Since forming in 2007, the band's combination of danceable rock and soulful songwriting (and brilliantivity) has come to life through a meticulously-crafted and ever-evolving live performance. The band has been instrumental in the growth of New Orleans’ burgeoning indie rock scene, and they have achieved success and notoriety in the city’s competitive musical landscape.
The Revivalists have proven themselves as a live act. They have managed to advance from low-profile local gigs to extensive touring, developing a loyal fan base at home and across the Gulf Coast Region and gaining footholds nationally. Abroad, they have commanded such venues as The Kennedy Center (Washington, DC), Sullivan Hall (New York City), Toad’s Place (New Haven, CT), and Smith’s Olde Bar (Atlanta, GA). At home, The Revivalists are regulars at The Howlin’ Wolf, The Republic, and the legendary Tipitina’s. They have shared stages with such notable acts as Perpetual Groove, Marco Benevento, Rebirth Brass Band, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, The Lee Boys and Snarky Puppy. Additionally, they have established themselves as an engaging festival act, winning over audiences at French Quarter Fest, Crawfest and Foburg Festival in New Orleans, Hamstock Barbecue and Music Festival in Ridgeland, MS, and The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington, DC. Most recently, The Revivalists played the 2010 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. There, they caught the attention of Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke, who wrote about their performance on his blog on rollingstone.com.
The Revivalists have also grown as studio musicians. Their first release was listed as an editor’s pick in both the Jam and American Traditional Rock categories on CDBaby.com, despite being a humble five-song EP. Their second release, Vital Signs, is both the band’s first full-length album and a significant step forward in terms of production and scale. The young band was privileged to record under the guidance of Grammy Award-winning producer Chris Finney, whose resumé ranges from Dr. John to R.E.M. Vital Signs is the result of this collaboration. Soon after its release, Vital Signs became the top-selling album on CDBaby in the American Traditional Rock category, and was quickly selected to be featured in their newsletter.
Members:
George Gekas (bass)
Andrew Campanelli (drums)
Zack Feinberg (guitar)
David Shaw (vocals, guitar)
Ed “Steel” Williams (pedal steel guitar)
Rob Ingraham (saxophone, miscellaneous/other)
King of What
The Revivalists Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
King of what?
They say every man's a king
A king of what?
I got my bullets, bag and stone don't wake me up I'm in the zone
And I believe the trees not those innuendo seeds
Everything is light, see no voodoo in the night
Hear no evil, fear no evil what's the reason for the fight?
A King of what?
They say every man's a king
A king of what?
I can hear you on the other line tell stories from another time
Lawsuit love is all we know like fleeing dogs in heavy snow
Wait in wonder, watch in awe
Who we were is all we are
It's getting dangerous, dangerous
It's getting dangerous
You say every man's a king
King of what?
You say every man's a king
A king of what?
Of every step that he will take
Every move that he must make
Every waking moment he's alive
Every thought and spoken word
Laughter, sob or sigh he heard
Every ounce of love that's in his heart
He's a king
We are kings
The lyrics to The Revivalists' song "King of What" question the idea of every man being a king and asks what exactly they are king of. The singer of the song declares that he has his weapons and is in his zone, believing in the power of nature and not the manipulation of others. Refusing to succumb to fear or evil, he questions the reason for any fight. The song shifts to a phone conversation with someone on the other line, telling stories of another time, possibly reminiscing about the past. The singer reflects on how their current situation, love born out of lawsuits and entanglement, is all they know. The chorus returns as a declaration that every action, thought, and emotion makes a man a king.
The song seems to question both the idea of individual power and the stagnation of one’s situation. It questions whether being a king means anything when we’re limited by the things we’ve experienced in the past. We’re kings of a world that we might not understand, but we take steps every day to make it our own. Yet, we’re also limited to our understanding of it, which makes the future unpredictable. The message is inspiring and thought-provoking, with the overall theme being that life is ever-changing.
Line by Line Meaning
You say every man's a king
The singer is addressing someone who claims that every man is a king.
King of what?
The singer challenges the notion that every man is a king by asking the question 'a king of what?'.
They say every man's a king
The singer acknowledges that some people hold the belief that every man is a king.
A king of what?
The artist repeats the question from the previous line to emphasize the point that being a king is meaningless without context.
I got my bullets, bag and stone don't wake me up I'm in the zone
The artist is in a prepared and confident state that enables them to act decisively.
And I believe the trees not those innuendo seeds
The singer has faith in nature and the positive forces of the world, rather than negative or manipulative forces.
Everything is light, see no voodoo in the night
The singer is confident and unafraid, with no fears or superstitions about the unknown or supernatural.
Hear no evil, fear no evil what's the reason for the fight?
The artist is questioning why people fight or engage in conflict when they could choose to live without fear, hate or negativity.
If every man's a king
The artist is returning to the theme of the song, asking whether every man really is a king.
A King of what?
The artist repeats the earlier question, emphasizing the need for context and meaning.
I can hear you on the other line tell stories from another time
The singer is allowing someone else to have their say and share their experiences, without judgment or ego.
Lawsuit love is all we know like fleeing dogs in heavy snow
The artist is commenting on the human condition of seeking love in difficult circumstances or through adversity.
Wait in wonder, watch in awe
The singer is encouraging an attitude of humility, awe and patience in the face of the unknown or mystical.
Who we were is all we are
The singer is acknowledging that people's past shapes their present and future, accepting the influence of history and memory.
It's getting dangerous, dangerous
The singer is sounding a warning that things may become difficult, chaotic or violent.
It's getting dangerous
The artist repeats the warning in a slightly different way, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Of every step that he will take
The artist is rephrasing the earlier questions to assert that every person is responsible for their own actions.
Every move that he must make
Continuing from the previous line, the singer is emphasizing the responsibility and agency of every individual.
Every waking moment he's alive
The singer is again asserting the importance of every individual's life and the need to live fully and consciously.
Every thought and spoken word
The artist is emphasizing the impact and significance of every expression of thought or speech from a person.
Laughter, sob or sigh he heard
The artist is acknowledging the range and power of human emotion, whether pleasant or painful.
Every ounce of love that's in his heart
The artist is asserting the importance and value of love as a fundamental human emotion that defines us as individuals.
He's a king
The singer is concluding the song by affirming that every individual can be a king or queen of their own life, actions and emotions.
We are kings
The final line reinforces and expands on the earlier assertion, identifying every individual as having the potential to be a ruler of their own life.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANDREW STEPHEN CAMPANELLI, ZACHARY FEINBERG, GEORGE M. GEKAS, MICHAEL GIRARDOT, ROBERT INGRAHAM, DAVID WILLIAM SHAW, ED WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carlos Huchim
Me gusta mucha esta canción, ese ambiente tranquila con esa voz y la guitarra acustica le da un toque especial.
No One Knows It's Okay
This is slept on by a lot of people.