Now they lay his body down
Sad old men who run this town
I still recall the way
He led the charge and saved the day
Blue blood and rain
I can hear the bugle playin'

[Chorus:]
We seen the last of Good King Richard
Ring out the past his name lives on
Roll out the bones and raise up your pitcher
Raise up your glass to Good King John

While he plundered far and wide
All his starving children cried
And though we sung his fame
We all went hungry just the same
He meant to shine
To the end of the line

[Chorus:]
We seen the last of Good King Richard
Ring out the past his name lives on
Roll out the bones and raise up your pitcher
Raise up your glass to Good King John


Lyrics submitted by ponchopunch

Kings Lyrics as written by Walter Carl Becker Donald Jay Fagen

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network

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Kings song meanings
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    Song Meaning

    This may sounds like a far fetched idea and I havent done much research into the whole history, but I grew up hearing this story in regards to this song: I have a friend whos dad had some shady times in the late 60's to mid 80's in Chicago where he had been involved in some illegal activity and by 1986 had left the city due to some pressure from feds, and other groups that would rather just have his head instead of his whole body. (That is the part I know for sure to be real) When it comes to this song, (I don't know what to quite believe) his father (John) knew Donald Fagen pretty well during his days in Chicago, and during the early 70's there was a shift in power within this activity to his father(John) and a man named Richard. Now according to him: Fagen never gave up any information at the time to the songs origin, but supposedly there is a large consensus on the meaning for the song from the groups involved in the illegal activities at that time..

    markscon February 02, 2012   Link

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