Born to Die
King Khan & The Shrines Lyrics


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Let me strip my head
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

Overall Meaning

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
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Comments from YouTube:

@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!

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