King of the World is a 1980 album by French disco act Sheila and B. Devotion. The album which was both written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of American R&B band Chic includes the hit single "Spacer" which reached #18 on the UK charts in early 1980 and was a Top 10 hit in most of Europe, selling 5 million copies worldwide, and was twenty years later to be sampled by Swedish band Alcazar for their 2000 hit "Crying At The Discotheque" (#13 UK).
King of the World was one of four albums to be written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers in 1980, the other three being Sister Sledge's Love Somebody Today, Chic's fourth studio album Real People and Diana Ross' multiplatinum selling diana.
King of the World was first released on compact disc in 1996 by both East-West Music and Rhino Records. A remastered edition was issued by Warner Music France in 2006 including bonus tracks which are remixes dating from 1992 and the unreleased US promo version of "Your love is good," whose instrumental can also be found on a outtake from Chic's 2010 box set "The Chic Organization."
High on a hill
The valley below me
The blue sky above me
My dream was so real
I could not hear
The hum of the highway
Or the drums of the foundry
Pounding out steel
I didn't need no money
I didn't need no time
I didn't need nothing
But my own piece of mind
And to know that
A voice like a whisper
Is bound to be heard
For just one moment
I'm the king of the world
For just one moment
I'm the king of the world
So I close my eyes
I let the power defeat me
Because the real world can't free me
From this dirty old town
Where the four winds blow
I send my troubles rolling
Since the world just kept turning
I let it go round
See I took it all in
Like time takes forever
In a dream that you never
Believed would come true
Then I gave it away
I just had to surrender
Man I just can't remember
When I felt so good
Well, they elected me
King of the world
I said, "Here's what I'm gonna do
Send everybody over to China
Except for me and you
Strip ourselves naked
Go to Beverly Center
Watch movies and eat Cinnamons"
I think I'm gonna like
Being king of the world
For a change
They said, "As king of the world
You can have anything
Your greedy royal heart desires"
I said, "All I really want
Is some wide open space
Where I can set forest fires
I want peace and quiet, I want nudity
I want sex and wine and love"
They said "So let it be written
Your highness
So let it be done"
I am the king
The king of the world
It could have been you
But it's me
I'm surprised you didn't hear about it
It was on the cover of Newsweek
November 1993
As king of the world
I'll occasionally go to China
To visit you guys
You don't have to be afraid
I don't need you to bow down
I'm not God
I'm just the king, I realize
Well, it might be nice though
If you'd kiss me feet
And call me, "All knowing leader of men"
If you were king of the world
I'm sure you'd want the same
For yourself
I am the king of the world
King of the world
Can you believe my luck?
Entertain you and emplore you
While you laugh at my misfortune
I've a hat it's big and old
You're happiness is worth your gold
The princess smiles down from her thrown at
Ringing bells and checkered clothing
I'll show you a life thats worth your while
I only live to make you smile....
make you smile
One day I will be King Of The World
Welcome to my world of foolish
Laughing colours song and jest
I invite you in to hear my song
Leave your reservations at the door...
