Query about the song "King Of The World"- Page 2

[workmanarts]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 9:56pm

Of course it is jazzy....one just assumed the answer to this question/query direct from the composer's mouth would be of interest to those discussing it/wondering about it.....

[syd]

Posted: 5/17/06 at 11:50pm

I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD SO MUCH THAT I WILL BE DIRECTING IT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 6:30am

Although he wouldn't confirm it, Jason said that when most people approach him about this song, they think it's about Martin Luther King. I think it's somewhat obvious from some of the passages.

Once upon a time I had lives to protect
I had rules to change
And wrongs to set right
And there were people at my side
And there were rivers I could guide
I wanted nothing in return

Once upon a time I had fate in my hands
And the confidence of a million regimes
And they said, "Brother, you're in charge
We'll follow anything you say"

There is also the line "I stand like a mountain", which I always equated with MLK's "I've been to the mountain" speech.

[circusliz]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 10:26am

I've always imagined this song being sung by a political prisoner in some South American or African country. I guess it's all the references to nature, combined with "I was not challenging the system, I was working for the people"...
Democratic revolutions on these continents have often been squashed by brutal military dictators.

[Popular]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 10:33am

I haven't read through this entire thread but you guys DO realize that JRB is a BWW member, don't you?

C'mon Jason, stop lurking and laughing and add some insight to this thread! HAHA

[circusliz]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 11:03am

It's funny that you mentioned that Popular! Although I did want to put my 2 cents in, I mostly responded to the thread because I wanted to keep high on the list in the hopes that JRB might see it and give some answers!

[musicnmath]

Posted: 5/18/06 at 12:39pm

alrighty people. As workmanarts said, JRB answers this question (somewhat) on his website (http://jasonrobertbrown.com/weblog/). here's the text:


This is probably the number one question I get asked, and I'm not sure I understand why. I guess people think that "King of the World" came from a show or something and that it was sung by a specific character in that show. It wasn't, it was always intended as a more allegorical (or at least metaphorical) number. Here's where I was at when I wrote "King of the World": I was living in a tiny studio apartment in Greenwich Village, I had no money, I couldn't get a job, and I saw a lot of people who I thought were extremely talented getting nowhere. I was terrified that I would never have the chance to have my voice heard, that I would just spend the rest of my life stuck in a tiny apartment, never getting to share my music with the world. The song comes out of that, I guess, as much as anything. But what's the story? It's a guy in prison who genuinely believes he was the king of the world. I wasn't thinking about O.J. Simpson or Jesus or the Doctor in "Tale of Two Cities" (?) or anybody else specifically, but if that makes the song work for you, go for it. Just make it consistent. (I'm literally destroying one of my last good secrets for you people. Now what will anyone ask me?)