In 1984, Bobby Frankl… Read Full Bio ↴Heavy Metal band from Memphis, Tennessee (USA)
In 1984, Bobby Franklin (vocals), John Ruth (guitar), Chuck Jones (guitar), Jeff Boydston (bass) and Bill Jones (drums) recorder their self-titled EP. Nowadays, "Medieval Steel" EP is a legendary release, mentioned as a great influence by many Heavy Metal bands.
After that, and with the same line-up, Medieval Steel dominated the stages from Memphis to New York, but after a while, when they were dealing with Megaforce Records, the band changed the name to Fire Choir and followed a different music direction. Even if there were recording sessions, nothing was official released and Bobby Franklin left Fire Choir to reform again Medieval Steel with Scott Jones on guitars. Songs like "Eyes Of Fire", "To Kill A King" and "Tears In The Rain", were composed that time (1985). During 1986, the band part ways with Megaforce because the development stage was very slow. After that, the line-up changed and Steve Crocker became the new bassist and Chris Cook the new drummer. With this line-up, the band stayed together until 1992 when they dissolved. All that time they kept playing live but the beginning of the 90s was a very difficult period for Heavy Metal bands in United States and Medieval Steel separate Ways.
In 2004 (20 years after the debut EP) while the band found about their underground status overseas, decided to move on again. "The Dungeon Tapes" CD was released by the band in 2005 and consists of the 1984 EP plus "Tears In The Rain" and "Lost In The City" from a demo session recorded in 1987 and new recordings of the songs "To Kill A King", "Ghost From The Battlefield", "Eyes Of Fire" from 2004. After that, silence. Until the end of 2011, when Bobby Franklin reformed Medieval Steel and in 2013 they recorded the album "Dark Castle"...
To Kill A King
Medieval Steel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lies a dark and lonely land
Just beyond the sleeping city
Where an evil castle stands
The king is lying sleeping there
In his room unaware
Just beyond the castle walls
Evil warriors come to call
To kill a king and to take his queen
And before the dawn, they"ll be riding on
By the walls of the courtyard
Slipping past the kings guard
Through the back of the darkest stairs
There's only one man there
A flash of steel and we cut him down
His blood pours upon the holy ground
Inside the king"s room
He"s unaware of his sudden doom
Far behind the king"s men ride
A thousand swords held in the sky
Dust from horses hides the sun
Evil warriors on the run
The king is dying, the king is dead
The last words the blind man said
Ride swift upon the wind
Past the sleeping city again
The lyrics of Medieval Steel's "To Kill a King" describe a dark and treacherous plan to assassinate a king and take his queen. The song takes place just outside of the "mystic mountains" in a "dark and lonely land." There, an evil castle stands, where the sleeping king is unaware of the danger that lurks beyond its walls. Evil warriors have come with the sole intent of killing the king in his sleep and taking his queen before the dawn.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the events that transpire as the assassins sneak past the king's guards and make their way into his chambers. As the king lies sleeping, the killers strike, ending his life and leaving his queen vulnerable to their attack. Soon after, the king's men pursue the assassins, but they are too late to save their king. The song ends with a call to "ride swift upon the wind, past the sleeping city again," suggesting that the assassins may have gotten away with their nefarious deeds and will continue to wreak havoc on the land.
Line by Line Meaning
Just outside the mystic mountains
A dark and lonely land is present outside the mysterious mountains.
Lies a dark and lonely land
The land outside the mountains is dark and desolate.
Just beyond the sleeping city
The evil castle stands beyond the slumbering city.
Where an evil castle stands
An evil castle is present near the sleeping city.
The king is lying sleeping there
The king is asleep in his room in that castle.
In his room unaware
The king is unaware of the impending danger.
Just beyond the castle walls
The evil warriors are waiting outside the castle walls.
Evil warriors come to call
The wicked warriors come to kill the king and take his queen.
To kill a king and to take his queen
The plan of the evil warriors is to kill the king and abduct his queen.
And before the dawn, they'll be riding on
The warriors plan to leave before the dawn on their horses.
By the walls of the courtyard
The warriors silently move past the king's guards near the courtyard walls.
Slipping past the king's guard
The warriors passed the king's guard secretly.
Through the back of the darkest stairs
They went through the back of the darkest stairs to reach the king's room.
There's only one man there
There is only one man guarding the king's room.
A flash of steel and we cut him down
They killed the guard with a flash of steel.
His blood pours upon the holy ground
The guard's blood is spilled on the holy ground.
Inside the king's room
The king's room is the target.