at the door
One day I will be King Of The World
Now you know me recognise me
You don't need to see inside me
I'm the fool who has your heart
Today I am
King Of The World
She smiled at me and
I was King Of The World
Now I am The King Of
Hello one and all
Was it you I used to know
Can't you hear me call
On this old ham radio
All I got to say I'm alive and feeling fine
If you come my way
You can share my poison wine
No marigolds in the promised land
There's a hole in the ground
Where they used to grow
Any man left on the Rio Grande
Is the king of the world
As far as I know
I don't want your bread
I don't need your helping hand
I can't be no savage
I can't be no highwayman
Show me where you are
You and I will spend this day
Driving in my car
Through the ruins of Santa Fe
No marigolds in the promised land
There's a hole in the ground
Where they used to grow
Any man left on the Rio Grande
Is the king of the world
As far as I know
I'm reading last year's papers
Although I don't know why
Assassins cons and rapers
Might as well die
If you come around
No more pain and no regrets
Watch the sun go brown
Smoking cobalt cigarettes
There's no need to hide
Taking things the easy way
If I stay inside
I might live til Saturday
No marigolds in the promised land
There's a hole in the ground
Where they used to grow
Any man left on the Rio Grande
Is the king of the world
So you thought you could sit back again
Sip a cocktail in the summer rain
Brew some homebrew with some hops and grain
Kick your feet up on a rumbling train
Im king of the world
Im king of the world again
Im not a grass im not a dirty rat
I take my head pills from an old shot glass
And dont forget if you cant take the flak
You should never ever turn your back
So you thought youd rip it up again
Down a pitcher in the pouring rain
Put your foot down in the fastest lane
Burn around the planet on a plane
Once upon a time I had tides to control
I had moons to spin
And stars to ignite
And they threw flowers at my feet
When I walked through the town
Once upon a time I had lives to protect
I had rules to change
And wrongs to set right
And there were people at my side
And there were rivers I could guide
I wanted nothing in return
Let me out of here
Give me back all my dreams
Let me out of here
Let please see the sun
Let me out of here
At least tell me what I did wrong
I'm king of the world
Chief of the sea
High in the wind
At least I used to be
And I'm king of the world
Please set me free
Let me remind them of my promise
Live my given destiny
Once upon a time I had fate in my hands
And the confidence of a million regimes
And they said, "Brother you're in charge
We'll follow anything you say"
Once upon a time Father said to me,
"Child you are everything
That you see in your dreams"
And I thought, Jesus, that's the key
There are no walls surrounding me
There are no prisons in this life
Let me out of here
Give me back to the wind
Let me out of here
Let me please see my son
Let me out of here
Don't you understand who I am?
I'm king of the world
Chief of the sea
High in the wind
At least I try to be
And I'm king of the world
Please set me free
I had the power and the promise
Give me back my family
Why are we punished for wanting to explore?
Why am I sitting in this cell?
I was not challenging the system
I was working for the people
I just wanted to be better
Why are we punished for wanting to survive?
Why am I locked behind these bars?
Tell the children I'll return to them
Tell them . . . Someone,
Let them know I will be free
I will not be defeated
I will stand like a mountain
And the road will stretch before me
And they'll know it's time to follow
And we'll lift our eyes
And raise our heads
And face the sun
And tell the future
I'm king of the world
Land of the free
High in the sky
The best that I can be
And I'm king of the world
Watch and you'll see
Nothing can stop me from tomorrow,
Keep me from my destiny
I'm king of the world
I'm king of the world
I'm . . . I'm . . .
High on a hill
The valley below me
The blue sky above me
My dream was so real
I could not hear
The hum of the highway
Or the drums of the foundry
Pounding out steel
I didn't need no money
I didn't need no time
I didn't need nothing
But my own piece of mind
And you know that
A voice like a whisper is bound to be heard
For just one moment, I'm the king of the world
For just one moment, I'm the king of the world
So I close my eyes
I let the power defeat me
Because the real world can't free me
From this dirty old town
With the four winds blow
I sent my troubles rollin'
And since the world just kept turnin'
I let it go round
I didn't need no money
I didn't need no time
I didn't need nothing
But my own piece of mind
And you know that
A voice like a whisper is bound to be heard
For just one moment, I'm the king of the world
For just one moment, I'm the king of the world
Where the four winds blow
I sent my troubles rollin'
Since the world just kept turnin'
I let it go round
I didn't need no money
I didn't need no time
I didn't need nothing
But my own piece of mind
And you know that
A voice like a whisper is bound to be heard
For just one moment, I'm the king of the world
For just one moment, I'm the king of the world
Mamma doesn't let me keep a gun under my bed She's afraid I'll use it on the voices in my head She's gonna treat me like a man when I am
King of the world, only for the day I'd take the sun, over you I'd reign Mess with your mind so you could feel my pain maybe then you'd never break my heart again
And when I'm hangin' with the angels in the sky You're in the gutter with the devil getting high You're gonna burn baby burn when I am
King of the world, only for the day I'd take the sun, over you I'd reign Mess with your mind so you could feel my pain maybe then you'd never break my heart again
I know that everybody wants to be invincible well maybe if we didn't have to try so hard we could start over again Now you've got to run away You'd better run every time that you see my face cause I'm the joker lookin' for my sweet revenge and yuo're so easy to blame when they make me
King of the world, only for the day I'd take the sun, over you I'd reign
Verse 1:
Spining around on the tops of his feet
Smiles of the angels could not be so sweet
Wide blue eyes
And picky-tails swirl
She's her daddys' girl
Cause he knows the jokes that always make her laugh
He takes her for ice cream instead of her nap
At the end of the day by the light of the moon
They turn up the music and there in the room
And she yells
Chorus:
"Dance me! Dance me around till my feet don't ever touch down
There's nothin' better than bein' your girl
And if I am your princess than daddy
You are the king of the world!"
