Their debut single, Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants backed with The Old Dog was released on Bad Sneakers Records on 20th November 2006. Their second single Through Dark Night backed with Please, Sir was released 23rd April as their last single on Bad Sneakers. In February 2007 the band signed to Domino Records. A debut album Limbo, Panto was released in the UK on June 16 2008 with strong critical endorsement. Their second album, Two Dancers, was released on 3 August 2009 to widespread critical acclaim, receiving 9/10 reviews from NME and Drowned in Sound. It was also ranked at #41 on NME's top 100 albums of the decade. Their third album, Smother was released on May 9, 2011.
The four boys of Wild Beasts arenāt concerned with being of the modern or being of the renaissance, being baggy pantsed or being tight pantsed, being in a scene or being in a place. Wild Beastsā music just is.
On 25 September 2017, the band announced that they were disbanding, playing their final gig on 17 February 2018.
All The King's Men
Wild Beasts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The belle of the ball
My heart, my hand and everything I own
And we are the boys
With new shiny shoes
We've seen 'em all
And we've chosen you
Girls from Roedean
Girls from Shipley
Girls from Hounslow
Girls from Whitby
You're a candied queen
And let me show my darling what that means
Watch me! watch me!
Hatch me! hatch me!
A girl before
Bouncing round behind the bedroom doors
And we are the boys
Who'll drape you in jewels
Cut off your hair
And throw out your shoes
Cause baby, you won't need them, where you'll be
Girls astride me
Girls beneath me
Girls before me
Girls between me
You're birthing machines
And let me show my darling what that means
Hatch me! hatch me!
And baby, turns out I'm evil
In all my dreams, girls who'll clothe me
Girls who'll feed me
Girls who want me
Girls who need me
All you pretty things waiting for somebody
Number my babies and my broken body
The lyrics to All The King's Men are poetic and cryptic, but they seem to describe a group of boys who are selecting a girl to join them in their fancy lifestyle, promising to bestow upon her all the riches and pleasures of the world. The boys are confident in their ability to free her, stating that "no one will find your limit." They seem to be luring her in, with offers to dress her up in jewels and give her a new identity. The girl is compared to other girls from different areas, emphasizing that she is special and unique, a "candied queen." The boys see her as a means to their own ends, referring to her and other girls as "birthing machines" and objectifying them by numbering them.
The chorus of the song is a repeated call to "watch me" and "hatch me," as if the boys are performing a magic trick or unveiling a grand scheme. They are portrayed as both alluring and sinister, offering both pleasures and destruction. In the end, the singer reveals his own evil desires, dreaming of girls who will "clothe" and "feed" him, as if he himself wants to become the one who is taken care of, rather than the one who is doing the controlling.
Overall, All The King's Men is a haunting and unsettling song that explores themes of power, control, and objectification. It highlights the dark side of desire, showing how it can turn people into objects and lead to abuse and exploitation.
Line by Line Meaning
Watch me! watch me!
Pay attention to me!
The belle of the ball
The most attractive person at the party
My heart, my hand and everything I own
I'm yours completely
And we are the boys
We are a group of people
With new shiny shoes
We are well-dressed and fashionable
We've seen 'em all
We have experienced many things
And we've chosen you
You are the one we want
Now no one will find your limit
You have no boundaries or limits
Girls from Roedean
Girls from the Roedean school
Girls from Shipley
Girls from the Shipley school
Girls from Hounslow
Girls from the Hounslow area
Girls from Whitby
Girls from the Whitby area
You're a candied queen
You're a sweet and delicious queen
And let me show my darling what that means
I'll show you how great it is to be with me
Hatch me! hatch me!
Help me grow or develop
A girl before
A girl I knew before
Bouncing round behind the bedroom doors
Engaging in sexual activity
Who'll drape you in jewels
I'll shower you with expensive gifts
Cut off your hair
I'll change you in ways you never imagined
And throw out your shoes
You won't need to be practical anymore
Cause baby, you won't need them, where you'll be
I'll take care of you and provide for you
Girls astride me
Girls who are sexually active with me
Girls beneath me
Girls who I have control over
Girls before me
Girls who are attracted to me
Girls between me
Girls who are part of my sexual experiences
You're birthing machines
You're capable of giving birth
And let me show my darling what that means
I'll show you how great it is to be with me
And baby, turns out I'm evil
I may not be who you think I am
In all my dreams, girls who'll clothe me
You will be there to take care of me
Girls who'll feed me
You will be there to provide for me
Girls who want me
You will be interested in me
Girls who need me
You will rely on me
All you pretty things waiting for somebody
All the attractive people waiting for someone to take care of them
Number my babies and my broken body
Count the number of children I have and the damage I've done to myself
Lyrics Ā© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jorge Abner Drexler Prada
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pi4noBl4ck
Watch me! watch me!
The belle of the ball
My heart, my hand and everything I own
And we are the boys
With new shiny shoes
We've seen 'em all
And we've chosen you
Now no one will find your limit
Girls from Roedean
Girls from Shipley
Girls from Hounslow
Girls from Whitby
You're a candied queen
And let me show my darling what that means
Watch me! watch me!
Hatch me! hatch me!
A girl before
Bouncing round behind the bedroom doors
And we are the boys
Who'll drape you in jewels
Cut off your hair
And throw out your shoes
Cause baby, you won't need them, where you'll be
Girls astride me
Girls beneath me
Girls before me
Girls between me
You're birthing machines
And let me show my darling what that means
Hatch me! hatch me!
And baby, turns out I'm evil
In all my dreams, girls who'll clothe me
Girls who'll feed me
Girls who want me
Girls who need me
All you pretty things waiting for somebody
Number my babies and my broken body
Domino Recording Co.
We're honoured to present the debut single from Hayden Thorpe, Diviner. Watch the beautiful video, directed by Crowns & Owls, now: http://smarturl.it/DivinerYT
Sanaš
I love how this song sounds like a love song in the beginning, but then transforms into something dark and twisted halfway through.
Simondo81
It's dark and twisted all the way through
jane wilson
This song is such a breath of fresh air for me. thankgod to the wild beasts!!!
water4sure
Still loving this song in 2021! and missing this band!
Catherine Snedden
Hayden is just so wonderful...I know he doesn't sing much on this song, but whatever he does sing, he sounds wonderful with his distinctive voice. He really does know how to use his voice to it's full potential, not like most frontmen of bands...
Ashley Jones
for some reason I can't get enough of the song
Kevin Commerford
For some reason? Haha song is amazing! You should catch them live. This song is a party.
NAVIGATE BLOCKCHAIN
So very amazing...
Lift Guy Lomax
Bought the album soon as I heard this, my favourite by far