Come ride with me
Through the veins of history
I'll show you a God
Who falls asleep on the job

And how can we win
When fools can be kings?
Don't waste your time
Or time will waste you

No one's gonna take me alive
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive

No one's gonna take me alive
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive

No one's gonna take me alive
The time has come to make things right
You and I must fight for our rights
You and I must fight to survive


Lyrics submitted by Jayknight, edited by Caliginous, Grifsgames

Knights of Cydonia Lyrics as written by Matthew James Bellamy

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Knights of Cydonia song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

174 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +5
    General Comment

    To quote someone else (a review of somekind):

    'Knights Of Cydonia - The soundtrack to some medieval space battle with an intergalactic cosmic knight galloping at a million light years per second on a star horse, slaying space demons with wild swipes from his atom powered nuclear lightsaber.'

    Twozzokon June 09, 2006   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    Dialectics is what this song is about Nobody teaches Dialects because rulers are scared of losing there power If everybody knew about Dialects there would be No Fools As Kings to begin with.

    BubblesBlisson March 26, 2012   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    The music video gives more clues to the meaning behind the song. It is in reference to 1981 — “Continuity of Government” or “REX84” was brought to light at the Oliver north trial (Iran Contra) and silenced by Daniel Ken "Dan" Inouye the now current President pro tempore of the United States Senate. He is second in line for presidential succession in the event both President and Vice are not able to carry out their duties. Readiness Exercise 1984, was a secretive "scenario and drill" developed by the United States federal government to suspend the United States Constitution, declare martial law, place military commanders in charge of state and local governments, and detain large numbers of American citizens who are deemed to be "national security threats", in the event that the President declares a "State of Domestic National Emergency". This plan was implemented at 09:59 on11 Sept 2001. The song title "Knights of Cydonia” is a reference to a region on the planet Mars known as Cydonia. Richard Charles Hoagland an American author and a proponent of various theories about NASA, lost alien civilizations on the Moon and on Mars and other related topics speculated that the Face of Cydonia was a Pyramid not unlike those found on earth and was possibly related. The woman being hung was a symbol of the truth of our origins and the intentional attempt to destroy that evidence by the institutional bureaucracy of our time. The statue of liberty half buried is the symbolic of the loss of our liberties after 1981. Cydonia - Pop: 143 is there blog. The Russian dolls represent the different levels of secrecy within government ie…a government within a government. The children throwing dung at the cowboy locked in the stockade symbolizes the corruption of our youth buy the media. The woman on the unicorn holding the CD represents and the kung fu master freedom of speech is our weapon and technology our medium. This whole song is riddled with cryptic innuendo. To sum it up, the song is about taking the power back from the shadow government that runs the world from behind closed doors. “Propaganda Due” - Masonic or "black" or "covert" lodge operating illegally from 1976 to 1981.

    aftermarketcrfon December 15, 2011   Link
  • +4
    Memory

    That intro... I mean DAT INTRO.... just sends me back to when I was 4, sitting on our T-0 apartment in Maputo - Mozambique, watching my father playing air-guitar, while listening to Jethro Tull. Which song, I cannot remember. The only thing I remember was me saying: "Pai, Pai, toca a música dos cavalos outra vez" (Daddy, daddy, play the horse song again).

    Today, 30 years later, I have a special USB pen, with ONLY this song on my car and I created a batch file on my PC, so that every time I switch it on, the song is played and all my problems are AWESOMED away.

    MUSE - the next best thing, after QUEEN!

    ruiduraoon October 20, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Crazily good track! Muse sure know how to sell the drama. I dig the mix of the galloping hi-ho-silver feel with the whole classic overblown Muse space madness.

    Lyrics are awesome too - I take them as an encouragement to fight against mediocrity.

    Trashazonon June 08, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Actually, I think the first lines go:

    come light with me for your (something) of history i'll show you the god falls asleep on the job

    And damn, the studio version has trumpets and HORSES.

    iwasastoneon June 08, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Supermassive Black Hole is far away from the best song on the album... this might be the one... So powerful! I want to see Muse live *cryyyyyiiiiiing (They made me listen to other music than heavy-metal...God i love muse..)

    inteon June 22, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is another reflection on bellamey's intrest in the new world order conspiricy, here he speaks a message of people making their own decisions and fighting for their rights and liberation

    maximuspayne3on July 03, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It just struck me... I've seen some the the theories as to the true meaning of this song... Some very interesting ideas... I don't know if someone has already mentioned the points i'm about to mention, but i think it sounds pretty logical...

    The title "Knights of Cydonia" itself is a huge clue... It seems to be a direct reference to the illuminati and freemasonry... Those who belong to these secret societies are ranked with different degrees... Some are given titles like the "Knight of Malta" or the "Knight of Eulogia"... So that's the "Knight" part... What about "Cydonia"? ... Well cydonia is a place on mars which is said to occupy pyramid like shaped objects on the surface... Pyramids are very closely linked with freemasonry... So i guess Matthew was just trying to be indirect, yet direct at the same time with his title...

    "When fools can be kings"... I loved that line!... I think it's a direct line referring to George Bush... A complete imbecile... How would someone like him became president? ... A few easy steps... One of which is, join the illuminati...

    Matthew seems to have written many songs about political conspiricies... I think the whole "resistance" album is based on the same foundation... Mk ultra is a classic example...

    The rest of the song is pretty simple and straightforward... Basically all he is saying is revolt!... Pretty much the same as Green Day's "Know your Enemy" track... We must fight to survive... Overthrow the government... At least mentally... Physically that may be impossible, or maybe not... But in reality, the governments have got every living creature in bonds and chains... We need liberation and right to freedom from this corrupt pyramid like scheme which only truly benefits those on top and not at the bottom... A world where child labour in china is supported by americ and even funded... Injustice has to end. But who can stop it?...

    StJimmy27on December 22, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It just struck me... I've seen some the the theories as to the true meaning of this song... Some very interesting ideas... I don't know if someone has already mentioned the points i'm about to mention, but i think it sounds pretty logical...

    The title "Knights of Cydonia" itself is a huge clue... It seems to be a direct reference to the illuminati and freemasonry... Those who belong to these secret societies are ranked with different degrees... Some are given titles like the "Knight of Malta" or the "Knight of Eulogia"... So that's the "Knight" part... What about "Cydonia"? ... Well cydonia is a place on mars which is said to occupy pyramid like shaped objects on the surface... Pyramids are very closely linked with freemasonry... So i guess Matthew was just trying to be indirect, yet direct at the same time with his title...

    "When fools can be kings"... I loved that line!... I think it's a direct line referring to George Bush... A complete imbecile... How would someone like him became president? ... A few easy steps... One of which is, join the illuminati...

    Matthew seems to have written many songs about political conspiricies... I think the whole "resistance" album is based on the same foundation... Mk ultra is a classic example...

    The rest of the song is pretty simple and straightforward... Basically all he is saying is revolt!... Pretty much the same as Green Day's "Know your Enemy" track... We must fight to survive... Overthrow the government... At least mentally... Physically that may be impossible, or maybe not... But in reality, the governments have got every living creature in bonds and chains... We need liberation and right to freedom from this corrupt pyramid like scheme which only truly benefits those on top and not at the bottom... A world where child labour in china is supported by americ and even funded... Injustice has to end. But who can stop it?...

    StJimmy27on December 22, 2010   Link

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
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.