Verse 2:
It's funny how life moves in circles at times
To think not so long ago that fase was mine
Houses get smaller we take different names
But some things in life stay the same
Chorus:
"Dance me! Dance me around till my feet don't ever touch down
There's nothin' better than bein your girl
And if I am your princess than daddy
You are the king of the world!"
Cause some day she'll go off and find a life of her own
Marrie a good man
And make a happy home
Until she comes back and sees with those same eyes
What time can not diskise
She walks through the door with that look on her face
Cause daddys' brown hair has all turned to gray
They talk for hours they cry and they laugh
Watchin' old movies and thinkin' back
And just as she turns to go
She says, "hey dad, how bout 1 for the road"
Chorus:
"Dance me! Dance me around till my feet don't ever touch DOWN!
"Dance me! Dance me around till my feet don't ever touch down
There's nothin' better than bein your girl
Oh no there's nothin' better than bein your girl
And if I am your princess than daddy
You are the king of the world!"
King of the world
Spining around on the tops of his feet
Since the moment I entered into the big book of life
The day the story drew its mark
Upon me, like the bubbles in a glass
Of champagne on a halloween day, is that
The one who could tell you the way looking
Into the mirror of life, from here to eternity?
Hiding from the danger that¹s been sent
From above, my mind felt so insecured
The last part of the puzzle has just appeared
Where heaven is no danger ceases
a silent moment in time
like a party in Blue, knocking on heaven¹s door
a lack in the Game of the time
a life lived by those involved In luxury
The one searched away must be strong
Like the rivers of the mountain high, playing
A part in an American lover-romance and
Break the glass, divided our heart
For the reasons we choose to live, diving the
Bad times, into the lake of love, feeling the
Unknown pleasures
Knocking on heaven¹s door and feeling so different
Dying even for intelligence karma to guide us
Being a profane of the most sweetest
And sacred treasure on earth, knocking on heaven¹s
Door and waiting in vain for someone to answer
Knocking on heaven¹s door
and Waiting for someone to come
not even The scene of joy
a silent moment in time
A light sign of despair covering up the Whole lie of a planet called earth
Knocking on heaven¹s door
Knocking on heaven¹s door
watching the snails Sleeping slowly over the grass
the booming of a city Left by compromise
heaven being corrupted by a Secret merchant of love
knocking on heaven¹s door
Jimmy said it's not easy being the king of the world
It gets harder every day
Somebody's gotta do the job, ya know?
So it might as well be me
Bought himself a one way ticket
On a greyhound bus bound for Santa Fe
Left everyone behind he'd ever known
Just faded away
Jimmy found himself
A lover down in Hollywood
He was a good man
As far as good men go, I guess
He sold system software
For a high tech firm down in the valley
She wrote him a letter
It went a little something like this
She said, "I had big dreams, big dreams, don't you know?
So hard to make these big dreams come true
Now I try to hold on to what we had the best I could
I find holdin' on is the hardest thing to do"
Oh, I ain't comin' home tonight
So don't wait up for me
No, I ain't coming home tonight
Well, I'm finally free
Was a guy that I met
One night in a bar in Colorado
He said, "Man, I got a gift
More like a curse, I must confess"
Said, "I can remember everybody's name
That I've ever met before in my life"
So I said, "Name everybody in your first grade class"
And he did, I guess
And then imagine all those names
Stretched out forever
Like the rays of light
From some long dead distant star
And I thought to myself
What have I done with this life of mine?
