Weird Al Yankovic - King Of Suede Lyrics

Sting inspired John Constance.

Al inspired an inclusion in Jojo.

Who came out better?

I love the police song and i live this song. It feels like i am listening to both. Fucking awesome

1:06 can anyone tell me what happened there? Did the drummer make a mistake?

My favorite Weird Al song

Look!, It's a parody from "King Of Pain", by The Police (1983).

That's my sole up there

The way they recreated the bass line in this song is awesome... It's much more pronounced and way more catchy than in the original by The Police.

Brilliant!!

Just like Harpo Marx, he never made it past the 2nd grade.

My favorite one AL 💪🏾

I like this song as much as the original. this and
'smells like nirvana'
are his best songs.

I want to go to Willie's fun arcade

There's a sale on our gabardine suits today
They're all thirty percent off from yesterday
There's Fortrel polyester, leather, wool and tweed
Just a Visa or Mastercard is all you need
We've got every color, we've got ev'ry shade
We're located next door to Willy's Fun Arcade
We got every fabric that was ever made
But I'm known in this city as the King of Suede
We got portly and regular and extra-long
(Is my size up there?)
We got tailors to fix it, if it comes out wrong
(Is my size up there?)
We got all kinds of sweatshirts, you can take your pick
(Is my size up there?)
With the collars ripped off, like in that Flashdance flick
(Is my size up there?)
Our prices are low, my staff is underpaid
You can buy off the rack or have it custom made
And it's all guaranteed to never shrink or fade
'Cause of my reputation as the King of Suede
If you need a tuxedo for your junior prom
(Is my size up there?)
We can get you the best one that's made in Taiwan
(Is my size up there?)
We got jackets with patches on the elbows, too
(Is my size up there?)
And we'll sell 'em all factory-direct to you
(Is my size up there?)
Well, I never made it past the second grade
It took all of my life for me to learn this trade
But my friends are all thinking that I've got it made
'Cause I'm known the world over as the King of Suede
There's a two-for-one sale on our three-piece suits
Check out our suede pajamas and our suede-covered boots
You can try on our suede underwear if you choose
Do what you want, but don't step on my blue suede shoes
King of Suede
Don't miss out on our giant liquidation sale
(Is my size up there?)
Look for our color catalog in next week's mail
(Is my size up there?)
There's a sale on our double-knit slacks today
It's the same old sale as yesterday
Thirty years in the same location I have stayed
There I am, right next door to Willy's Fun Arcade
I got tough competition but I'm not afraid
'Cause it's my destiny to be the King of Suede.
King of Suede
King of Suede
King of Suede
I'll always be King of Suede
I'll always be King of Suede

Absolutely great that he managed to turn the most influential song about depression into a fucking song about a shitty suit store... I’m fucking crying this is fantastic

I played this song college DJing in 1984 and it actually got a pretty good response. I mean, nobody danced, but people were cracking up. Weird Al is truly a gift of the universe.

Why can’t I find a video with the lyrics AND the song playing at the same time

What's more sad, never getting past the 2nd grade, or working for someone who never made it past the 2nd grade?

and being underpaid

The picture proudly declares that this from a "Compact disc". I own this on CASSETTE, baby!

so do I,you think youre special huh ?

A lot of preformers know when they made it really big when Al dose one of there songs

I wonder what Sting thinks of the song. He just seems like one of those uptight types who probably only let Al do it begrudgingly.

He must have been ok with it. If an artist says no al won't do it. Legally he can but he won't out of respect. Prince always refused him.

He who is tired of Weird Al Yankovic is tired of life

True dat

Behind all the comedy,Weird Al Yankovic is a talentless muppet and a wannabe with no musical ideas of his own, whose only "talent" is to take the piss out of good songs.

You’re honestly fucking stupid. Weird Al has more talent than you will ever have in your life.

Kudos to Sting for letting this genus turn his song into a parody. Some egos can't take it. I'd love it if it was a song that I wrote.

My all time Weird Al song!

this song makes stings song suck! Weird Al's version has way more meaning and I could relate to it more.

I never really knew the lyrics until now.

Willie's Fun Arcade tho

Crimson_Ghost nice name and avatar. Reminds me of Manhunt.

heh it's from the Misfits, but yeah Manhunt was a cool game.

#TheGoldbergs

If I were a famous musician and he wanted to satirize my song I would consider it an honor.

Nirvana did - one of the band said that he knew they made it when Weird Al wanted to parody "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo said that Dare to be Stupid was "the perfect Devo song" and "More Devo than Devo", he's since covered it I guess. The only condition that Chamillionaire had for his permission for Al to make White and Nerdy was he wanted to be in the music video.

He's a music star's music star, I wouldn't say Al is unpopular but he's always been niche, he's played state fairs and stuff never massive arena concerts, but among music stars of every genre, he's a star among stars.

that crackhead coolio got really pissed off about the parody of his now forgotten shitty song

doggonemess Cobain himself considered Weird Al’s parody a sign they had made it.

illinoisanthunder the reason Coolio was pissed is because his manager told Al to go ahead with the parody without consulting him. He has since squashed the beef and said that it is a good parody.

