When I Was King lyrics

Song information

Artist: Graham Parker
Album: Struck By Lightning

Lyrics

Capo at 2 intro: ??

G g c em
When I was king I was not really the man I am now
G am g c
I was like anyone sitting on a throne made out of china
G g c em
When I was king I had already abdicated
C am g c
Already melted my crown down to sell as scrap
C
But they'd run the first run of stamps
D g
People had cashed in their post office savings
C d c
To buy some and lick the back of my neck
(C) d
I just let them get on with it arrange the coronation
G c
I just didn't turn up, I just didn't turn up

You became queen to a regime of fixed ideas
The subjects just outlines like figures in a shadow cabinet
And then we ruled over some green and pleasant land
With a frog and a princess not necessarily in that order

But if you want it to be what you want it to be
You'll have to dethrone me or have me decapitated
I didn't want to be king anyway I always preferred to hang out
With the servants, the servants
When I was king
When I was king there was no country left to rule
Jesters and fools were leaders all of them a royal pain
Now I'm a serf but I'm still trying to be a king
But putting the crown on is like putting a silk purse on a sow's ear
And if I want it to be like I want it to be
I'll have to assassinate someone with a guitar as a gun
On it's good to be king I know that I've been there
G g
Many, many, many, many kingdoms ago when I was king

Repeat when I when I over g and c

[from http://lyrics.doheth.co.uk]

"Struck By Lightning" album track list