Besides finding myself in this smoke-filled bar
And I said
Oh, I ain't comin' home tonight
No, don't wait up for me
No, ma, I ain't comin' home tonight
Said I'm finally free, I'm finally free
And time rolls by like an old friend gone away
And I am just a mortal man
And death will be my final lover
And life will always be something that I'll, I'll never understand
Now I'm higher than a capitol building in downtown Austin
Freer than the west Texas wind
And I move down the street like a cloud moving
Across a clear blue sky
And I know I'll never feel this way again
Oh, I ain't coming home tonight
So don't wait up for me
No, I ain't coming home tonight, tonight
Oh, I'm finally free
I'm finally free
Finally free
Finally free
Finally free
Finally free
Finally free
Finally free
Finally free
My pain-filled drama queen.
Is always creepin' at your bed.
Gettin' ready to buy you out.
Cause we all know.
What goes around comes around.
You shoulda known what I was all about.
Do not test me.
*Chorus*
Cause I'm the fuckin' king of the world.
Get on your knees.
I'm the fuckin' king of the world.
Do as I please.
So, get up and get out and I'll show you.
What it means for me to control you.
Cause I'm the fuckin' king of the world.
Keep your head down.
Until I tell you to speak.
You're not givin' me the run-around.
When you fall back.
Onto my coffin.
Know you shoulda stayed outta my way.
DO NOT TEST ME!!
*Chorus*
Cause I'm the fuckin' king of the world.
Get on your knees.
I'm the fuckin' king of the world.
Do as I please.
So, get up and get out and I'll show you.
What it means for me to control you.
Cause I'm the FUCKIN' KING OF THE WORLD!!
Bow to me.
Bow to me.
At my feet you'll bow to me. [X4]
Bow to me.
WHOA!!
Get on your knees.
I'm the fuckin' king of the world.
Do as I please.
So, get up and get out and I'll show you.
What it means for me to control you.
Cause I'm the fuckin' king - the fuckin' king of the world.
I'm the fuckin' king - the fuckin' king of the world.
I'm the fuckin' king - the fuckin' king of the world.
Yeah.
THE FUCKIN' KING OF THE WORLD!!
Bow to me.
Bow to me.
At my feet you'll bow to me. [X4]
Bow to me.
I wish I was king of the world
I'd give you everything, diamonds and pearls
Yeah, I'd give you all that I had
Yeah, I'd give you all I had
Yeah, when I'm king of the world
Yeah, when I'm king of the world
What I was still drags me down
Those dreadful days and nights still haunt me now
Less said about the way we were
More the chance I could be your shelter
Yeah, when I'm king of the world
Yeah, when I'm king of the world
Yeah, when I'm king of the world
Yeah, there'll be no more pain
No sorrow when I'm king of the world
No sorrow when I'm king of the world
No sorrow, no sorrow
No sorrow, no sorrow
No sorrow, no sorrow
When I'm king of the world
When I'm king of the world
Hello one and all
Was it you I used to know?
