The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Built a king on compliments
Charisma and advertisements
Still they see him shimmer ephemeral
It ain't supernatural
Or maybe
Out of body experience
I flew around the little room once
On intravenous Demerol
It weren't supernatural
Sudden smell, certain view
Sparks a whoppin' case of the deja vu
Is it inexplicable
It ain't supernatural
Or maybe
Charisma and advertisements
Still they see him shimmer ephemeral
It ain't supernatural
Or maybe
Out of body experience
I flew around the little room once
On intravenous Demerol
It weren't supernatural
Sudden smell, certain view
Sparks a whoppin' case of the deja vu
Is it inexplicable
It ain't supernatural
Or maybe
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This is Vic's meditation on what is or is not considered "supernatural". He's examining what is considered supernatural.
The first stanza is referring to politicians in general although he is using the word king, which could reference people in charge in general. He is talking about the kind of person who has a lot of charisma and whose reputation and promotion to "king" is based on compliments and advertisements. These are all mundane kind of things, but the "shimmer ephemeral" is the idea created in the heads of the king's followers. In that sense, perhaps the culmination of these things combined by a natural (supernatural?) charismatic quality of this leader could be considered supernatural from the perspective of those who experience it. The followers of this king.
The next is a more personal story for Chesnutt, pain killers and, drugs in general, give that euphoric effect. He tells of a time he flew around a little room because of Demerol use. The cause of this strange feeling is obviously the Demerol, but the effect, from the inside looking out, felt supernatural. Flying around a room isn't a natural thing to do. The Demerol had a supernatural effect on his brain perhaps. The perspective was supernatural to him.
The last stanza is a universal experience that Vic is sharing with the audience. Most people have had the feeling of deja vu caused by a smell, seeing something, etc. This experience feels very supernatural because it feels like you've been here before or dreamt about this or what have you. The song is saying that this unexplainable feeling could be supernatural or maybe it's not. Who can say ultimately what is considered supernatural. It's all a point of view.
@jankout The king here is, most likely, Jesus, but could also be any religious leader who has had "supernatural" connotations or been built up to a place of mystic leadership.
It's about God, not politicians.
The first verse is the author's agnostic belief of God. The out of body experience as anyone who has lain in a hospital bed under Demerol can attest to is not the out of body experience that some have claimed as near death which Vic absolutely did not believe to happen to anyone ever. The finish is deja vú but is surely more represented as poet license and song symmetry.
Vic would have enjoyed the debate over his lyrics. I can assure you it’s not a song about God per se. Vic paints a picture of a buffoon “king” and contrasts it with his experience with Demerol after his car accident. Then he mentions Deja vu and asks the listener are all these crazy things random or somehow “Supernatural”? Then he answers his own question, “Supernatural? ...maybe”.