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Echo & the Bunnymen — My Kingdom
Album: Ocean Rain
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1636









Released: 1984
Length: 4:02
Plays (last 30 days): 2
I chop and I change and the mystery thickens
There's blood on my hands and you want me to listen
To brawn and to brain when the truth's in the middle
Born of the grain like all good riddles

B-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top
Thy will be done
B-b-bite the nose off and make it the most of
Your king- kingdom kingdom kingdom

You kill when you talk and the enemy weakens
Your words start to walk when you're not even speaking
If my heart is a war its soldiers are bleeding
If my heart is a war its soldiers are dead

B-b-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top
Thy will be done
B-b-bite the nose off and make it the most of
Your king- kingdom kingdom kingdom

Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do do
Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do do

I've lost and I've gained and while I was thinking
You cut off my hands when I wanted to twist
If you know how to dance to Boney Maroney
He's doing the ballet on both of his wrists

B-b-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top
Thy will be done
B-b-bite the nose off and make it the most of
Your k-k- k- k- k- kingdom, king-k- k- k- k-

B-b-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top
And I will be done
B-b-bite the nose off and make the most of
Your king- kingdom, kingdom, kingdom

(You're a bitter malignous person)
(And the death is well overdue)
(You suck the blood that kills you)
(You kiss the hand that hates you)

(You're a bitter malignous person)
(And your death is well overdue)
(Your sucking bitter pain)
Comments (137)add comment
 moocray wrote:

Big Echo fan here.

I hear no Cure, as much as Doors/Jim Morrison.

Crazy live performer, Ian McCulloch is/was.


You mean his chain-smoking through the whole set, gazing at his shoes man, and no interaction with the audience? Yea man, dig that crazy. Still a fan, especially of this album.
Shit fucking hot..
 nakitu.tenatako wrote:
 My top ten favourite album from the 80's 
If you have a chance, search for  "Audi Vampire party" you will love it!
 
here it is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDV2yp_AjBM
My top ten favourite album from the 80's 
If you have a chance, search for  "Audi Vampire party" you will love it!
I have no idea how I basically missed or ignored these guys in the 80s. Such an amazing band.... teenage me really missed out. Thankfully old me still gets to enjoy!
love em always have
Looking forward to seeing/listening to Echo & the Bunnymen on 9/7/22 at The Vic in Chicago.
 MLavender wrote:

I always felt like they should have gotten more recognition. No, they're not on par with The Cure or R.E.M., but they're pretty darned good and pretty darned catchy. I think that if they had gotten more exposure, a lot of people would have liked them.


Agreed. And I would say their first 4 albums (especially Heaven Up Here and Porcupine) are very much on par with The Cure and R.E.M. Just sayin'....
Here and there along the Echo (and the Bunnymen)

Call the number, I believe it still works...
What a surprise - another sick torture song; where the only thing our host seems to like better than a good sadistic song, is fuzz guitar - if you have been a listener for awhile, you may have noticed (not this one) that if there is a song out there with a ridiculous fuzz guitar - it is on the favorite list. I mean why stop at ten on the fuzz box, you can knock the amp over a kick the speakers in th add to the effect.
I always felt like they should have gotten more recognition. No, they're not on par with The Cure or R.E.M., but they're pretty darned good and pretty darned catchy. I think that if they had gotten more exposure, a lot of people would have liked them.
This is so much better than Killing Moon.
love to hear it!!!!
Great band loved em for decades and Will Sergeants style and tone is killer and really distinctive 
OK, I know Bill is great at connecting songs, but I wonder if he really meant this one or I'm thinking too deeply about it.  Previous song was Here Comes A Soul Saver by The Charlatans, which everyone (at least on RP) points out has the 'borrowed' riff from Pink Floyd's Fearless.  And then he plays My Kingdom, by Echo & The Bunnymen, who are of course from Liverpool, which is of course home to Liverpool FC, whose crowd is signing You'll Never Walk Alone and chanting the team name at the end of PF's Fearless.  

