The Police Songs - King Of Pain
The Police - King Of Pain


The Police - King Of Pain Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Synchronicity
Released: 1983

King Of Pain Lyrics


There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
There's a black hat caught in the high tree top
There's a flag pole rag and the wind won't stop
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain.
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the King Of Pain.

There's a little black spot on the sun today, that's my soul up there
It's the same old thing as yesterday, that's my soul up there
There's a black hat caught in a high tree top, that's my soul up there
There's a flag pole rag and the wind won't stop, that's my soul up there
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain.
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain.

There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall, that's my soul up there
There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall, that's my soul up there
There's a blue whale beached by a springtide's ebb, that's my soul up there
There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web, that's my soul up there
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain.
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain.

There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt;
There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread.

There's a red fox torn by a huntmen's pack, that's my soul up there
There's a black winged gull with a broken back, that's my soul up there
There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain.
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain.
King of pain
King of pain, king of pain, I always be king of pain...

Writer/s: SUMNER, GORDON
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

King Of Pain Song Chart
  • This is a very personal song written by Sting. He had recently separated from his first wife, actress Frances Tomelty, and was not getting along with the other two members of the band.
  • Sting wrote this in Jamaica at the house where Ian Fleming wrote the James Bond books.
  • Sting: "I conjured up symbols of pain and related them to my soul. A black spot on the sun struck me as being a very painful image."

    He recalled the specific incident and how future wife Trudie Styler inspired the song's title in Lyrics By Sting: "I was sitting moping under a tree in the garden, and as the sun was sinking toward the western horizon, I noticed that there was a lot of sunspot activity.

    I turned to Trudie. 'There's a little black spot on the sun today.'
    She waited expectantly, not really indulging my mood but tolerant.
    'That's my soul up there,' I added gratuitously.
    Trudie discreetly raised her eyes to the heavens. 'There he goes again, the king of pain.'"
  • The Police recorded the Synchronicity album on the Caribbean Island of Monserrat. This was a tough song to record, and the sessions were a bit contentious, as Sting didn't accept most of the suggestions from Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland. The group split up after the album was released.
  • Weird Al Yankovic recorded a parody of this song called "King of Suede." It's about a guy who is really good at selling suede. (thanks, Cliff - Burkesville, KY)
  • A 2004 episode of Degrassi: The Next Generation is named for this song. Most of the show's episodes borrow titles from '80s hits.
  • Alanis Morissette covered this for her MTV: Unplugged album in 1999. It was released as a single but failed to chart in the US or UK (though it was a minor hit in Brazil and the Netherlands).