Steely Dan uses the tale of Kings Richard and John from Robin Hood as an allegory for the American political climate, as is sarcastically refuted on the record sleeve*:
No political significance
Water damage is printed as apart of the sleeve’s design.
[Verse 1]
Now they lay his body down
Sad old men who run this town
I still recall the way
He led the charge and saved the day
Blue blood and rain
I can hear the bugle playin'
[Chorus]
We seen the last of good King Richard
Ring out the past, his name lives on, and on
Roll out the bones and raise up your pitcher
Raise up your glass to good King John, oh
[Verse 2]
While he plundered far and wide
All his starving children cried
And though we sung his fame
We all went hungry just the same
He meant to shine
To the end of the line
[Chorus]
We seen the last of good King Richard
Ring out the past, his name lives on, and on
Roll out the bones and raise up your pitcher
Raise up your glass to good King John
[Instrumental Break]
[Bridge]
And though we sung his fame
We all went hungry just the same
He meant to shine
To the end of the line
[Chorus]
We seen the last of good King Richard
Ring out the past, his name lives on, and on
Roll out the bones and raise up your pitcher
Raise up your glass to good King John
[Outro]
Raise up your glass to good King John
Raise up your glass to good King John
Kings was written by Donald Fagen & Walter Becker.
Kings was produced by Gary Katz.