly presence that seems to haunt the singer, and a sense that only by retreating into oneself can one make sense of the pain and confusion of existence.
The chorus of the song ('If they're born to die...') suggests a kind of nihilistic fatalism, where one must accept that all people are destined to die, and that trying to avoid this fate is futile. The repeated phrase 'trust your bloody hands' seems to suggest that the singer is urging someone to take violent action, perhaps to seek revenge against those who have wronged them. However, the final line, 'If all else fails just leave with a kiss', introduces a note of tenderness and resignation. Ultimately, the song seems to be grappling with existential questions of meaning and purpose, and the difficulty of finding hope and happiness in a world that often feels cruel and senseless.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me strip my head
I want to clear my mind of all distracting thoughts
Numb it out into a sacred layer
Become mentally numb to and protected from the world
There's the living jail
Being alive can feel like being trapped in a prison
With the ashes of my own hair
Using the remnants of oneself to build and protect that prison
Talk about angel loss
Discussing the concept of losing one's spiritual connection
Mystics told his soul is fully gloved
Some believe that their soul is fully enveloped and protected by a higher power
Well, here we go
Here we are, facing the reality of existence
The only hope that's left is in our home
Our only hope lies within our own selves and our personal space
If they're born to die
If someone is destined to perish
They shouldn't count with the way of their hands
Their abilities should not be the only factor determining their fate
Trust your bloody hands
Put faith in your actions and decisions
Don't leave him mad 'cause you're next in line
Don't aggravate a dangerous person who may harm you
If they follow you
If people are looking up to you
Just tell 'em one was dead and I'll be sold
Lying and claiming someone is dead is a way to escape scrutiny, but it can have consequences
Leave your soul in this
Pour your heart and soul into something
If all else fails just leave with a kiss
If all attempts to succeed fail, gracefully move on from the situation
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iandoxav
Love it!!!
@trevordubois1354
Yooo, I remember seeing this guy at burger boogaloo back in 2015! Goddamn that was awesome
@crossfiretv3602
There's only one King Khan. Beast of a video!
@PlasticInevitable1
Great new song and video!
@StevenJSkiba
Going STRAIGHT TO THE LAKE OF FIRE. First class trip, Khan.
@rogermarques9530
king of kings
@joshweinberg6321
Someone has clearly watched and enjoyed The Holy Mountain.
@poooooopoooooo8888
This is like a not sucky rolling stones to me
@gypdawho
YES!!
@koolrockradio
Kool!