King by Years & Years Lyrics Meaning – The Anthem of Breakaway Sovereignty

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Years & Years's King at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

I caught you watching me under the light
Can I realign?
They say it’s easy to leave you behind
I don’t wanna try

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
So let me go

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?

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

I had to break myself to carry on
No love and no admission
Take this from me tonight
Oh-oh, let’s fight
Oh-oh, let’s fight
Oh-oh, let’s fight
Oh-oh-oh

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

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

In the lush sonic landscape of Years & Years’s ‘King’, listeners find themselves enveloped in a pulsing synthetic pop track that demands more than just movement; it requests introspection. The song, which resonated heavily upon its release, delves into the liberating yet deeply complex process of reclaiming one’s agency from the clutches of another’s control.

Beneath the dance-ready beats and the intoxicating melody lies a narrative of empowerment and the difficult journey towards it. ‘King’ serves as a modern anthem for those breaking free from the metaphorical shackles of a relationship, job, or any aspect of life which has left them feeling subjugated and powerless.

A Sovereign’s Struggle: Peeling Back Layers of Dominion

The opening lines of ‘King’ immediately place us in the midst of a voyeuristic exchange fraught with tension. As the protagonist catches an unnamed watcher’s gaze, the question posed, ‘Can I realign?’ speaks to the heart of a person questioning their current state of being vs. their need for change. It’s a line blurred by dependence and the daunting proposition of stepping away from the familiar.

The song builds on this sense of being trapped not just by circumstances, but by the paralysis of the familiar and the fear of the unknown. What seems ‘easy’ to outsiders, the act of leaving ‘behind’, is actually a monumental struggle for the protagonist, who has become so entrenched in their subservience that the thought of deviation presents a challenge they ‘don’t wanna try’.

An Ode to Liberation: ‘I wanna feel like you’ve let me go’

As the chorus erupts with the powerful declaration of being ‘a king under your control,’ the paradox of the powerless ruler comes to light. Here lies the heart of the song’s conflict: the innate desire for dominion over one’s life clashing with the past reality of being dominated. Yearning to feel as though they’ve been released – ‘I wanna feel like you’ve let me go’ – signifies a deep desire for closure and the ability to move on.

This repetitive plea isn’t just a wish to be forgotten; rather, it underscores the psychological need for permission to reclaim a sense of self. In the narrative context of ‘King’, the protagonist is seeking a blessing to depart, a validation of their wish to be autonomous once again, resonating with anyone who has felt trapped or suffocated by another entity.

The Battle Cry Hidden in the Synths: Unearthing the Song’s Inner War

‘I had to break myself to carry on’ – this line is pivotal as it encapsulates the song’s hidden meaning; it is a declaration of self-destruction as a means to rebirth. The internal struggle, the ‘fight’ mentioned in the bridge, isn’t against an external oppressor but against oneself and the complacency within personal imprisonment.

The war-like imagery of ‘breaking oneself’ and ‘let’s fight’ is a stark reminder that freedom comes at a cost. It’s this almost masochistic element of self-liberation that resonates with the listener, transforming ‘King’ into a hymn for the bittersweet nature of breaking away from the things that both comfort and cage us.

The Metaphorical Dance Floor: How ‘King’ Choreographs Disentanglement

The infectious rhythm of ‘King’ isn’t merely for danceability. It mirrors the convolutions and agitations of someone breaking free. Each beat represents a step away from the past, a rhythmic unshackling that is mirrored in the listener’s own response to the music. It’s as if by dancing, we are all participating in the song’s narrative of escape.

Moreover, the tempo breaks and rises throughout the track, symbolizing the inconsistent nature of liberation. Much like the oscillations of a heart in the throes of change, ‘King’ takes its listeners on a rollercoaster of tempo, paralleling the ups and downs of the song’s subject as they wade through the quagmire of shedding old bonds.

Memorable Lines That Echo the Sentiment of an Era

‘Let go, let go, let go of everything’ – this imperative, repeated to fade out the song, becomes an instant connective tissue between the personal narrative of the song and the collective experience of its audience. In the modern era where detachment is often a necessary step towards personal growth, these words become a rallying cry.

They express the universality of the song’s theme: the struggle to maintain individuality and sovereignty in a world that often seeks to tether us to the will of others. ‘King’ may be seen as not just a single person’s journey, but an echo of a generation’s need to define itself apart from the expectations and limitations imposed upon it.