Elton John
The King Must Die lyrics
- Language
- English
- Level
- Intermediate
- Released
- 1970
- Genre
- Pop
- Length
- 5:22
No man's a jester playing Shakespeare
'Round your throne room floor
While the juggler's act is danced upon
The crown that you once wore
And sooner or later
Everybody's kingdom must end
And I'm so afraid your courtiers
Cannot be called best friends
Caesar's had your troubles
Widows had to cry
While mercenaries in cloisters sing
And the king must die
Some men are better staying sailors
Take my word and go
But tell the ostler that his name was
The very first they chose
And if my hands are stained forever
And the altar should refuse me
Would you let me in? Would you let me in? Would you let me in?
Should I cry "Sanctuary"?
Caesar's had your troubles
Widows had to cry
While mercenaries in cloisters sing
And the king must die, yeah
The king must die
The king must die, oh yeah
No man's a jester playing Shakespeare
'Round your throne room floor
While the juggler's act is danced upon
The crown that you once wore
The king is dead
The king is dead
The king is dead
The king is dead
Long live the king
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Key vocabulary
- name
- word used for a personA1
- once
- at one timeA1
- king
- male rulerA2
- jester
- court entertainerB2
- altar
- holy table for worshipB2
- mercenaries
- paid soldiersC2
- ostler
- stable worker
- chose
- selected; picked
- stained
- marked by a substance
- forever
- for all timeB1
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About this song
Elton John is an English singer-songwriter and pianist known for his role in pop rock and piano-driven glam rock. He became famous for the songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin and for a career that produced major chart hits and award-winning performances.