King Of The Hill

Album: Back From Rio (1990)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Tom Petty joined McGuinn in writing and performing this song, which was released as a single and video. Petty's affinity for singing like McGuinn had been well documented and this song offers a fascinating example of the two soundalikes trading verses. For the non-initiated, it may be hard to tell where McGuinn ends and Petty begins. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Kevin - Reading, PA

Comments: 7

  • .mikeOutstanding! Great story!
  • William from UsaIt's the winged goddess of retribution - Nemesis - who's "following him down for the kill". In other words, as the King of the Hill falls from grace due to his self-serving lifestyle, Nemesis, with the "high lonesome sound" of a hawk's hunting cry, swoops to follow his downward trajectory and will strike for the kill as with a wounded dove.
  • Mb from UsaMuch of the meaning is portrayed in the official video which seems to have been removed from the internet. I could not recently locate it anywhere.

    "White blinding light and feeling like the king of the hill" are feelings (the rush) a Wall Street business bigwig gets from either using cocaine, using and selling it, or laundering money for some group of unsavory people. In the video, this Wall Street character seems to have gotten involved with embezzling money from the wrong people such as the mafia possibly, while laundering drug money for them through investments, but skimming off the top for himself. In the end, "the crystal is cracked and there is blood on the wall" was the aftermath of the main characters' shady, high-flying lifestyle when the people he stole from or screwed up a shady business deal for make him disappear mob-style. "In a green Gucci Bag are your prized possessions" likely refers to the cocaine he is using and/or dealing and possibly bricks of skimmed mob money. This is the story the song tells, and fits the rest of the lyrics. Use your imagination.
  • Jared Doerr from UtahIt is fairly easy to identify Tom Petty's crappy voice in this track.
  • AnonymousAbout a money scammer - true story - who bilked millions.
  • Eli. from Living Room Basement When I Blow The Dust Out My KlipschsCouple questions please? What the white lite? That room down the hall a BR? Bath? Whose blood? and finally, we know she follow him down for the kill, so she kill he? Who kill who? Who he who she, whose goddamn blood and why he blow off the whole party in that room in the first place? Other than a need to sort out a few things, one of the greatest songs ever. Am I missing a happy ending or anything else? Thanks
  • Niles from Belpre, Ohsome amazing sounds come out of his 12 string guitar
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Steve Morse of Deep Purple

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.