I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
The toothless kiss of skeletons
And the summer hail
I'm the king of nails
I drink my liquor from the palm
Of a child who spoke in tongues
And smelled like sun
Give all your leaves
To the ghosts in the trees
To sink or to shine
The nails are all mine
And blood was rushing up the stairs
I shut my eyes and killed the cock
When the sun came knocking
Oh to taste the salty oil
Of your chest and on your eyes
When the sting is on the rise
Sleep in the fire
With snakes I have sired
To sink or to shine
The nails are all mine
I drink my liquor from the palm
Of a child who spoke in tongues
And smelled like sun
The toothless kiss of skeletons
And the summer hail
I'm the king of nails
Give all your leaves
To the ghosts in the trees
To sink or to shine
The nails are all mine
Sleep in the fire
With snakes I have sired
To sink or to shine
The nails are all mine
And the summer hail
I'm the king of nails
I drink my liquor from the palm
Of a child who spoke in tongues
And smelled like sun
Give all your leaves
To the ghosts in the trees
To sink or to shine
The nails are all mine
And blood was rushing up the stairs
I shut my eyes and killed the cock
When the sun came knocking
Oh to taste the salty oil
Of your chest and on your eyes
When the sting is on the rise
Sleep in the fire
With snakes I have sired
To sink or to shine
The nails are all mine
I drink my liquor from the palm
Of a child who spoke in tongues
And smelled like sun
The toothless kiss of skeletons
And the summer hail
I'm the king of nails
Give all your leaves
To the ghosts in the trees
To sink or to shine
The nails are all mine
Sleep in the fire
With snakes I have sired
To sink or to shine
The nails are all mine
Lyrics submitted by Tiger_Angel
King of Nails Lyrics as written by Mark Linkous
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It may be about anxieties, as nails are a clear symbol of anxiety as many people used to bite them whenever they feel anguished or anxious.
Whoo... I guess I could just go for it... Seems like it's about introspection of guilt and past wrongs, from a perspective of someone in love or lust or just infatuation.
i lurve this song its like my fav off the cd. its quite obviously about the king of nails..
i believe 'to the ghosts in the trees' should be 'go sing the peace'.
yeah these lyrics are definitely wrong, ive just been listening and reading along, i dont think its give all your leaves either, sounds more like "keep all you ...." cant quite get the last one, sounds like leaves but im not certain. and on the second time around of "i drink my liquor from the palm.." the following lines are switched in order from the first time its sung, with smells like sun first and spoke in tongues last.
I don't think these lyrics are accurate. It's hard to say for sure what he says for sure, but I'm pretty positive he is NOT saying
"Give all your leaves To the ghosts in the trees"
Sounds more like
"Keep all your leves and ghosts in the beads"
leves as in reference to prayers, and ghosts in the beads a reference to prayer beads.
i lurve this song its like my fav off the cd. its quite obviously about the king of nails..