King of the Hill - chords and comments
Lyrics without distraction HERE
A cooperation between Roger McGuinn and Tom Petty, writing and performing as a duet (whose voices are quite equal), the song was written sometimes in 1987. An early take didn't catch much interest, but in -91 they recorded it over again, released it as a video and single (yup; those still were the days) and it fronted McGuinn's LP "Back from Rio".The lyrics have been an object for interpretations, but both authors have stated that they wrote it with John Phillips in mind, after both had been reading his autobiography "Papa John"; Petty the first one. Papa John was the leader of the vocal group "the Mamas and the Papas", and gradually became a heavy drug addict, as well as his elder daughter Laura Mackenzie. This makes it all clear: "the green gucci bag" contains his needles and dope, the "she" who follows him down is Laura and the "white blinding light" is the drug vision. Reflected that he mingled with the high society in his prime time, the lyrics are no longer a mystery.
And, agaist all odds: both father and daughter recovered from their addiction. John maintained his musical career until he died from a heart attack in 2001, and Mackenzie is - at the time of writing, October 2022 - still an actress and singer.
A C#M LA's asleep you roll up your window D Bm D E the night air is cold the freeway is clear A C#m in a green gucci bag are your prized possessions D Bm D E the jewels of your mind to hold back the fear F#m and when Monday comes around A there's a high lonesome sound Bm D F#m and she follows you down for the kill and a white blinding light A makes it all seem so right Bm D F#m and you feel like a king of the hill
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