#24: Heavy is the Crown

I grew up with The Beatles who never wrote the same song twice. It's fun watching young people do reaction videos on YouTube because they'll listen to "Eleanor Rigby" followed by "Helter Skelter" followed by "Octopus's Garden." What kind of band can do this?


Consequently, I never thought of "styles" of music growing up. To me, all music is good music if the music is good. Which leads to this week's song, Heavy is the Crown. It was inspired by all the strong men around the world, now and in history, who grab as much power as they can, "they think that power lasts forever."


And the phrase "heavy is the crown" kept popping into my head. You think you have everything you want, but once you get all that power, how do you keep it? And what new problems arise once you have it? You become both king and target.


I did some research on power hungry mad men and found Caligula, who built a statue to himself in the worship centers and put his horse in the Senate. And the song came to me almost immediately, along with -- and now I'm back to the Beatles again -- a techno dance beat. It was the only thing that fit. So "Beatle Steve," as Gavin calls me when we busk in Central Park, is veering from his usual piano/vocal vibe and hitting the dance floor.


Let's dance into the apocalypse together!

Heavy is the Crown
©2025 by Steve Schalchlin

Caligula came tumbling down
Heavy is the crown X2

V1
Gold embroidered purple robes
Precious jewels, a golden laurel
From his famous floating bridge
The water shines in candle light

V2
Four white horses thundering hooves
A goblet spilling royal wine
A taste that fed his fever to
The Senate’s final bloody night

CH
But Caligula came tumbling down
Heavy is the crown x2

V3
On Palantine in marble halls
Footsteps echo, smoky incense,
The Forum, colors, banners, noise
Gladiators, mangled limbs

V4
At the temple to the gods
Built a statue to himself
Oil lamps, gold leaf, sacrifices
Virgin whores, unholy hymns

CH
But Caligula came tumbling down
Heavy is the crown

BRIDGE
Contemporary emperors
Dancing on their empty yachts
Grasping on with greedy hands
Ruling from their ivory tower
They think that power lasts forever

CH
But Caligula came tumbling down
Heavy is the crown


Apple Music
https://music.apple.com/us/album/heavy-is-the-crown-feat-steve-schalchlin-single/1795999699
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/track/2osUyYvy5qMc8yXLKbFEN4?si=387f33a97cfc4425
Amazon Music
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0DWLTBGP9?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_I7VqQOie591yzwnAlgytBKDXo&trackAsin=B0DWLT45Y2
YouTube Music
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lV1iDwopoIy7iUB6fnLCkqHCu01PJGSjc&si=48XK3zXeTRUMujCO


And don't forget March 7th. It's selling out. Reserve your tickets now!
https://shows.donttellmamanyc.com/8788-steve-schachlin-friends-3-7-2


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Steve Schalchlin

Living in the Bonus Round


Spotify Links

2024 Songs https://tinyurl.com/3su9t85m

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Personal Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepersonal

Comic/Humor Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevehumor

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Meditation Music by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevemeditate

Political Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepolitics

Rebel Nerd Songs - lyrics by Steve Schalchlin

https://tinyurl.com/steverebelnerd