The Emperor

Lyrics

He had the keys to the city of Tupelo
He had the keys to the highway, you should see him go
And go he went and go he gone
Hope it’s not his return that you’re waiting on.

He had eyes like needles and they got you stitched
Had you calling a home run every time he hit
But the line went stale, the line went dead
It was nothing you did, it was nothing you said.

(Chorus)
 Look at the corner,  line of young bloods
 Back of the studio crawling with studs
Trunk full of tinsel, sinkful of suds,
The emperor’s got new
The emperor’s got new
The emperor’s got new duds

He had eyes like needles and they got you stitched
Had you calling a home run every time he hit
But the line went stale the line went dead
It was nothing you did, it was nothing you said.

(Repeat Chorus)

The emperor’s got new duds
Got new clothes, new rags and tatters
Too late to shoot the tailor
Fames a jailor
Idol’s all that matters.
The emperor’s got new duds
Got new clothes, new rags and tatters
Too late to shoot the tailor
Fames a jailor
Idol’s all that matters.

(Repeat Chorus x2)

The emperor’s got new duds,
New clothes, new rags, new tatters
The emperor’s got new duds
Too late to shoot the tailor
Fames a jailor,
Idol’s all that matters.

Song Description

This is a song about fame and the modern obsession with it. The verses are about the original ‘King of Rock’, Elvis Presley – he was born in Tupelo, Mississippi – and the chorus is about queues of young guys dreaming of being the next big thing – now more than ever with shows like Pop Idol, American Idol, The Academy. These shows are truly depressing. Watching industry figures (and I try not to) decide which singers fit the marketing formula is a perfect counter-revolution. Rock music began as a rebellion against the conservative and stifling culture of the 50’s and early 60’s and was led by the artists, not the marketing people. Whenever it is renewed (as it was by punk for instance) it is renewed by that same spirit and never by the Simon Cowells of this world.

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