King Lyrics
I caught you watchin' me under the light
Can I realign?
They say it's easy to leave you behind
I don't wanna try
[Pre-Chorus]
Cut cover, take that test, hold courage to your chest
Don't wanna wait for you, don't wanna have to lose
All that I've compromised to feel another high
I've got to keep it down tonight
[Chorus]
And, oh, oh, oh
I was a king under your control
And, oh, oh, oh
I wanna feel like you've let me go, so let me go
[Verse 2]
Don't you remember how I used to like
Being on the line?
I dreamed you dreamed of me calling out my name
Is it worth the price?
[Pre-Chorus]
Cut cover, take that test, hold courage to your chest
Don't wanna wait for you, don't wanna have to lose
All that I've compromised to feel another high
I've got to keep it down tonight
And, oh, oh, oh
I was a king under your control
And, oh, oh, oh
I wanna feel like you've let me go
[Bridge]
I had to break myself to carry on
No love and no admission take this from me tonight
Oh, oh, let's fight
Oh, let's fight
Oh, oh, let's fight
Oh
[Chorus]
And, oh, oh, oh
I was a king under your control
And, oh, oh, oh
I wanna feel like you've let me go, so let me go
[Outro]
Let go, let go, let go of everything
Let go, let go, let go of everything
Let go, let go, let go of everything
Let go, let go, let go of everything
About
“King” is the fourth single from Years & Years debut studio album, Communion, originally appearing on their extended play Y & Y. It reached the #1 spot on the UK Singles Chart on March 8th, 2015.
In a comment on Youtube, the trio explained the meaning of the song as being about “feeling controlled by somebody and wanting them to let you go.”
In an interview with Shazam, frontman Olly Alexander said that the track “feels like a mixture of different parts” of his life:
Lyrically, it was written at two different stages in my life. First of all, when I was in a relationship and I was really frustrated [because] I went out with the same types of person all the time and I really wanted that to stop. And then I rewrite it again later, because I was in a relationship that I wanted to end.
Although the narrator in this song has sacrificed a lot to be with this person just to feel like a king, he wants this relationship to come to an end due to its destructive nature. He wants to feel like his lover does not control him anymore, and so he insists on breaking himself down, fighting with his lover, and then moving on.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Consequences
- 2.Starstruck
- 3.Night Call
- 4.Intimacy
- 5.Crave
- 6.Sweet Talker
- 8.20 Minutes
- 11.See You Again
- 12.Immaculate
- 13.Muscle
- 14.Reflection
- 17.King
- 18.Shine
- 20.Desire
- 21.Sanctify
- 22.Play
- 23.It’s a sin