I really hope that was intentional, made me smile.  
Good tune!
Masterpiece Album.
Their best album. Im
Echo & the Bunnymen are one of my favorite bands.  Thanks RP for playing them, especially their 80s albums.  I'd put up their first 4 albums against any band from that era.  
 bluejay08003 wrote:
 aspicer wrote:
Or perhaps it was the other way around?  All emerged together....but it was The Cure that overcame for decades..
 Ocean Rain is a more listenable album end-to-end than most Cure albums. (For those of us who are album folks... not current generation...)

But The Cure evolved more successfully over time, both in popularity and musically. Their early goth Fiction Records era material was different from The Top and Head on the Door, then Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. Then Disintigration and a new goth focus...

Anyway, this is about E&tB, who didn't pivot as much, or as successfully.  
 
They're cooler though and I prefer their music. Both great bands that remind me of my sixth form days.
 SmackDaddy wrote:


Crazy live performer? He's a chain-smoking shoe gazer. 

And I'm a fan of the music, but his stage presence is meh at best. I'd love to see a video of him being "crazy".
 
The Chain Smoking Shoe Gazers...

c.


Why does THIS page: https://radioparadise.com/musi... say Release date: Dec 31, 1969?
Impossible.
 moocray wrote:
Big Echo fan here.

I hear no Cure, as much as Doors/Jim Morrison.

Crazy live performer, Ian McCulloch is/was.
 

Crazy live performer? He's a chain-smoking shoe gazer. 

And I'm a fan of the music, but his stage presence is meh at best. I'd love to see a video of him being "crazy".
 aspicer wrote:
Or perhaps it was the other way around?  All emerged together....but it was The Cure that overcame for decades..
 Ocean Rain is a more listenable album end-to-end than most Cure albums. (For those of us who are album folks... not current generation...)

But The Cure evolved more successfully over time, both in popularity and musically. Their early goth Fiction Records era material was different from The Top and Head on the Door, then Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. Then Disintigration and a new goth focus...

Anyway, this is about E&tB, who didn't pivot as much, or as successfully.  
King Don, King Don, King Don...

 SmackDaddy wrote:

Really? Crazy major shoe gazer he is. Also chain smoking the whole time while looking at the audience with the disdain  of a misunderstood genius in his own mind. 

Meanwhile, this was the apex the bunneymen and is one of the finest albums of the 80s.
 
Radio City Music Hall, circa 1989

Homeboy beat up his microphone and mic chord like I have never seen before. Clearly jacked up on goofballs....
 maboleth wrote:
Sounds like The Cure/Robert Smith ripoff. :-/ It's nice, but... can't get Cure out of my head. :)
 
Listen to the whole album.
 moocray wrote:
Crazy live performer, Ian McCulloch is/was.
 
Really? Crazy major shoe gazer he is. Also chain smoking the whole time while looking at the audience with the disdain  of a misunderstood genius in his own mind. 

Meanwhile, this was the apex the bunneymen and is one of the finest albums of the 80s.
Leuk weer eens naar Radio Paradise te luistern!
Big Echo fan here.

I hear no Cure, as much as Doors/Jim Morrison.

Crazy live performer, Ian McCulloch is/was.
 aspicer wrote:

Or perhaps it was the other way around?  All emerged together....but it was The Cure that overcame for decades..
 

Well, not quite.
There are many similarities with this song (Charlotte Sometimes), technically, recorded in 1981.
The Cure were in their own league at the time and quite influental.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

However, I do agree with you about E&B not directly copying it, my words were probably too strong on that.
KING IN THE NORTH!!!
For me, the chorus sounds like China Crisi
 maboleth wrote:
Sounds like The Cure/Robert Smith ripoff. :-/ It's nice, but... can't get Cure out of my head. :)
 
Or perhaps it was the other way around?  All emerged together....but it was The Cure that overcame for decades..
Sounds like The Cure/Robert Smith ripoff. :-/ It's nice, but... can't get Cure out of my head. :)
Hasn't age a bit. What's more, now it sounds more relevant than ever...
Back in the day WHFS out of Bethesda, MD. used to play soooo much Echo and the Bunnymen. Always a pleasure to hear. RIP WHFS though Damian Einstein is still around bless his heart.
So awesome...love Ian and the boys!!!

