Page type: lyric reference
Artist: Joni Mitchell
Canonical path: /mitchell-joni/i-had-a-king
Related lyric paths: 6
Lyric guide
I Had a King
Read I Had a King lyrics by Joni Mitchell on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
person
Curated by Ethan Walker
LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
Lyrics
I Had a King
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
I had a king in a tenement castle
Lately he's taken to painting the pastel walls brown
He's taken the curtains down
He's 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-
I can't go back there anymore
You know my keys won't fit the door
You know my thoughts don't fit the man
They never can they never can
I had a king dressed in drip-dry and paisley
Lately he's taken to saying I'm crazy and blind
He lives in another time
Ladies in gingham still blush
While he sings them of wars and wine
But I in my leather and lace
I can never become that kind
I can't go back there anymore
You know my keys won't fit the door
You know my thoughts don't fit the man
They never can they never can
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 till the end of the year-
I can't go back there anymore
You know my keys won't fit the door
You know my thoughts don't fit the man
They never can they never can
Quick answers
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "I Had a King"?
Joni Mitchell performs "I Had a King", and this lyric page sits inside the Joni Mitchell catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "I Had a King"?
Yes. The related section below points to A Bird That Whistles and A Strange Boy with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Joni Mitchell?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Joni Mitchell's lyric pages.
Song Room
Open Song Room
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
Listener comments
What people are saying
No listener comments on I Had a King yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.