Rainbow - Kill The King - Meaning of the song
Despite the violent imagery in this maniacally fast rock song, lead singer Ronnie James Dio claimed it is about a chess game.
This originally was Rainbow's debut in the UK singles chart, peaking at #44. After the commercial success of "Since You've Been Gone," "All Night Long" and "I Surrender," "Kill the King" was re-released in 1981 this time climbing to #41.
Since mid-1976, "Kill the King" had been a fixture of the Rainbow tour setlists, starting every show. It was first released in 1977 on the live album On Stage. The title tune and "Kill the King" were the sole songs performed in the 1977–78 concerts, however "L.A. Connection" was given a few performances on the US tour before being deleted from the set. Dio's solo gigs featured a live version of "Kill the King," "Gates of Babylon," and the title track from 2004 until his death in 2010.
Kill the king - Lyrics
Danger, danger the Queen's about to kill
There's a stranger, stranger and life about to spill
Oh no move me out of harm
I need a spell and a charm
Fly like the wind
I'm no pawn, so be gone, speed on and on
Kill the king
Tear him down
Kill the king, yeah
Strike him down
Power, power it happens every day
Power, devour all along the way
Oh no, move me out of harm
I need a spell and a charm
And fly like the wind
I'm no pawn, so be gone, speed on and on
Kill the king
Treason, treason, the spectre looms again
Treason, reason, the realm is safe and then
Oh no, move away from harm
I need a spell and a charm
Fly like the rainbow
I'm no pawn, so be gone, speed on and on
Kill the king
Tear him down
Kill the king, yeah
Got to take his crown
Crown
Kill the king
He'll rule no more
Strike him dead
The people roar
Kill the king, yeah
Take his head
Down, down, down, down
Oh, kill
Oh, kill
Oh, oh
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