Rundgren is well known among his fans as being an electronic music revolutionary. His skilled production techniques, matched by his belief that he has ability to play just about any instrument at a mastery level, has allowed him to release some of the most honest and personal music of his time. Many of his solo albums, including Something/Anything?]' were made completely by himself. That is, he played all the instruments, sang all the vocals, did all of the recording, editing, mixing, and mastering.
Website: http://www.tr-i.com/
Core discography:
With Nazz:
1968 - Nazz
1969 - Nazz Nazz
1970 - Nazz III
Solo:
1970 - Runt
1971 - Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren
1972 - Something/Anything?
1973 - A Wizard, a True Star
1974 - Todd
1975 - Initiation
1976 - Faithful
1978 - Hermit of Mink Hollow
1978 - Back to the Bars (live)
1981 - Healing
1983 - The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect
1985 - A Cappella
1989 - Nearly Human
1991 - 2nd Wind
1993 - No World Order
1995 - The Individualist
1997 - With a Twist
1998 - Up Against It
2000 - One Long Year
2003 - Can't Stop Running (live box set)
2004 - Liars
2008 - Arena
2011 - Todd Rundgren's Johnson
2011 - (re)Production
2013 - State
2015 - Global
2015 - Runddans (collaboration with Emil Nikolaisen and Hans-Peter Lindstrøm)
2017 - White Knight
With Utopia:
1974 - Todd Rundgren's Utopia
1975 - Another Live
1976 (released 2001) - Disco Jets
1977 - Ra
1977 - Oops! Wrong Planet
1980 - Adventures in Utopia
1980 - Deface the Music
1982 - Swing to the Right
1982 - Utopia
1984 - Oblivion
1985 - P.O.V.
2003 - Last of the New Wave Riders (live box set)
Everybody
Todd Rundgren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What life was like in the yard
'Cause you can't ever think about dying
And it just makes a person get hard
I keep wondering if my friends feel like I do
I don't know how someone could stand it
To go through what I'm now going through
And every night we get too high
And I put myself so close to death
'Til I think that I ain't gonna die
And I realize just a little
Why sometimes I like to feel like dirt
It's the only thing in this day and age
That can make me feel close to the earth
But if I ever get to heaven
If I ever reach that door
I will listen why I had to go through this life
Why they just couldn't take me before
But everybody's going to Heaven
'Cause already we've all been through Hell
We're gonna laugh all night and cry all day
Watch the big monkey do the King Kong Reggae
A Cadillac and a Chevrolet
Watch the big monkey do the King Kong Reggae
The president of the U. S. A.
Watch the big monkey do the King Kong Reggae
Everybody fall down on your knees and pray
Here comes that big monkey doing the King Kong Reggae
The lyrics of Todd Rundgren's song "Everybody's Going to Heaven/King Kong Reggae" tackles the theme of living life to the fullest and making the most out of every moment, even in the face of the inevitability of death. The first verse highlights the idea of experiencing life in a carefree manner and not focusing too much on the idea of dying, as it can make a person become less open to experiences. The second verse seems to delve more into the thoughts and emotions of the singer, wondering if his friends share the same sentiment and how they are able to cope with the idea of death. It also talks about the partying and getting "too high" as a way of escaping the morbid thoughts.
The chorus, on the other hand, has a slightly different tone as it shifts from personal contemplation to a more universal perspective about death. The lyrics suggest that everyone goes through their own form of "hell" in life, but there is a sense of hope that everyone will ultimately end up in Heaven. The last line, "Watch the big monkey do the King Kong Reggae" seems to be a playful way of reiterating the theme of living life to the fullest, as if to say that even in the afterlife there is still fun and excitement.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember, I remember
Reflecting back on memories of the past
What life was like in the yard
Recalling a simpler time in life
'Cause you can't ever think about dying
Not wanting to dwell on the thought of death
And it just makes a person get hard
The fear of death toughens a person
I keep wondering if my friends feel like I do
Questioning if others share the same feelings
I don't know how someone could stand it
Unable to comprehend how someone could handle the situation
To go through what I'm now going through
Dealing with a difficult situation
So every night we party
Trying to escape the reality with partying
And every night we get too high
Overindulging in drugs or alcohol
And I put myself so close to death
Taking dangerous risks
'Til I think that I ain't gonna die
Arrogantly feeling invincible
And I realize just a little
Having a small moment of clarity
Why sometimes I like to feel like dirt
Finding solace in feeling low
It's the only thing in this day and age
In modern times, feeling unimportant is rare
That can make me feel close to the earth
Feeling grounded or connected to nature
But if I ever get to heaven
Hypothetically contemplating reaching heaven
If I ever reach that door
The idea of entering heaven
I will listen why I had to go through this life
Wondering the reason behind life's difficulties
Why they just couldn't take me before
Questioning why death didn't come sooner
But everybody's going to Heaven
Believing everyone will end up in heaven
'Cause already we've all been through Hell
Life is full of struggles and hardships
We're gonna laugh all night and cry all day
Mixed emotions in the afterlife
Watch the big monkey do the King Kong Reggae
Describing a fun and lighthearted scene
A Cadillac and a Chevrolet
Mentioning specific types of cars
The president of the U. S. A.
Referencing the leader of the United States
Everybody fall down on your knees and pray
Encouraging religious devotion
Here comes that big monkey doing the King Kong Reggae
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the joyous scene
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TODD RUNDGREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind