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
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
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
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
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!
One of the most outstanding songs i have ever heard live. I think it is quite obvious the song is about a successful conspiracy to kill the King. Its very nice how the 'murderer' is crying for entrance into heaven and almost knows he is going to be rejected. The jesters playing Shakespeare has a connection to Macbeth where the assasination of King Duncan was also successful and the use of mercanaries in this text shows how the murderers mean buisness. One of EJ's best live, as i say watch: youtube.com/watch
@Arial Ok so I just realized this comment was in 2007; however, I think it goes to show <br /> the value of this song. Standing the test of time, 50 years or so after it was written... oof! I only learned of it about 2 years ago, when I purchased a piano book of his early stuff... Bernie taupin was such a good lyricist and elton put it to music and it's just exceptional. I just saw him two nights ago in Philly and while he didn't play this, I would have gone insane if he did... oof!
I always believed it was a metaphor for Martin Luther King, about being too famous or becoming a symbol rather then a human being and by dying you become more then just the man but the legend.
I'm reading this as Bernie warning Elton about fame. "'I'm so afraid your courtiers Cannot be called best friends"
@wdjong I have always loved this song and it's lyrics reverberate in my mind when certain situations trigger them. I have always believed it is a metaphor for betrayal of friendship in that one's friends will always steal your wife or lover if they think they can and they will do so in your face, "as the juggler's act is danced upon" and we're all having a jolly time. And the "King", the man in love, feeling like a King, needs to be ever on guard in his "Court", One's so called friends are the courtiers, "courting" the wife and they so "cannot be called "best" friends", the mercenaries who sing are those who know what is going on and say nothing to the King but "sing" along. This is the eternal triangle and so The King "Must" Die. "Some men are better staying sailors", not getting involved in love as they have no hope and are just blind. They are easy prey so had best sail off to where there are no women. And if I am the courtier, the traitor and the winner of love, Do I find sanctuary knowing that my victory in love was based in treachery, my hands are stained forever. Will I find sanctuary if I do not find peace in my stolen love. But this is how it is We live this triangle and so The King is Dead. Could also be with a touch of irony the new "King" is also metaphorically dead because he will never find sanctuary. He will always be a guilt ridden traitor...for love.
I think Bernie Taupin may have written this as a Ballad \r\nfor the assassination of JFK. \r\n\r\nPersonally think it is a bit relevant to the to the current threat to the democracy that so many great men have stood to protect. \r\n\r\n