Vic said to Revolver, “This song is about getting pushed past your breaking point. Sometimes I feel like there are just too many things weighing on my mind at once and I can’t control my thoughts or even my body at times. Mike came up with the title and I thought it was a perfect way to describe the song. We wrote the music for this song with my friends Curtis Peoples and Steve Miller in a cabin that we converted into a studio in Big Bear, California. For months, fans had been tweeting at me to do a song with Kellin Quinn from the band Sleeping with Sirens. I had never met him before, but we started talking on Twitter due to our mutual fans. I asked him if he’d be down to do a song together and the rest was history! Big thanks to our boy Kellin’s for joining forces and making something special with us.”
King for a Day
Pierce The Veil Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I bet you never had a Friday night like this
Keep it up, keep it up, let's raise our hands
I take a look up at the sky and I see
Red for the cancer, red for the wealthy
Red for the drink that's mixed with suicide
Everything red
Let's scream until there's nothing left
So sick of playing, I don't want this anymore
The thought of you's no fucking fun
You want a martyr, I'll be one
Because enough's enough, we're done
You told me think about it, well I did
Now I don't wanna feel a thing anymore
I'm tired of begging for the things that I want
I'm over sleeping like a dog on the floor
The thing I think I love
Will surely bring me pain
Intoxication, paranoia and a lot of fame
Three cheers for throwing up
Pubescent drama queen
You make me sick, I make it worse by drinking late
Scream until there's nothing left
So sick of playing, I don't want to anymore
The thought of you's no fucking fun
You want a martyr I'll be one
Because enough's enough, we're done
You told me think about it, well I did
Now I don't wanna feel a thing anymore
I'm tired of begging for the things that I want
I'm over sleeping like a dog on the floor
Imagine living like a king someday
A single night without a ghost in the walls
And if the bass shakes the earth underground
We'll start a new revolution now
(Now Alright here we go)
Hail Mary, forgive me
Blood for blood, hearts beating
Come at me, now this is war
Fuck with this new beat, oh
Now terror begins inside a bloodless vein
I was just a product of the street youth rage
Born in this world without a voice or say
Caught in the spokes with an abandoned brain
I know you well but this ain't a game
Blow the smoke in diamond shape
Dying is a gift so close your eyes and rest in peace
You told me think about it, well I did
Now I don't wanna feel a thing anymore
I'm tired of begging for the things that I want
I'm over sleeping like a dog on the floor
Imagine living like a king someday
A single night without a ghost in the walls
We are the shadows screaming take us now
We'd rather die than live to rust on the ground, shit
The lyrics to Pierce the Veil’s “King For A Day” tell a story of the singer’s rebellion against a toxic relationship. The chorus begs for release from the pain and torment, declaring that “screaming until there’s nothing left” is a better alternative than continuing to play the games this person wants to play. The singer is aware that this person enjoys seeing them suffer, but they will no longer be a victim of their emotional manipulation. The verses describe the desperation and hopelessness of the singer’s situation, juxtaposed with a desire to live like a king and break free from the cycle of abuse.
The pre-chorus highlights the addiction and destruction of substance abuse, and how it contributes to the singer’s pain. The color red is used as a motif throughout the song - symbolizing cancer, wealth, and the drink mixed with suicide - to further emphasize how the singer is consumed by this relationship. In the bridge, the lyrics become harder and more aggressive, with the singer declaring war on their oppressor. The end of the song is particularly powerful, as the singer chooses self-preservation over remaining with this person, stating that they would “rather die than live to rust on the ground.”
Overall, “King For A Day” is a strong commentary on the destructive nature of toxic relationships and the mental and emotional toll they can take on individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Dare me to jump off of this Jersey bridge
Challenge me to take a risk and jump off this bridge in New Jersey.
I bet you never had a Friday night like this
I'm sure you've never experienced a Friday night like this before.
Keep it up, keep it up, let's raise our hands
Continue to make noise and raise your hands in celebration.
