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


Lyrics submitted by Tiger_Angel

King of Nails Lyrics as written by Mark Linkous

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

King Of Nails song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    My Interpretation

    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.

    HectorAlonso28on June 04, 2022   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    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.

    nosoulboy13on April 26, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i lurve this song its like my fav off the cd. its quite obviously about the king of nails..

    damnationjellyon May 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i believe 'to the ghosts in the trees' should be 'go sing the peace'.

    TheSighon October 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    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.

    mastersoupon September 06, 2015   Link
  • -2
    General Comment

    i lurve this song its like my fav off the cd. its quite obviously about the king of nails..

    damnationjellyon May 09, 2008   Link

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