Kings of Leon is an American rock band formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1… Read Full Bio ↴Kings of Leon is an American rock band formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill, and their cousin Matthew Followill. The band's early music was a blend of Southern rock and garage rock with blues influences, but it has evolved throughout the years to include a variety of genres and a more alternative, arena rock sound. Kings of Leon achieved initial success in the United Kingdom with nine Top 40 singles, two BRIT Awards in 2008, and all three of the band's albums at the time peaked in the top five of the UK Albums Chart. Their third album, Because of the Times, reached No. 1.

After the release of Only by the Night in September 2008, the band achieved chart success in the United States. The singles "Sex on Fire", "Use Somebody", and "Notion" all peaked at number one on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album was their first platinum-selling album in the United States, and the best-selling album of 2008 in Australia, being certified platinum nine times. The band's fifth album, Come Around Sundown, was released on October 18, 2010. Their sixth album, Mechanical Bull, was released on September 24, 2013. The seventh studio album, Walls, was released on October 14, 2016. Their eighth studio album, When You See Yourself, was released on March 5, 2021. The group has 12 Grammy Award nominations, including 4 wins.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_Leon

Studio albums
Youth & Young Manhood (2003)
Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)
Because of the Times (2007)
Only by the Night (2008)
Come Around Sundown (2010)
Mechanical Bull (2013)
Walls (2016)
When You See Yourself (2021)

Pony Up
Kings of Leon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got a razor sharp mind that wants to cut you down.
A little place in mind and baby I could let you down.
Pony up, we got a ways to go.
Set me up my friends are running low.
Oh, oh, oh

If you take my hand I'm gonna get you outta here.
The crush of bottles break another swinging chandelier.

In a round of bullets and blood and smoke,
I saw the midnight come and I watched her go.
Oh, oh, oh

In a round of bullets and blood and smoke,
I saw the midnight come and I watched her go.
Yeah I watched her go.
I watched her

I watched her go.
I watched her go.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kings of Leon's track Pony Up are about a sharp-minded person who feels they can bring others down, but instead chooses to take their hand and get them out of a dangerous situation. The phrase "pony up" is often used as a way to encourage someone to pay or contribute their fair share, but in this song, it may be interpreted as a way to encourage someone to become more courageous and face their fears. The lyrics mention the crush of bottles and the swinging chandelier, implying that the person and the singer are at a party or a gathering where there is a lot of alcohol and chaos.

The second verse mentions a round of bullets, blood and smoke, which could indicate a violent confrontation, possibly in a bar or a club where the singer had to step in to protect someone they care about. They are able to see the midnight come and watch her go, which might be a metaphor for watching their troubles and fears dissipate as they overcome the situation. The repeated line "I watched her go" could be interpreted in many different ways, one of which could be that the singer is watching their own fear leave them, as if it was a person they were saying goodbye to.

Line by Line Meaning

I got a razor sharp mind that wants to cut you down.
I possess an intelligent and perceptive mind which desires to demean and belittle you.

A little place in mind and baby I could let you down.
If you were to disappoint me, even slightly, I have the capacity to ruin your confidence with a single comment.

Pony up, we got a ways to go.
Invest your resources, as we still have a long journey ahead of us.

Set me up my friends are running low.
Provide me with a drink, as my acquaintances are beginning to become scarce.

Oh, oh, oh
Vocalization to give emphasis and rhythm to the song.

If you take my hand I'm gonna get you outta here.
If you follow me, I can help you escape from this situation or environment.

The crush of bottles break another swinging chandelier.
The chaos and frenzy of the atmosphere is causing the destruction of the establishment's decor.

In a round of bullets and blood and smoke,
Amidst a violent and tumultuous situation,

I saw the midnight come and I watched her go.
I witnessed the arrival of nightfall and its subsequent departure.

Yeah I watched her go.
Confirmation of having observed the departure of nightfall.

I watched her
Reiteration of having witnessed the event.

I watched her go.
Final confirmation of having seen the departure of nightfall.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ANTHONY CALEB FOLLOWILL, IVAN NATHAN FOLLOWILL, JARED FOLLOWILL, MATTHEW FOLLOWILL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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