It was released as a worldwide single by A&M Records. It was the second single from Synchronicity in the US and the fourth single in the UK.
Reaching #3 in the US charts in October 1983, and #1 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart for five weeks in August 1983, the single is The Police's most successful US single (together with "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic") after "Every Breath You Take" based on chart position. In the UK, it reached #17 in the charts in January 1984.
Interestingly, "King of Pain" was the only single from Synchronicity that did not have an accompanying music video.
King of Pain
The Police Lyrics
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It's the same old thing as yesterday
There's a black hat caught in a high tree top
There's a flag pole rag and the wind won't stop
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
There's a little black spot on the sun today, that's my soul up there
It's the same old thing as yesterday, that's my soul up there
There's a black hat caught in a high tree top, that's my soul up there
There's a flag pole rag and the wind won't stop, that's my soul up there
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall, that's my soul up there
There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall, that's my soul up there
There's a blue whale beached by a springtide's ebb, that's my soul up there
There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web, that's my soul up there
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread
King of pain
There's a red fox torn by a huntmen's pack, that's my soul up there
There's a black winged gull with a broken back, that's my soul up there
There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
King of pain
King of pain, king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
The lyrics to The Police's "King of Pain" describe a sense of despair and hopelessness, as the singer sees symbols of suffering and pain all around him. The repetition of the phrase "that's my soul up there" suggests that these images are representative of the singer's inner turmoil. The little black spot on the sun, black hat caught in a tree, and flag pole rag blowing in the wind all represent enduring pain and loss that don't seem to go away. The fossil trapped in a cliff wall, dead salmon frozen in a waterfall, blue whale beached by a springtide's ebb, and butterfly trapped in a spider's web all symbolize different types of suffering, highlighting how the singer is constantly surrounded by pain that he cannot escape.
The singer is portrayed as a king of pain, destined to suffer and always hoping that someone will end his reign. The repetition of the phrase "I have stood here before inside the pouring rain" suggests a cycle of pain and suffering that the singer cannot break free from. The final lines of the song depict various characters who are also suffering, including a king with his eyes torn out, a blind man looking for doubt, a rich man sleeping on a golden bed, and a skeleton choking on bread. These characters underscore the universal nature of suffering, suggesting that the singer is not alone in his pain.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a little black spot on the sun today
I am feeling unsettled, as though there is something dark hanging over me
It's the same old thing as yesterday
This feeling of being weighed down by something is constant
There's a black hat caught in a high tree top
I feel stuck, like I'm reaching for something that's just out of my grasp
There's a flag pole rag and the wind won't stop
I am in a state of constant unease, like the winds of change won't let me find my footing
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
I have been through rough times like this before, feeling stuck and unsettled
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
The chaos of the world makes me feel like my thoughts are spinning in circles, without any clear direction
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
I keep hoping that someone or something will come along to end the cycle of pain and unease
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain
Despite my hopes, I realize that this weight and unease is something I will likely have to carry with me for a long time
There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall
This feeling of being stuck and weighed down is like being trapped in stone, unchanging and immovable
There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall
The sense of being trapped in a cycle of pain is like being frozen in time, unable to move forward
There's a blue whale beached by a springtide's ebb
These feelings are so overwhelming that they leave me feeling stranded and unable to move forward
There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web
This vulnerability and sense of being trapped is like a beautiful butterfly caught in a spider's web
There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
This powerlessness and sense of being caught in a cycle of pain is like a king without his sight, unable to see a way out
There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
I feel like a blind man, searching for answers and unable to see what is right in front of me
There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
Even those who seem to have it all are not immune to the kinds of pain and unease that I am feeling
There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread
Even something as simple as food can become a source of pain and discomfort, like a skeleton choking on a crust of bread
King of pain
This sense of being trapped and weighed down has become my identity - I am the king of pain
I'll always be king of pain
These feelings are likely to always be a part of me, and something that I will need to learn to live with
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gordon Sumner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Roxanne
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