Kings Of Leon - Nowhere to Run
I state my case and hope for grace.
Key words
- Pentecostal: relating to or characteristic of the Christian movement that emphasizes the gift of the Holy Spirit, especially in terms of speaking in tongues and other spiritual gifts
The Pentecostal church is known for its lively worship services.
- Heavy drinker: a person who drinks a lot of alcohol, often to excess
He was a heavy drinker and often got into trouble because of it.
- Decadent: morally or socially corrupt; indulgent and luxurious
The decadent lifestyle of the wealthy elite was criticized by many.
- Evident: clearly visible or apparent
From the smell it was evident that the drains had been blocked for several days.
- Unmerited favour: a benefit or advantage that is given without being earned or deserved
The unmerited favour of the scholarship allowed her to pursue her education without financial burden.
Read the article to find the answers
- What kind of life did the band members have when they were young?
- Which song is about the decadent life of a rock star?
- How do Christians understand grace?
- What does "you have been played" mean?
Kings Of Leon
Kings Of Leon is a rock band from Nashville, Tennessee, made up of three brothers and a cousin. The brothers' father, a Pentecostal preacher, became a heavy drinker. He made a citizen's arrest of a policeman he thought was driving too fast. Soon after, the family left their hometown.
For the next four and a half years, the three young brothers, whose band would become one of the biggest rock bands in the world, travelled the Bible Belt with their evangelist father and home-schooling mother, until their father lost his job and his wife due to his problems with alcohol.
Two of the brothers started playing music in bars as The Followill Brothers, before bringing in their younger brother on bass and their cousin on guitar to form the band. Kings of Leon signed to RCA Records in 2002 and their debut album, Youth and Young Manhood, was released the following year.
On their fourth album, the song Cold Desert was about the conflict between the singer's Christian upbringing and the decadent life of a rock star who could quote lines from the Bible while taking cocaine on his private plane.
Lyrics
They released their ninth album in May 2024. The Christian influence is evident in the lyrics of my favourite song, Nowhere to Run.
I state my case and hope for grace
Buddhism focuses on earning positive karma to improve future rebirths and ultimately achieve Nirvana. In Islam, certain actions are rewarded by Allah. In Christianity, good deeds are not seen as a way of earning God's favour. Grace is understood by Christians as the free and unmerited favour of God. It is a gift that cannot be earned through human effort or good deeds.
I don’t know where my mind is taking me
I only know my fear of falling
I think the lyrics here refer to falling from God's grace.
Oh we’ve been played
It could be that these lyrics are referring to those in power and authority. When someone says “you have been played,” it usually means that you have been deceived or manipulated in some way. It could refer to someone tricking you in a game or competition, or it could be a more serious situation where someone has lied to you or taken advantage of you.
Discussion questions
- Do you have any questions about any of the vocabulary or grammar in this article?
- Are you familiar with the Kings of Leon?
- What are your favourite lyrics from a band you like?
- Is religion evident in music from your country?
- What's your favourite type of music?
