After playing out of L.A. for the better part of 3 years, Midnight To Twelve landed their radio single "Slam" on The WB's One Tree Hill. "Slam" quickly started getting radio play after the airing of the show. It hit number one in Colorado and Washington and gained them airplay nationwide. This gained the band national attention and allowed them to leave the city of angels and start touring. "It was crazy getting emails from these fans in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Colorado. These were people in places we had never been who heard our song on the show and them all wondering when are we coming to their cities" said Jon Hartman (Lead Vocals). The band made the decision to hit the road. They bought a bus and converted it into a mini Prevost with 6 bunks, a lounge and of course; surround sound!
“This band is not afraid to put in the work and the sacrifice to make this happen”, says Al Baca (Bass). It is this attitude that has propelled this band to where they are today. After operating independently, Midnight To Twelve’s hard work and dedication began to pay off when in late 2005 the band signed with Kord Records and were immediately sent to the studio to complete a full length album. Multi-Platinum Producer Sylvia Massy-Shivy (Tool, Black Crows, System Of A Down) was brought on board to help produce the album, “King of Spain” which was released in January of 2006.
King of Spain
Midnight To Twelve Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I gotta tell myself I'm in the fight
Conversations all sound the same
40 minutes on 10 and I
Get to do it all again tonight
Sometimes I forget what I got
But don't you make me something I'm not or
Cause I'm not the
I'm not the King of Spain
So why can't I get there and how did I get here
I'm not the King of Spain
I don't confuse who I am inside
Different on the stage and under lights
So don't you dare get it twisted
I need you more than you need me
It's not the same when it's empty
So now you know it takes two to tango
All that I can say, it's been a mighty long time
All that I can do keeps me running back to you
The opening lyrics of Midnight To Twelve's 'King of Spain' speak to the idea that the singer has to convince themselves that they're still in the game. It seems that they're struggling with the monotony of their life and their work, as conversations with people feel repetitive and unsatisfying. Despite this, the singer knows that they have something to be grateful for, but they don't want others to try and make them into someone they're not. They assert their identity and refuse to let others shape them into someone else.
The chorus of the song highlights a sense of disorientation, as the singer finds themselves in a place they never thought they would be. They're not the King of Spain, but somehow they've ended up where they are. The lyrics suggest a sense of confusion in wondering how they got to this point and why they can't seem to get where they want to be. The second verse speaks to the idea that the performer has multiple identities - the one they hold on stage and the one they keep for themselves. Despite this, they need their audience as much as their audience needs them, creating a mutually dependent relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
The only way I sleep at night
I need to convince myself that I'm still fighting for my dreams to be able to sleep at night
I gotta tell myself I'm in the fight
I have to constantly remind myself that I'm still trying to achieve my goals and not give up
Conversations all sound the same
I feel like I'm stuck in a rut and nothing new or exciting is happening
40 minutes on 10 and I
I have a limited amount of time to give my all and perform at my best
Get to do it all again tonight
I have to keep repeating the same routine night after night to chase my dreams
Sometimes I forget what I got
I get lost in the hustle and forget to appreciate what I already have
But don't you make me something I'm not
Don't try to change who I am to fit your own expectations or desires
Or just who you need me to be
I won't change myself to fit your needs or desires
Cause I'm not the
I know who I am and won't pretend to be someone else
I'm not the King of Spain
I'm not a powerful or influential person, I'm just trying to make it in the music industry
So why can't I get there and how did I get here
I wonder how I got to where I am now and why I'm not successful yet
I don't confuse who I am inside
I know my own identity and won't let anyone or anything change that
Different on the stage and under lights
I act differently on stage than I do in real life, it's a part of my performance persona
So don't you dare get it twisted
Don't mistake my stage persona for who I really am as a person
I need you more than you need me
I rely on my fans' support and love to keep going in my career
It's not the same when it's empty
Performing without an audience is not the same as performing in front of a crowd
So now you know it takes two to tango
Both the artist and the audience are needed for a successful performance
All that I can say, it's been a mighty long time
It's been a while since I started my music career and I'm still struggling
All that I can do keeps me running back to you
Despite the struggles, I can't help but keep chasing my dream and performing for my fans
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.