This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
I could always play that part
Ruler of the grand illusion
Breaker of the kindest hearts
Sending out to mass confusion
You reveal my tragic flaw
Power's been confiscated
How did I become a part
In this game I created?
I’ll follow even though I hate it
Hey…Hey
Karma King cried out fell to the ground
All of the crowd shouted
“Off With his head”
Karma came back round calling him out
Taking his crown shouted
Louder again…You’re going down , down, down,down
The king was dead.
Suddenly I’m overthrown
Suddenly I’m at your mercy
Lead me to the great unknown
Lead me on and desert me
Like I have done to so many
Hey…
Heyyyy…
Karma King cried out fell to the ground
All of the crowd shouted
Off with his head
Karma came back round calling him out
Taking his crown shouted louder again
You're going down down down down
The king is… dead
Losing my head
Crying instead
Losing my head
Karma King cried out fell to the ground
All of the crowd shouted off with his head
Karma came back round calling him out
Taking his crown shouted louder again
Karma King cried out fell to the ground
All of the crowd shouted “off with his head”
Karma King cried out fell to the ground
All of the crowd shouted louder again..
Your going down down down down
Down down down down
Down down down down
The king is dead..
Ruler of the grand illusion
Breaker of the kindest hearts
Sending out to mass confusion
You reveal my tragic flaw
Power's been confiscated
How did I become a part
In this game I created?
I’ll follow even though I hate it
Hey…Hey
Karma King cried out fell to the ground
All of the crowd shouted
“Off With his head”
Karma came back round calling him out
Taking his crown shouted
Louder again…You’re going down , down, down,down
The king was dead.
Suddenly I’m overthrown
Suddenly I’m at your mercy
Lead me to the great unknown
Lead me on and desert me
Like I have done to so many
Hey…
Heyyyy…
Karma King cried out fell to the ground
All of the crowd shouted
Off with his head
Karma came back round calling him out
Taking his crown shouted louder again
You're going down down down down
The king is… dead
Losing my head
Crying instead
Losing my head
Karma King cried out fell to the ground
All of the crowd shouted off with his head
Karma came back round calling him out
Taking his crown shouted louder again
Karma King cried out fell to the ground
All of the crowd shouted “off with his head”
Karma King cried out fell to the ground
All of the crowd shouted louder again..
Your going down down down down
Down down down down
Down down down down
The king is dead..
Lyrics submitted by LaMusique.
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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
I love this song! Does anyone know what it is about?
To me, it seems to be about loss of faith because faith has failed you in a time of need. karma - Hindu and Buddhist concept that a person's actions determine his destiny in his next life Karma King in the song is "Ruler of the grand illusion", "Breaker of the kindest hearts". He sends out mass confusion.
When your faith has failed you there's the "tragic flaw" revealed - you stop believing because your faith failed to protect you. "Power's been confiscated"
He asks you to "Lead me on and desert me/Like I have done to so many"
The lighter meaning could be about the music industry because so many artist have a few minute in the spotlight then are quickly forgotten? Perhaps it is Kalan's own fears? "I could always play that part Ruler of the grand illusion"
"How did I become a part In this game I created? I’ll follow even though I hate it " is about taking part in the music industry. You create it by being a listener and participant.
When the artist is forgotten because they no longer have hits, he sings: "Suddenly I’m overthrown/ Suddenly I’m at your mercy /Lead me to the great unknown /Lead me on and desert me /Like I have done to so many"
Incidently, Karma is a charater in the Canadian show "Instant Star" starring starring music competition winner Jude Harrison as a teenager with a recording career. Karma was the Instant Star winner in season 3.
Well, it may represent Kalan's fears, but I don't think it is a self-portrait -- he's not "play(ing) that part" -- he's no wanna-be, it's no "illusion" -- he is a real star - he has real talent, amazing stage presence, and seems to be hard working, and no "breaker of the kindest hearts" -- he cares about and appreciates his fans so much!