Kingdom Come

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with stark, almost primal imagery of a "desert rat" and "shedding skin," immediately establishing a tense, unsettling atmosphere. There's a desperate prayer for "the love of madness" and for control, hinting at a mind grappling with its own edges. This sets up a powerful sense of anticipation for a profound shift. A core tension emerges between active coping and passive waiting. The narrator builds a "brave asylum" and invites "madmen to play host," suggesting an embrace of internal chaos rather than fighting it. Yet, the repeated act of closing eyes — first "to forgive and forget," then "to dream a while," and finally "to love again" — reveals a series of attempts to navigate or escape a harsh reality, all while holding "with bated breath for the kingdom come." The evolving purpose behind "we close our eyes" is particularly striking. It shifts from a pragmatic act of letting go to a temporary escape, and ultimately to a hopeful vulnerability. This progression underscores a journey through different emotional states, each a precursor to the longed-for "kingdom come." The constant refrain of "bated breath" amplifies this yearning, making the "kingdom come" feel less like a religious promise and more like a deeply personal, transformative event. The lyrics effectively convey a sense of profound internal struggle and a yearning for transformation. The vivid, almost hallucinatory imagery, like "talking in tongues" and "colours all fade away," creates a world where reality is fluid. This blend of raw emotional honesty and a persistent, almost spiritual, anticipation makes the lyrics resonate, capturing the human experience of waiting for a pivotal moment, whether it's an end or a new beginning.