{#Cheers}    Love this treat today!  Thanks, RP!  Thank you too, E&tB!


The music rocks, the guitar is WOW, the singer's blessed with an impeccable nuance of timing, and doth maketh the most of it! Dig RP
Echo has a delivery reminiscent of Richard Thompson on this one, to me.
bless my boney maroney this is high (imo) quality driving music
They are still great live if you can catch them.  Saw them last year.
 dragon1952 wrote:
I just discovered these guys in the past year and a half (thanks RP!) and I must say I love them ;^ )

 
Good for you - welcome to the tribe!!! They are incredible. Must own albums:  Heaven Up Here, Porcupine, and this one, or do yourself a favor and just get the box set shown on the comment list.
I just discovered these guys in the past year and a half (thanks RP!) and I must say I love them ;^ )
 treatment_bound wrote:
File:Bunnymen crystaldays.jpg

 
The artwork was so much different for the 12" covers.  I've never seen this cover before, but I see it's for a compilation box set.  I can't tell whether this is a new photo designed to look like the gorgeous Ocean Rain set, or part of the original shoot.  Either way, E&TB had some lovely record covers.  The iPod graphics can never replace the LP jacket.   (Not like I spin my LPs, but I miss the idea of it..)
I agree, participants. Talk Talk, Icehouse, DM, Thompson Twins, The Church, INXS were the bomb and I can go on{#Cool}
 molson wrote:
The E&BM were not the best of the 80's, just participants. The great bands were cutting edge, Talk Talk, Depeche Mode, Icehouse etc...

 
TT - Y
DM - Possibly
Icehouse - N

E&TB - Possibly 
These guys are sooooo gooooood....I got me this cd recently

Love Echo & The Bunnymen.  Ocean Rain is a great album.  An integral part of the 80s but a truly unique sound, IMO. 

Burn the skin off and climb the roof tops
Thy will be done
Bite the nose off and make it the most of
King ... kingdom, kingdom, kingdom !


Who's gargling?
These guys have held strong.... still killing it live after all this time. Check out Siberia, a newer album that is no doubt one of their best. Super catchy guitar work and melodies.
The E&BM were not the best of the 80's, just participants. The great bands were cutting edge, Talk Talk, Depeche Mode, Icehouse etc...
Wow, I haven't heard this one in ages. Still great, still love this album.
 ottojschlosser wrote:
What on Earth are they babbling about?

 
Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do do (x4)

Also,

Your k-k- k- k- k- kingdom, king-k- k- k- k-



File:Bunnymen crystaldays.jpg
bless my boney maroney this is high (imo) quality driving music (oh my gosh, my nips got hard!)

Everybody in my church loves this song...  and this whole album...
 
What on Earth are they babbling about?
Never heard this before. NICE!  So '80s, so now too. (29 years ago already? Sholy hit!)  
Thanks, Bill. 
Ahhhh.......  Classic! Love it! And how the hell Is it only a 6.6?!!!
This song kicks ASS!!! ...whole album brings back memories....
Until I saw the title I thought yer man was singing about King Dong...
I love this song.
The Perfect E&TB tune........Here's to RP!   {#Bananajam}
Woah, this piece 25 years old, but very nice!
All Echo, forget trying to pull "sounds like" stretches.

Such a great song from a great band.  Nobody sounded like these guys.
something of the Cure, something of P.I.L.
 WayUpNorth wrote:
Wow, never realized how much the singer for Arcade Fire sounds like this guy! 
 
Psych!
Interesting how many current bands you hear in their sound – Arcade Fire, etc. An under-appreciated and influential group.
Wow, never realized how much the singer for Arcade Fire sounds like this guy! 
 EssexTex wrote:
One of the happiest, least bitter men in the music business
 
Don't you understand sarcasm when you see it?

