2. There was also a Rat Pack from Ventura, CA on Mystic Records that released two EP's titled "Rat Pack" and "Ice Cream, Acid, and Cigarettes" and one self titled LP. They were also released on few Mystic Records compilations such as the Nardcore comp.
3.There is also a UK rave group from the early '90s who used the name The Rat Pack who had hits with tracks like "Searchin' for my rizzla"
King Of The Road
The Rat Pack Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No phone, no pool, no pets, I ain't got no cigarettes
Ah, but, two hours of pushin' broom
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room
I'm a man of means by no means, king of the road
Third boxcar, midnight train, destination, Bangor, Maine
Old worn-out suits and shoes
I smoke old stogies I have found - short, but not too big around
I'm a man of means by no means, king of the road
I know every engineer on every train
All of their children, and all of their names
And every handout in every town
And every lock that ain't locked when no one's around
I sing, trailers for sale or rent, rooms to let, fifty cents
No phone, no pool, no pets, I ain't got no cigarettes
Ah, but, two hours of pushin' broom
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room
I'm a man of means by no means, king of the road
Trailers for sale or rent, rooms to let, fifty cents
No phone, no pool, no pets, I ain't got no cigarettes
Ah, but, two hours of pushin' broom
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room
"King of the Road" by The Rat Pack is a song about a wanderer who travels all around, surviving on his sheer wits and resourcefulness. The song depicts an impoverished man who finds whatever work he can, pushing a broom, but he's proud of his independence and the freedom that comes with it. He sings about his nomadic lifestyle, living off of fifty cent rooms for rent and finding no pity in his lack of possessions. He claims that he doesn't need a phone, a pool, pets, or cigarettes to be happy, but also acknowledges that his life is not one of luxury.
The singer of the song seems to have accepted his situation, even embracing it. He claims to be "king of the road" because he knows every train engineer and his family's name, and has explored every town's handout offerings. The lyrics allude to a life full of interesting people and experiences, even if it is one of transience. The song's repeated refrain of trailers for sale or rent, rooms to let, and the mention of his occupation of pushing a broom, all serve to showcase his modest ways of surviving life.
The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the importance of freedom and one's own ability to navigate adversity, even if it may not lead to material wealth. It also highlights the importance of community and human connection, even in times of economic hardship. Though the lyrics are simple and repetitive, the story they tell is one of resilience and perseverance, and the folk-like melody adds to its charm.
Line by Line Meaning
Trailer for sale or rent, rooms to let, fifty cents
I see a sign advertising a trailer that's available for sale or rent, as well as rooms that can be rented for fifty cents.
No phone, no pool, no pets, I ain't got no cigarettes
The trailer doesn't have a phone, pool or pets, and the person singing doesn't have any cigarettes at the moment.
Ah, but, two hours of pushin' broom
In spite of the lack of amenities, the singer works hard to make ends meet.
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room
The work has paid off, as the singer is now able to afford to rent a small room with his earnings.
I'm a man of means by no means, king of the road
Although he's not wealthy, the singer feels proud of the life he's built for himself and sees himself as the king of his own domain.
Third boxcar, midnight train, destination, Bangor, Maine
The singer is on a train, heading to Bangor Maine, traveling in a third boxcar.
Old worn-out suits and shoes
The singer's clothes and shoes are worn out from his hard work.
I don't pay no union dues
The singer doesn't belong to a union and doesn't have to pay dues.
I smoke old stogies I have found - short, but not too big around
The singer smokes old cigars he's been able to find, but they're not very big.
I know every engineer on every train
The singer travels a lot by train and has gotten to know many of the engineers.
All of their children, and all of their names
The singer has spent enough time with the engineers to know all of their children's names.
And every handout in every town
The singer is so familiar with every town he passes through that he knows where to go to get a handout if he needs it.
And every lock that ain't locked when no one's around
The singer has become skilled at noticing when locks aren't properly secured and uses this to his advantage when he needs to.
I sing, trailers for sale or rent, rooms to let, fifty cents
The singer repeats the advertisement he saw earlier, as if it's become a part of him and he can't help but sing it.
No phone, no pool, no pets, I ain't got no cigarettes
The same lack of amenities that he mentioned before is still true.
Ah, but, two hours of pushin' broom
The same hard work is still paying off.
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room
And he's still able to afford his tiny room.
I'm a man of means by no means, king of the road
And he still sees himself as the king of his own domain, even as he struggles to make ends meet.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Roger Miller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fryertuck6496
Great story about this song.
My son once bought this CD and played it in my store.
A girl that worked for me came in and instantly thought it was my music.
"What ARE you playing?" She asked.
My son said "It's my music" and this seemed to interest her.
"Oh who is it?" She cooed.
"Dean Martin."
"Who?"
"Dean Martin, Rat pack guy."
"Who?" She rhymed again.
This tested my son's patience and he said "It's Neil Armstrong, you know Neil Armstrong the first man on the moon?
Well something happened up there and when he came back his balance was damaged and he couldn't be an astronaut, but they discovered he could suddenly sing.
So he became a singer to pay the bills and that is his voice."
"Nice." She cooed and off she went.
We smiled at each other and thought no more about it.
Few hours later a friend came in and said "what the Fryer Tuck did you tell Emma, she's round in the bar telling people Neil Armstrong got injured on the moon and aliens gave him a singing voice and he joined The Rat Pack!"
Good lord our ribs were sore.
She never was the sharpest tool in the box. 😂
@allysonstewart1891
I've said this elsewhere but I'll say it again. When he's on stage or screen, you don't watch anyone else; that's charisma. When he starts to sing, everyone listens; that's talent.
@captainwaring
Very well put, Allyson!! Eloquent and articulate!!
@dodmuirhead9446
Agree...👍
@saragarratt4397
Couldn't agree more!
@peterfranks6243
My favourite of the Rat Pack, the king of cool
@user-jb1mz2rs4r
The coolest guy that ever lived
@Robbie521000
Dean Martin had one of best voices of all time, I mean all time! He made it look effortless. Beautiful control, and had a great sense of humor. He personified "cool". Only a couple guys ever had this talent of voice and looks.
@terraking1414
im 11 and love this song
@petev1606
Robbie Boyd…so true!
@jimboTTT
@@terraking1414 go fish, I'm 5 and this is the song I love the most