"King For A Day" is one of, if not the main, songs by Pierce The Veil , becoming an anthem for an entire generation, with emblematic lyrics and heavy instrumental.
The track is a collaboration between the band and Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens , and features high-pitched, characteristic vocals, as well as a post-hardcore sound with prominent drum lines.
The song is part of the band's third studio album, Collide With The Sky (2012), and marked a milestone in Pierce The Veil's career, as Quinn was already a well-known name within the scene.
“King For A Day” broke barriers and reached position 29 on the Billboard Digital Rock Sounds chart in the United States ( via Downstage ).
The youth anthem
As already mentioned, the music is very well crafted and elaborate, making it addictive and its repetition inevitable.
The frenetic melody of the track is perfectly aligned with its lyrics, which address themes such as discontent and rebellion.
The main moment where this is best shown is during the chorus. But a little before that, there's the phrase "you want a martyr? I'll be one," symbolizing the affliction experienced by the person.
When we talk about the chorus, there's a sense of weariness regarding everything the character has been going through. As he himself says, he's tired of begging for what he wants and sleeping like a dog on the floor.
The part about the dog, obviously, is not literal, but rather figurative, expressing a relationship of neglect.
From this, it's possible to understand a sense of weariness and frustration. This is reflected precisely in a youth that is tired of being sidelined and undervalued.
The idea of "being king for a day" represents this issue: the desire to live well for a day, not necessarily with privileges and excesses, but rather to be heard and understood, having control over their lives.
There is also a sense of freedom, and the voices of Vic Fuentes and Quinn complement each other perfectly, creating an interesting duality and contrast.
Intoxication, paranoia, and fame are elements mentioned in the lyrics, other themes closely linked to youth, especially those who face problems and have difficulty dealing with them.
The passage preceding the ending addresses this issue of not having a voice, and a potentially controversial relationship with death, since he says, "Dying is a gift, so close your eyes and rest in peace."
“King For A Day” ends with the phrase “We’d rather die than live rusting on the ground,” reinforcing, once again, the need to have some value and meaning in life, and not to have a meaningless existence.
Like other songs, this one is also open to different interpretations. Another idea that can be drawn from it is based on a toxic relationship between two people.
The first part of the track highlights this. When he talks about being challenged to jump off a bridge, he states that the other person “never had a Friday night like this,” which could be linked to something intense and even insane. The pre-chorus talks about pushing yourself to the limit, even stating that “The thought of you isn’t fun.”
When the lyrics say "We're done," they lead to a reflection – literally – in which he concludes that it's no longer what he wants. The fact that he's "tired of begging for the things I want" is also an indication of a relationship that hasn't been going well for some time.
He's not even sure he loves "the thing," but he believes it will bring him pain. He calls it a pubescent drama queen, possibly in a derogatory way, reaffirming how bad this relationship is for him.
There is also a connection in the passage that talks about "Intoxication, paranoia and too much fame," since the relationship makes him nauseous and this only worsens when he drinks, possibly suggesting a connection between anxiety, depression, and alcoholism.
But as a general rule, "King For A Day" has become an anthem for youth seeking greater freedom and recognition from a society that tends to belittle the feelings of the younger generation.
Pierce The Veil will be in Brazil on December 14th and 16th for two shows, one in Curitiba and the other in São Paulo. Tickets are already on sale through the Ticketmaster and at official box offices.
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