Nice... not overplayed. :)
 fredriley wrote:
Yep, that's the same tit of a lead singer who ruined the Bunnymen's gig at Loopallu 2008. The band doesn't come on until over 30 mins after they should have done, after interminable sound checks (which none of the other 10 bands who'd preceded them had needed), then yer man comes on in a pretentious monk's outfit with hood drawn smoking a fag. This is 2008 and the smoking ban's been in place for years in Scotland, so as the band starts playing someone off-stage obviously draws his attention to the fag and tells him to put it out. He then gets the almighty hump and starts muttering like a petulant adolescent about "can't even smoke a fag now", and continues to moan, bitch and grumble throughout that and the following track, completely spoiling it for the band and the audience for whom the Bunnymen were the final headline act. The guy's a prize wanker.

 
Don't sugarcoat it Fred...tell us how you really feel.

One of the happiest, least bitter men in the music business
 romeotuma wrote:


Now, this brings back some memories...  dang, this is good...
 
I agree...

 fredriley wrote:
The guy's a prize wanker.

 
Just like Liam Gallagher and so many others I suppose. And yet, they are both terrific singers.


This song should be played more often.
 RationalB wrote:
I saw these guys in London when I was living there shortly after I left Memorial University of Newfoundland. This was one of the greatest concerts I saw during my 3 year stint in the UK. My mate Gord knew of them but I didn't, so he got me to the concert. 20 QUID ...jeez those were the days.
With a few puffs of courage and an eager ear, my mind and musical tasted changed yet again. Bite the Nose of and make the most of MY KINGDOM!!!!!MY KINGDOM!!!!!MY KINGDOM!!!!!MY KINGDOM!!!!! ">

  Yep, that's the same tit of a lead singer who ruined the Bunnymen's gig at Loopallu 2008. The band doesn't come on until over 30 mins after they should have done, after interminable sound checks (which none of the other 10 bands who'd preceded them had needed), then yer man comes on in a pretentious monk's outfit with hood drawn smoking a fag. This is 2008 and the smoking ban's been in place for years in Scotland, so as the band starts playing someone off-stage obviously draws his attention to the fag and tells him to put it out. He then gets the almighty hump and starts muttering like a petulant adolescent about "can't even smoke a fag now", and continues to moan, bitch and grumble throughout that and the following track, completely spoiling it for the band and the audience for whom the Bunnymen were the final headline act. The guy's a prize wanker.

