King Without a Crown

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"King Without a Crown"
No cover available
Single by Matisyahu
from the album Shake Off the Dust...Arise, Live at Stubb's and Youth
Released 2005
Format vinyl,CD
Recorded  ???
Genre Reggae
Length 5:19 (Shake Off the Dust...Arise version)
4:48 (Live at Stubb's version)
3:42 (Youth version)
Label JDub Records
Producer(s) Michael Caplan
Angelo Montrone
Jacob Harris
Chart positions
  1. 1 (UK)
    #28 (US Hot 100)
    #27 (US Pop 100)
    #13 (US Hot Digital)
    #7 (US Modern Rock)
Matisyahu singles chronology
"King Without a Crown"
(2005)
Youth
(2006)

"King Without a Crown" is a song by Hasidic reggae singer Matisyahu. This is his first major single, except for the live version of the same song which appeared on his album Live at Stubb's. The song originally appeared on his 2004 debut album Shake Off the Dust...Arise and again on his second album Youth.

On some limited editions of Youth, there is a bonus track of "King Without a Crown" remixed by Mike D of the Beastie Boys.

Along with the song "Youth", King Without A Crown is different from other songs on the album Youth in that it has a lengthy guitar solo more in the spirit of rock than reggae. This defined Matisyahu for some time, as it is rare for reggae artists to stray into the rock genre.

The lyrics are synonymous in one part with voice; the necessity and, in this case, the frustration of getting a personal idea heard by others. In another part, it focuses on spirituality and inner peace. Also, it, like most of his other songs, is a reflection of Matisyahu's Jewish beliefs.