[Verse 1]
I had a king in a tenement castle
Lately he's taken to painting the pastel walls brown
He's taken the curtains down
And swept with the broom of contempt
And the rooms have an empty ring
He's cleaned with the tears of an actor who fears for the laughter's sting
[Chorus]
I can't go back there anymore
Y'know my keys won't fit the door
Y'know my thoughts don't fit the man
They never can
They never can
[Verse 2]
I had a king dressed in drip-dry and paisley
Lately he's taking to saying I'm crazy and blind
He lives in another time
And ladies in gingham still blush, while he sings them of wars and wine
But I in my leather and lace, I could never become that kind
[Chorus]
I can't go back there anymore
Y'know my keys won't fit the door
Y'know my thoughts don't fit the man
They never can
They never can
[Verse 3]
I had a king in a salt-rusted carriage
Who carried me off to his country for marriage too soon
Beware of the power of moons
There's no one to blame
No, there's no one to name as a traitor here
The king's on the road
And the queen's in the grove 'til the end of the year
[Chorus]
I can't go back there anymore
Y'know my keys won't fit the door
Y'know my thoughts don't fit the man
They never can
They never can
[Outro]
They never can
They never can
I Had A King - Home Demo With Piano Overdub was written by Joni Mitchell.
I Had A King - Home Demo With Piano Overdub was produced by Joni Mitchell & Patrick Milligan.
Joni Mitchell released I Had A King - Home Demo With Piano Overdub on Fri Nov 05 2021.