Can't you hear me call
On this old ham radio
All I got to say
I'm alive and feeling fine
Should you come my way
You can share my poison wine
No marigolds in the promised land
There's a hole in the ground
Where they used to grow
Any man left on the Rio Grande
Is the king of the world as far as I know
I won't take your bread
I don't need no helping hand
I can't be no savage
I can't be no highwayman
Show me where you are
You and I will spend this day
Drivin' in my car
Through the ruins of Santa Fe
No marigolds in the promised land
There's a hole in the ground
Where they used to grow
Any man left on the Rio Grande
Is the king of the world as far as I know
I'm reading last year's papers
Although I don't know why
Assassins, cons and rapers
Might as well die
When you come around
No more pain and no regrets
Watch the sun go brown
Smoking cobalt cigarettes
There's no need to hide
Taking things the easy way
If I stay inside
I might live till Saturday
No marigolds in the promised land
There's a hole in the ground
Where they used to grow
Any man left on the Rio Grande
Is the king of the world, king of the world
MAN 1:
Once upon a time I had tides to control
I had moons to spin
And stars to ignite
And they threw flowers at my feet
When I walked through the town
Once upon a time I had lives to protect
I had rules to change
And wrongs to set right
And there were people at my side
And there were rivers I could guide
I wanted nothing in return
Let me out of here
Give me back all my dreams
Let me out of here
Let please see the sun
Let me out of here
At least tell me what I did wrong
I'm king of the world
Chief of the sea
I am the wind
At least I used to be
And I'm king of the world
Please set me free
Let me remind them of my promise
Live my given destiny
Once upon a time I had fate in my hands
And the confidence of a million regimes
And they said, "Brother, you're in charge
We'll follow anything you say"
Once upon a time Father said to me,
"Child you are everything
That you see in your dreams"
And I thought, Jesus, that's the key
There are no walls surrounding me
There are no prisons in this life
Let me out of here
Give me back to the wind
Let me out of here
Let me please see my son
Let me out of here
Don't you understand who I am?
I'm king of the world
Chief of the sea
I am the wind
At least I try to be
And I'm king of the world
Please set me free
I had the power and the promise
Give me back my family
Why are we punished for wanting to explore?
Why am I sitting in this cell?
I was not challenging the system
I was working for the people
I just wanted to be better
Why are we punished for wanting to survive?
Why am I locked behind these bars?
Tell the children I'll return to them
Tell them...
Someone let them know I will be free
I will not be defeated
I will stand like a mountain
And the road will stretch before me
And they'll know it's time to follow
And we'll lift our eyes
And raise our heads
And face the sun
And tell the future
I'm king of the world
Land of the free
High in the sky
The best that I can be
And I'm king of the world
Watch and you'll see
Nothing can stop me from tomorrow,
Keep me from my destiny
I'm king of the world
I'm king of the world
I'm...
I'm...
At least I used to be
There's something nasty and it's sticking on my shoe It's trying to take over most everything I do How did it happen that it stuck inside my throat I didn't count on this when I was asked to vote
I watch them slide around the corridors of power Too busy stealing while they take away what's ours You want respect, don't make me laugh when you deceive us My favourite Dutchy, why'd you ever have to leave us
Cooler than you No one's cooler than you All the things that you'd do If you were king of the world We would all play guitar We would all be a star With our beautiful king of the world Beautiful king of the world
A clap of thunder now they've taken you away And now the world is crying every single day How could you leave us all to face the stormy weather I guess you knew that we'd be strong enough together
Why do they leave the bad and take away the good You were no angel but we all knew where we stood We're on the guest list and there's passes on the door We're gonna rock'n'roll before we hit the floor
Cooler than you No one's cooler than you All the things that you'd do If you were king of the world We would all play guitar We would all be a star With our beautiful king of the world Beautiful king of the world
Cooler than you ...
Beautiful king of the world Beautiful king of the world
It's going, it's going world
I can't be stopped I'm the king of the world
It's going, it's going world.......
You think we all owe you
So you hold you're head up high
but you can't deal with your failures
Because you've got too much pride
If you were smart
You'd try to keep
your two feet on the ground
It's hard to be the king
when there's no one else around
All your life you've needed someone
Looking out for you
But you think you have the right
to tell them what to do
I'd watch my back this time around
The table's turning fast
Or you might find yourself suprised
laid on your ass...
It's going, it's going world
I can't be stopped I'm the king of the world
It's going, it's going world.......
I've seen both sides and can't believe
that you'd go out this way
You talk a lot but now it seems
you don't have much to say
Rambling on about the fact that you deserve respect
but your back's against the wall
and you put yourself in check
I tried to put you on your feet as often as I could
but now looking back
it makes me wonder if I ever would
Reach out to you the way you are
'Cause I was always there
but you have turned your back on me
and proved that yo don't care
It's going, it's going world
I can't be stopped I'm the king of the world
It's going, it's going world.......
Your reign as king is over now and we've all had enough
You stood there saying "you're the king"
but now I call you bluff
I followed you for all these years
and you can't hold me down