Jason Robert Brown
King of the World
[MAN 1]
Once upon a time, I had tides to control
I had moons to spin and stars to ignite
And they threw flowers at my feet
When I walked through the town
Once upon a time, I had lives to protect
I had rules to change and wrongs to set right
And there were people at my side
And there were rivers I could guide
I wanted nothing in return...
Let me out of here
Give me back to the wind
Let me out of here
Let me please see the sun
Let me out of here
At least tell me what I did wrong...
I'm king of the world
Chief of the sea
High in the wind—at least I used to be
I'm king of the world
Please set me free
Let me remind them of my promise
Live my given destiny
Once upon a time, I had fate in my hands
And the confidence of a million regimes
And they said, "Brother, you're in charge
We'll follow anything you say"
Once upon a time, Father said to me, "Child
You are everything that you see in your dreams"
And I thought, "Jesus, that's the key
There are no walls surrounding me!
There are no prisons in this life!"
Let me out of here
Give me back all my dreams
Let me out of here
Let me please see my son
Let me out of here
Don't you understand who I am?
I'm king of the world
Chief of the sea
High in the wind—at least I try to be
I'm king of the world
Please set me free—
I had the power and the promise—
Give me back my family
Why are we punished for wanting to explore?
Why am I sitting in this cell?
I was not challenging the system
I was working for the people—
I just wanted to be better
Why am I punished for trying to survive?
Why am I locked behind these bars?
Tell the children I'll return to them—tell them!
Someone! Let them know I will be free!
I will not be defeated
I will stand like a mountain!
And the road will stretch before me
And they'll know it's time to follow
And we'll lift our eyes
And raise our heads
And face the sun
And tell the future
I'm king of the world
Land of the free!
High in the sky, the best that I can be—
And I'm king of the world
Watch and you'll see!
Nothing can stop me from tomorrow
Keep me from my destiny!
I'm king of the world!
I'm king of the world!
I'm...
I'm...
At least
I used to be...