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King for a night

from Besides​.​.​. (2012) by Utopia Now

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about

"King for a night" was originally a poem that originated in my main poetic phase, around the same time as "Head over heels". It was frist written on January 27, 2001. I remember the moment when I first conceived this poem. I was riding my bike along a lonely Zehlendorf (the neighborhood in Berlin I grew up in) street on my way home from some party. It must have been very late (or early) and it was cold but also so peaceful. I basically wrote the poem in my head while I was riding home.

Later, I had the idea of covering Bad Religion's song "Anesthesia". Then I thought, covering a punk song as a punk band is just too easy and unoriginal, I can do better than that. So I decide to write an original song but to construct it as a kind of homage to that Bad Religion song. So I choose a similar, somewhat mystical mood, took that old poem, as it seemed fitting enough, and decided to basically reconstruct the distinctive ending of "Anesthesia". Make no mistake, it is entirely different with respect to melody and chords. I just adopted the style and technique.

I actually like the lyrics to this song quite a bit. There is only one line that I just can't stand, and whenever I hear it it kind of shudder inwardly because it's so artless and banal. "... chain, the gain is tragic pain"... what was I thinking!?!?

lyrics

- King for a night -

Black, cold pavement seems to be
leading to eternity,
a world beneath that gloomy cloth in which I feel so free.
No noise, no breeze, just nightly freeze,
no bird to release its ditty.

I inhale cold air, it's scathing me
yet fills my heart with liberty.
Prosperity, security – I'll trade it for autonomy.
No haste, no load, just the remote
rhythmic humming of the city.

Chorus:
Tonight I'm free, no exposing light,
evil seems to sleep.
Tonight I'm free, king for a night.
My kingdom lies in plastic peace.

All too aware that time flies fast,
propelled by turbines vague and vast.
Sun will bring back toil and strain and put me under ball and chain.
The gain is tragic pain.
The overload, it makes me giddy.

Chorus:

credits

from Besides​.​.​. (2012), released December 3, 2012
Lyrics and music written, performed, and recorded by Stephan Serowy.

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Utopia Now Berlin, Germany

Utopia Now started out in 2006 but had been known under the name Indigo since 2002, sharing the stage with bands such as Lagwagon, Anti Flag, A Wilhelm Scream, No Trigger, Good Clean Fun, Venerea and many more. However, the band was short-lived and split in 2007. Today the band lives on in the form of an online solo project by the band’s founder, singer, and songwriter, Stephan Serowy. ... more

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