He's unaware of his sudden doom
The king is still unaware of the danger.
Far behind the king's men ride
The king's men are far behind in the chase.
A thousand swords held in the sky
The warriors are holding a thousand swords in the sky.
Dust from horses hides the sun
The dust clouds formed by the warriors riding horses hide the sun.
Evil warriors on the run
The warriors are fleeing after killing the king.
The king is dying, the king is dead
The king is either dying or already dead.
The last words the blind man said
The last words of the blind man are echoed in the singer's mind.
Ride swift upon the wind
The warriors depart the scene quickly.
Past the sleeping city again
They silently pass by the sleeping city again.
Contributed by Landon O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Grace O'lune Moreno
Just outside the mystic mountains
Lies a dark and lonely land
Just beyond the sleeping city
Where an evil castle stands
The king is lying sleeping there
In his room unaware
Just beyond the castle walls
Evil warriors come to call
To kill a king and to take his queen
And before the dawn, they"ll be riding on
By the walls of the courtyard
Slipping past the kings guard
Through the back of the darkest stairs
There's only one man there
A flash of steel and we cut him down
His blood pours upon the holy ground
Inside the king"s room
He"s unaware of his sudden doom
Far behind the king"s men ride
A thousand swords held in the sky
Dust from horses hides the sun
Evil warriors on the run
The king is dying, the king is dead
The last words the blind man said
Ride swift upon the wind
Past the sleeping city again
Alex Xela
Lyrics
Just outside the mystic mountains
Lies a dark and lonely land
Just beyond the sleeping city
Where an evil castle stands
The king is lying sleeping there
In his room unaware
Just beyond the castle walls
Evil warriors come to call
To kill a king and to take his queen
And before the dawn, they"ll be riding on
By the walls of the courtyard
Slipping past the kings guard
Through the back of the darkest stairs
There's only one man there
A flash of steel and we cut him down
His blood pours upon the holy ground
Inside the king"s room
He"s unaware of his sudden doom
Far behind the king"s men ride
A thousand swords held in the sky
Dust from horses hides the sun
Evil warriors on the run
The king is dying, the king is dead
The last words the blind man said
Ride swift upon the wind
Past the sleeping city again
Grace O'lune Moreno
Just outside the mystic mountains
Lies a dark and lonely land
Just beyond the sleeping city
Where an evil castle stands
The king is lying sleeping there
In his room unaware
Just beyond the castle walls
Evil warriors come to call
To kill a king and to take his queen
And before the dawn, they"ll be riding on
By the walls of the courtyard
Slipping past the kings guard
Through the back of the darkest stairs
There's only one man there
A flash of steel and we cut him down
His blood pours upon the holy ground
Inside the king"s room
He"s unaware of his sudden doom
Far behind the king"s men ride
A thousand swords held in the sky
Dust from horses hides the sun
Evil warriors on the run
The king is dying, the king is dead
The last words the blind man said
Ride swift upon the wind
Past the sleeping city again
Fiero Vitto
Thanks for the lyrics mann :)
Bravilor
Have been listening to this song about 50 times over the past weeks. It's full of pretty heavily used riffs and melodies, but this song kind of sums them up in the best way possible.
Zeke and Opie
A masterpiece for sure and also a sadly overlooked band. I love the vocals and songwriting as well. Pure early Heavy/power metal.
Dmitri Davidovicth
TRVE HEAVY METAL BROTHERS !
Alex Xela
Lyrics
Just outside the mystic mountains
Lies a dark and lonely land
Just beyond the sleeping city
Where an evil castle stands
The king is lying sleeping there
In his room unaware
Just beyond the castle walls
Evil warriors come to call
To kill a king and to take his queen
And before the dawn, they"ll be riding on
By the walls of the courtyard
Slipping past the kings guard
Through the back of the darkest stairs
There's only one man there
A flash of steel and we cut him down
His blood pours upon the holy ground
Inside the king"s room
He"s unaware of his sudden doom
Far behind the king"s men ride
A thousand swords held in the sky
Dust from horses hides the sun
Evil warriors on the run
The king is dying, the king is dead
The last words the blind man said
Ride swift upon the wind
Past the sleeping city again
Lars of the Mohicans
I have trouble explaining how they never made it huge or at least signing with a decent label. Could've been some egregious mismanagement like in the case of Jon Mikl Thor.
Caio Cesar Headbanger
♥
SheFollowsMoon
I just adore the song,but I have a lil different version,it's quite deeper,and intro is different. And quality is worse,but I prefer it.
Daniel Jorge Escobari
now well fuck. this is awsome!!!!!!