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The Emperor
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Collab w/ Z Mulls - in memory of Joshua Norton, the only 'Emperor of the United States'
upbeat positive variety literate
Creative Commons license
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Hopefully intelligent, upbeat, pop rock - plus multiple other genres and rabbit holes I enter
The band is ME - plus any collaborators I can convince to come along for the ride. I love the process of song writing and production - I hope some others get some enjoyments - or chuckles out of these tunes.
Song Info
Genre
Pop • Pop Rock
Charts
Peak #99
Peak in subgenre #23
Author
Ron Tintner & Z Mulls
Rights
2007
Uploaded
October 17, 2018
Track Files
MP3
MP3 4.2 MB • 160 kbps • 3:39
Story behind the song
Joshua Abraham Norton (c. 1819 - 1880), also known as His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I, was a celebrated citizen of San Francisco, California who proclaimed himself "Emperor of these United States" and later "Protector of Mexico" in 1859. Though he was considered insane, or at least highly eccentric, the citizens of San Francisco celebrated his regal presence and his proclamations, On January 8, 1880, Norton collapsed at a street corner, and died before he could be given medical treatment. The following day, nearly 30,000 people packed the streets of San Francisco to pay homage to Norton. Norton's legacy has been immortalized in the literature of writers like Mark Twain and Robert Louis Stevenson who based characters on him. [From the Wikipedia]
Lyrics
THE EMPEROR © 2007 by Ron Tintner & Z. Mulls When grains of rice slip through your fingers Might as well be diamonds that you lose And when forty foolish years stare in the mirror There's no-one to accuse You can feel the balm of sweet exile But no man lives forever in No Man's Land You must return to your dominion You return and take your place of purpose Come take matters firmly into hand CH: Cause it's a matter of perspective You can stand on the corner Lost in impotent invective and harangue But by the grace of God You can be the Emperor of the whole shebang I educate the populace And issue my Imperial Decrees You'd think I'd crack under this burden But I have learned to roam the earth with ease When the oceans rise to reach the moon (When) the world goes mad and fortune takes her flight A man needs to fulfill his promise Stretch out his mighty hand and set things right -- CHORUS – BRIDGE: Search out the kings Of other lands Their hands with blood and treasure soiled I have shed no blood I have robbed no man And no sovereign country have I despoiled The sun comes up in my empire And some shopkeepers know enough to bow Others disrepect my office But I can't take the time with them just now There are iniquities and imperfections (As) plentiful as fish who swim my bay You can let your life be vague and soft Or build your bridge across and seize the day -- CHORUS (and out) --
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