Who else are here due to TSTO ?

It's the same old sale as yesterday. Of course!

Is this song about Al Bundy?

Took a day off to make some home repairs, instead it looks like I'll be watching old school Weird All on YT all day. My wife will be really pissed when she gets home tonight so I better enjoy it while it lasts. Rock on Al!

Frank Grimes

This is a really underrated Weird Al song.

Sad thoughts: if the king of suede owned his store for 30 years, he'd be at least 48 in 1984 so likely dead or in a retirement home today. He probably sold his store in the 90s (and it could've gone under with new owners), and chances are Willy's Fun Arcade didn't last much past 2000 or so either. :(

More than likely King of Suede and Willies Fun Arcade were torn down and replaced by a Starbucks or a McDonald's...

RIP Willy's Fun Arcade, I Loved That Place.

​@rate eightx there's a Dave and Buster's up the street but it's not the same. I heard that Willy sold his pinball machines to some museum in Law Vegas, including his classic Simpsons machine and the Space Shuttle one from the 80s. King of Suede is still around but they're just an amazon and ebay shop, I guess his son runs it.

I wonder if Willy's Fun Arcade lived up to the name.

This could be a Coen Brothers movie

entered Billboard May 5, 1984 ..reached #62

My all-time favourite song by The Police, with stunningly vivid & erudite lyrics that are typical of Sting!! Pretty funny piss-take song, though...

this song eases my mind(*^^*)♪

Isn't this a parody of the Wilson Bros. House of Leather from California circa 1970s? Seems like they rivaled Cal Worthington for Air Time; two cheesy guys pitching their leather goods...somehow always thought Al would have seen those ads.

This song is a parody of "King of Pain" by The Police.

@Rusty Nickels Well, of course- it's Weird AL But if you ever were subjected to those ads, you'd see them ripe for parody...

lol at Cal!

From the Weird Al Box set liner notes: "I remember when I was writing this song I'd go around to Wilson's House of Suede and Leather and Zachary All and places like that. I'd walk around with my notebook and look at various garments and scribble down notes. I got a lot of nasty stares from store managers."

So, yeah, had to be a huge inspiration.

@Ryan Jackson You have brought validation to my life...Thank you!

I prefer this to Sting's pity party

SgtBaker16 Stfu

nice to know Sting isn't that protective of his work unlike Prince.

Someone use this for a real shoe store. please.

This song is the magic of early Weird Al, so glad The Goldbergs used a more obscure parody rather than the typical Eat It or Like a Surgeon (though I love those too lol).

Wouldn't you like all businesses to be like his, where they are fair and try to help your ass out and fix stuff if there is a problem?

Doesn't treat his staff all that well however.

Then why don't they quit?

What song does this song parody?

King of Pain, by the Police, which was from 1983. It's on their album Synchoricity. The original song has them singing about nutty things in the world.

The original is about depression.

Hoteland Elevator1236 King of pain The Police

THERES A SALE ON OUR DOUBLE KNIT SLACKS TODAY.....................

It's the same old sale as yesterday.........

"We got portly and regular and extra long.....

Portly, means pretty fat.

It's not forty??

awesome

came for Weird Al period

I heard this on the Goldberg's!

Whoa, cool! You have videos on your YouTube channel like me. You wanna be YouTube pals?

The Goldbergs

Adam Goldberg, The King of Suede.

what does that have to do with anything

@The Maxim Channel If you watch the ABC show "The Goldbergs," you'll understand.  They did an episode where Weird Al guest starred and one of the characters played this song on a stereo box for the main character Adam.

He did another guest appearance, huh? I'll try to check that out.

I came here from the goldbergs

For me that was one of the saddest episode😔 I really loved his relationship with Dana and after that it’s not the same

King of Pain is one of the most astute songs about depression and how it affects your perception of yourself and the world around you. Weird Al takes it and turns it into a song about a sleazy clothes salesman. Did I mention that this man is a genius?

Sparkina Everyone gets depressed

Degree, everyone feels sorrow. Sorrow is a feeling. If your dog runs away or your uncle dies or your sweetheart leaves you at the altar, what you are feeling is SORROW

Sparkina Sorrow to me is a different feeling. Sorrow is an intense sadness. Depression is more like a general malaise or the blues. Sometimes I get depressed on certain days for no reason, other days I’m fine.

I agree! The guy knows how to make you laugh.

One of my favorites!

I remember listening to Dr. Demento on the radio and hearing Weird Al. Another one rides the bus, I love rocky road"

Unbelievably underrated Al song. Love how he does Sting's voice.

Did Gordon mind being imitated?

Armand Muniz - You couldn't be more correct, sir.

@Sparkina he would have said no

The guy is a legendary genius!

