King of Comedy

R.E.M.

Produced by

Sep. 27, 19941 viewer6.5K views

King of Comedy Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Make your money with a suit and tie
Make your money with shrewd denial
Make your money expert advice
If you can wing it
Make your money with a power ply
Make your money with a buyout bribe
You can lie
As long as you mean it

[Chorus 1]
I'm not king of comedy
Grease the pig, give a squeeze
(Squeeze me)

[Verse 2]
Make your money with exploitation
Make it holy illumination
Say a prayer at every station
Don't forget to ask for mercy
Make your money with a pretty face
Make it easy with product placement
Make it charged with controversy
I'm straight, I'm queer, I'm bi

[Chorus 2]
I'm not king of comedy
I'm not your magazine
I'm not your television

[Verse 3]
Make your money, make it rich
Make it young and make it quick
Make your money on the jukebox, baby
Let's pick up sticks
Make your enemies make your moves
Make your critics fumble through
Make it smart and make it schmooze
Make it look easy

[Chorus 2]
I'm not king of comedy
I'm not your magazine
I'm not your television
I'm not your movie screen

[Outro]
I'm not commodity
I'm not commodity
I'm not commodity
(All together now)

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What did R.E.M. say about "King of Comedy"?

In a 2014 interview with Newsweek, Michael Stipe confirmed that the song takes its title from Martin Scorsese’s 1983 film The King of Comedy.

He also expressed dissatisfaction with how the song turned out:

I was really stretching as a lyricist and shooting for something outside my realm, my range, my expertise. It turned out some great material, I think (“Tongue,” “Let Me In,” “Crush With Eyeliner,” “Circus Envy”); and some songs that I wish I could’ve reworked or discarded (“King of Comedy,” “You”).

Who produced “King of Comedy” by R.E.M.?

When did R.E.M. release “King of Comedy”?

Who wrote “King of Comedy” by R.E.M.?