Plague times and wind of putrefaction
Gutter belching rats by millions
Brutal wave of squeaking vermin
Babies devoured in their cradle
Rats seemed to come all from the same place
A putrid forgotten gutter's bowel
And in the middle of the nest
Something as a crown
A crown made of rats all linked by the tail
One day a stranger came with odd tongue and red eyes
His little rat's eyes were shining with malicious intelligence
Strangely looking
Breeding distrust
Covered with rats' furs
Greasy whiskers like rat's tails over his buck-like yellow teeth
Deeply cold and malevolent hawking the plague message
Stench of death and gutter smell follow his ugly path
He seemed to be the only one not affected by the rats
Some said they saw him speak with rats
He who came from nowhere
Soon people asked for help to him
Ready to give the few they had
The deal was clear he would get out the rats for free
The condition is that he takes one child with him
But none of the yokels wanted any child to sacrifice
They decided another way to break the deal and never pay
"Just let him kill the rats and we won't give anyone..."
They said "agreed" and gave him their word
He looked at them and he promised at dawn rats would be gone...
At night the villager hardly slept bitten by remorse
Surrounded by the sound of his flute
Monotonous and sullen...
The stranger walked calmly
His music following him in the night
And the rats followed him near the lake
Gazing at his complaint...
Trustful they all understood and accepted what he silently said
The procession disappeared in the deep waters and none saw them again
And the morning after when he asked for the child,
None wanted to give his son
Their plan was running on
The rats were gone but the villagers expelled him with no child
With the acid smile of betrayal on their hypocrite faces
At night a feeble melody of sick complaint pierced the silence
The stranger walked calmly surrounded by the sound of his flute
And all the children followed him near the lake,
Gazing at his eyes
Trustful they all understood and accepted what he silently said
And the children broke the circle to walk to the silver lake
The procession disappeared in the deep waters and none saw them again


Lyrics submitted by Bloodmouth

Rattenkönig song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

0 Comments

sort form View by:
  • No Comments

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Album art
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms. “Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.