Sounds like he runs is business in Memphis TN

Thought it was pretty cool that Sting went along with it and helped do the parody.

How do you know he helped?

You got your Sultans of Swing in my King of Pain! And then Andy Warhol stopped by.

You mean Jackson Pollock?

+Aces Network Nah, I mean the best of capitalism. President or delivery boy, everybody gets the same can of Coke, the same Campbells soup. And it's always freakin' delicious, better than what was on the plates of emperors in earlier times.

this is definitely my favorite album by the great man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of his most underrated parodies! Just brilliant, when you think about how effortlessly it parodies King of Pain! Even the "Is my size up there" for the "That's my soul up there" - just amazing!

We've got Portly, Regular, and Extra Long....i'm pretty sure that is a Zappa reference from "Eddie Are You Kidding"

@Hunter Kemp -- Thanks for the background.  I never found this song particularly funny in my youth, and was even more puzzled by the song around which he chose to write the parody.  Glad to finally be privy to an inside joke.  This now for me makes "Misery" by Soul Asylum his oddest choice of an actual song to parody.

@Jofel Tolosa I was the same way lol, I grew up on Weird Al, never heard the originals until later on. I still often prefer Al's versions haha. Especially Gangsta's Paradise, Beat It, Smells Like Teen Spirit, and The Right Stuff.

Wasn't that the _White Stuff_?!

Oreo cookies.

definitely i like the saga begins lol and for sure like a surgeon as opposed to the originals.

Don't forget :
Jeopardy. Greg Kihn Band
Another one bites the dust. Queen
Like a Virgin. Madonna

This is still better. Retro is always better.

I think he means he heard all of Weird Al's parodies before he heard the songs the parodies were based out of.

means sweden in english

sude in french means: sweden :D

First album I ever owned, way back when I was 6. It pretty much set the course for the rest of my life.

Love love love LOVE this song

I've always wondered if the fact that there are 3 songs on this album in the style of adverts was Al's way of having a subtle jab at the advertising media during the 80's. What do others think?

I always wondered what the Police thought about this song. They nearly killed each other recording the original :)

1st CD I ever bought! oh the memories.

this song is hilarious

I love this song, That boy could dance, and the Rye or the Kaiser song.

@GrayLeader2184 I just heard a Mudvayne cover of King of Pain and had to stop it to listen to this.

@1fbulsara I was a B52s parody

@1fbulsara No, Mr. Popeil was Weird Al. I dig the B-52's too though. And yeah we definitely had much better music back in the day. Weird Al had much better songs to parody in the eighties and even the nineties.

@gptvproductions graduated HS in 81, we had it best musicwise, right?????
Gonna be late today...gotta check out Another One Rides the Bus, too! How about Mr. Popeil.......or was that B52's??

I love this song I laughed so hard I am in stitches just like the king of suede lol

Best underrated Weird Al song.

Three people couldn't afford the sale on suede.

@jesse0192 ha i just scored this on vinyl for like 3 bucks at the used shop a couple weeks ago! great record!

whoever disliked this song is about to get PUNCHED!

I think a better parody would have been "King of Spades"

Yes, I had the vinyl. Best Weird Al cover and probably best album. "Dare to be Stupid" was awesome too. I think I'm gonna have to check out "Another One Rides the Bus" after this.

Al parodies tend to be of the popular flavors of the month, and I hate almost all of mainstream radio, so I rarely enjoy them as much as his originals. I made a similar mix cd of my favorite Al originals/'to-the-style-of'. Dare to be Stupid, One More Minute, One of Those Days, You Make Me, Good Old Days, UHF, Generic Blues, The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota, You Don't Love Me Anymore, Frank's 2000" TV, Everything You Know is Wrong, Your Horoscope for Today, Albuquerque, Bob, Craigslist.

@jesse0192 This vinyl album was my birthday present when it first came out. Many years (15+) later it was stolen. If this vinyl record is passed down to you, treasure it, man, treasure it!

you guys call all say what you want but don't step on my blue suede shoes lol

A pure classic, his parodies to songs become classics In their own right, he Is a legend.

This didn't just come out of nowhere:
This was written about a real store - and it really was located next door to Willy's Fun Arcade. It was the 80's and the owner of the store was still wearing leisure suits and was so proud of it. Al found it to be such an odd and out-of-place situation that he just had to do a song about it. The Police's "King of Pain" was the perfect song to parody for it.

@wilmotraid What part of "Weird" don't you understand? ;)

My uncle gave me this record when he hit puberty...his loss!! Love Al.

I don't think that's Sting singing backup vocals on this. It sounds like Weird Al's usual backup guys, and I can't find any reference to Sting doing this.

so old yet so awesome, got to love The Al.

is my size up there...lolllll

The sound of the music in Al's parody is, in my opinion, better than The Police. If you could lay down Sting's vocals over Al's music, it would be perfect.

I like this parody more than "King of Pain." haha