jstrait wrote:
... Their all great even LLS. Eve after hearing 11teen billion times.
Lips Like Sugar was ETBM "jumping the shark" for me. Just about anything before that is fine IMHO. :-)
wow, immediately recognizable, it was like an electric shock to the 1991 portion of my memory. Neat, Thanks.
I saw these guys in London when I was living there shortly after I left Memorial University of Newfoundland. This was one of the greatest concerts I saw during my 3 year stint in the UK. My mate Gord knew of them but I didn't, so he got me to the concert. 20 QUID ...jeez those were the days. With a few puffs of courage and an eager ear, my mind and musical tasted changed yet again. Bite the Nose of and make the most of MY KINGDOM!!!!!MY KINGDOM!!!!!MY KINGDOM!!!!!MY KINGDOM!!!!! ">
Unmistakably Bunnymen. Ahhh youth.....
Never remember hearing this before -- great song!
Something from the new album, please?
No. No. No. No.
Bocephus wrote:
+1 and I'm a huge E&B fan.
It doesn't matter which song of theirs to me. Their all great even LLS. Eve after hearing 11teen billion times.
11
jdorn1 wrote:
Thank You for not playing Lips Like Sugar...Please never play Lips Like Sugar again...Thanks!
+1 and I'm a huge E&B fan.
daveesh wrote:
i like these guys, especially this not-often-played number. i saw them way back when with - get this - gene loves jezebel and new order. even though new order was the headliner, the bunnymen were by far the best act.
I saw that show - 2nd row seats - the night before I left for college. My ears were still ringing during the meeting with the dorm RAs. One high point of that show was getting to touch one of the Gene Loves Jezebel's twin's feet. He was wearing pantyhose. Anyhoo, I love this song. What a great album.
Thank You for not playing Lips Like Sugar...Please never play Lips Like Sugar again...Thanks!
One of the best songs from one of the best albums of the 80's.
love the guitar on this
Always happy to hear some Echo & the Bunnymen...
crockydile wrote:
What the hell?
I chop and i change and the mystery thickens There's blood on my hands and you want me to listen To brawn and to brain when the truth's in the middle Born of the grain like all good riddles B-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top Thy will be done B-b-bite the nose off and make it the most of Your king- kingdom kingdom kingdom You kill when you talk and the enemy weakens Your words start to walk when you're not even speaking If my heart is a war its soldiers are bleeding If my heart is a war its soldiers are dead B-b-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top Thy will be done B-b-bite the nose off and make it the most of Your king- kingdom kingdom kingdom Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do do Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do do Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do do Do do do do do do do, do do do do do do do I've lost and i've gained and while i was thinking You cut off my hands when i wanted to twist If you know how to dance to boney maroney He's doing the ballet on both of his wrists B-b-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top Thy will be done B-b-bite the nose off and make it the most of Your k-k- k- k- k- kingdom, king-k- k- k- k- B-b-b-burn the skin off and climb the roof top And i will be done B-b-bite the nose off and make the most of Your king- kingdom, kingdom, kingdom (you're a bitter malignous person) (and the death is well overdue) (you suck the blood that kills you) (you kiss the hand that hates you) (you're a bitter malignous person) (and your death is well overdue) (your sucking bitter pain)
noelbarnes wrote:
One of my top 10 or so fav's of all time!
You need to get out more. *wink*
One of my top 10 or so fav's of all time!
What the hell?
If you know how to dance to Boney Maroney He's doing the ballet on both of his wrists
Good then and even better now after all these years....Signature Will Sargent guitar work and McCollough crooning...and the nod to Liverpool Long live the lads from Liverpool! nausicaa wrote:
'10'
thank god my office is soundproof! nice track!
Makes me feel good and jump like a .. bunnyman ho ho
Angloray wrote:
EXCELLENT. One of my favorite Bunnymen songs ever.
actually, I think it IS my favorite from them, and that's saying something, probably because it reminds me of driving on Hwy 17 at dusk .
daveesh wrote:
i like these guys, especially this not-often-played number. i saw them way back when with - get this - gene loves jezebel and new order. even though new order was the headliner, the bunnymen were by far the best act.
Wow, another flashback. I think I might be a highschool skate punk again.
Th-th-th-this is refuse.
swelements wrote:
6...not more
I give it a 5 and I'm a huge Bunrabs fan. For me they went downhill after Porcupine. Coupla decent songs on this (Silver/The Killing Moon), but overall I don't like this album much.
i like these guys, especially this not-often-played number. i saw them way back when with - get this - gene loves jezebel and new order. even though new order was the headliner, the bunnymen were by far the best act.
Good flashback
Best Bunnymen song ever!
6...not more
AAARRRGHHH!!! It's a wonderful song!!!
YaeMPs wrote:
Wow! I really like this tune. I've never really paid attention to these guys before but this is very different from the 2 or 3 songs I've heard before.
definetly recommend "Heaven up here" and "ocean rain" if you like this!
Not my favorite Bunnymen song, but still the Bunnymen!
jdorn1 wrote:
Who rated this a 3?
'10'
Rockalicious.
Who rated this a 3?
blissful.
Oh! What a great day that you have played the real Echo & The Bunnymen on RP and not Lips Like Sugar again. Please keep this on the roatation. This was their fourth and last great album. Everything beyond this wasn't quite the same. The loss of Pete was certainly a shame.