I take a look up at the sky and I see
When I look up at the sky, I see...
Red for the cancer, red for the wealthy
I see red, which symbolizes both cancer and wealth.
Red for the drink that's mixed with suicide
Red also represents the drink that's mixed with suicide.
Everything red
Everything I see is colored red.
Please, won't you push me for the last time
I'm asking you to give me one final push.
Let's scream until there's nothing left
Let's shout and scream until we can't do it anymore.
So sick of playing, I don't want this anymore
I'm tired of going through the motions and I don't want this anymore.
The thought of you's no fucking fun
I'm not having any fun thinking about you.
You want a martyr, I'll be one
You want someone to sacrifice themselves for a cause, I'll be that person.
Because enough's enough, we're done
We've reached our limit and it's time to call it quits.
You told me think about it, well I did
You advised me to think about it and I did.
Now I don't wanna feel a thing anymore
I no longer want to feel any emotions.
I'm tired of begging for the things that I want
I'm exhausted from asking for the things I desire.
I'm over sleeping like a dog on the floor
I'm done with sleeping on the floor like a dog.
The thing I think I love
I believe that I love something.
Will surely bring me pain
However, that thing will most likely cause me pain.
Intoxication, paranoia and a lot of fame
The things that accompany that love are intoxication, paranoia, and fame.
Three cheers for throwing up
Hooray for throwing up (sarcastic).
Pubescent drama queen
Referring to someone as a drama queen who is still going through puberty.
You make me sick, I make it worse by drinking late
You make me feel terrible, and I exacerbate that feeling by drinking alcohol late at night.
Imagine living like a king someday
Picture a life where you are living like royalty.
A single night without a ghost in the walls
A night where you are not haunted by your fears and doubts.
And if the bass shakes the earth underground
If the music has such an impact that it shakes the earth below us.
We'll start a new revolution now
We will begin a new movement to change things.
(Now Alright here we go)
It's time to get started.
Hail Mary, forgive me
An expression of asking for forgiveness from a higher power.
Blood for blood, hearts beating
I'll give as much as it takes to succeed, and my heart is still beating.
Come at me, now this is war
Bring it on, this is a battle.
Fuck with this new beat, oh
Don't mess with this new sound/beat, oh.
Now terror begins inside a bloodless vein
The feeling of terror starts in a vein that no longer carries blood (meaning the emotion is so strong, it's like it's coming from a dead part of my body).
I was just a product of the street youth rage
I grew up in an environment where the youth were angry and full of energy.
Born in this world without a voice or say
I was born into this world with no power or say in what happens to me.
Caught in the spokes with an abandoned brain
Stuck in a difficult situation with a deserted or tired mind.
I know you well but this ain't a game
I'm familiar with you, but this is not a playful situation.
Blow the smoke in diamond shape
Exhale the smoke in a diamond shape.
Dying is a gift so close your eyes and rest in peace
Dying is something that should be appreciated, so just relax and close your eyes.
We are the shadows screaming take us now
We are like ghosts screaming to be taken away from this life.
We'd rather die than live to rust on the ground, shit
We would rather die than spend our lives wasting away on the ground.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Curtis Peoples, Jaime Preciado, Kellin Quinn, Michael Fuentes, Tony Perry, Victor Fuentes, Steven Solomon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Sunny-san.
People who are listening this in 2024... Keep it up guys, don't let this song die.
@PersephoneLOL
K.😊
@user-hq9kk8je8e
🔥
@epicrobloxgamer6388
Will do
@felixftw4702
it never died. i;m happy to like but try posting something more original. you can see the same comment on any music video that;s more than 10 years old
@user-uy7zc2tn1d
YES!
@thatoneratinmycorner9627
people that are lisening to this on 2021 are my family now
@lesliemariejannninada2285
Hi bruh
@ashmataz553
Hell yeah
@zarethalvarez978
Bestie ily