Closet Kings

One main version:

* (1982) - Atomic Roses (?:??), Four In One (2:27), Traumstadt I (2:25), Traumstadt I CD (9:19 - 11:45), Legendary Pink Box (2:26)

A funky song with a "full band" sound (and trumpet!) in an odd time signature (7/4?). All mixes fade in from the previous song on Atomic Roses ("Sex"), including the compilation appearances on "Four In One" and "Legendary Pink Box." All mixes end with a sudden break and a heavy echo. The "Four In One" mix stops relatively cleanly, but you can hear a bit of "Spiritus" fading in at the end of the "Legendary Pink Box" mix.

My copy of the "Atomic Roses" tape cuts this song off after 36 seconds.

Instruments: Single vocal track, indecipherable vocoder track, acoustic drum kit, bass guitar, occasional echo overwhelms the mix, trumpet during bridge section,

What It's About (Maybe):


The "closet kings" are men who brag about their virility, but whose conquests consist mostly of women in magazines. They avoid real women because they do not want to suffer ridicule.

Lyrics (adapted from the Cloud Zero Archive):

Rolled out from a barrel,
roll erratic down the streets with concrete feet.
Convulsive. Sick but smiling
looking for some meat

you can fall on, roll on, use 'til morning,
yawn, then say 'goodbye'.
Another lie! It makes a story,
you can tell it to your friends.
You're the end, you got their envy
not a bit like one of them.

No king in a closet!

Creeping past the nightclubs.
Fleeting glances at the thighs with furtive eyes.
Uncertain. Fingers seaching,
finds the booby prize.

Eyes his tears and jeers they tear your heart out,
Smarter just to run.
Much more fun where you belong
safe in your home you're left alone
and softly moan on telephones to other
kings in their closets.

No harm.

Leafing through the ladies who
reach out to touch your hand.
There's Mary Ann, curvaceous; kind of lazy...
lays back in the sand,

whispers "take me, rape me, break me slowly,
Show me what you've got!"
It's not a lot but she still smiles
'cos she's a pictue, just a tease
there to please and ease the pain of
kings in their closets.

No harm.