Emperor's New Clothes

Sinéad O'Connor

About Emperor's New Clothes

"The Emperor's New Clothes" is a song recorded by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor for her second studio album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got (1990). It was released as the album's second single on 5 June 1990 by Ensign and Chrysalis Records and reached number three in Canada, number four in Poland and number five in Ireland. It also reached the top 20 in Australia, Italy and Switzerland.


Year:
1997
5:16
177 

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It seems like years since you held the baby
While I wrecked the bedroom
You said it was dangerous after Sunday
And I knew you loved me
He thinks I just became famous
And that's what messed me up
But he's wrong
How could I possibly know what I want
When I was only twenty-one?
And there's millions of people
To offer advice and say how I should be
But they're twisted
And they will never be any influence on me
But you will always be
You will always be

If I treated you mean
I really didn't mean to
But you know how it is
And how a pregnancy can change you

I see plenty of clothes that I like
But I won't go anywhere nice for a while
All I want to do is just sit here
And write it all down and rest for a while
I can't bear to be in another city
One where you are not
I would return to nothing without you
If I'm your girlfriend or not

Maybe I was mean
But I really don't think so
You asked if I'm scared
And I said so

Everyone can see what's going on
They laugh `cause they know they're untouchable
Not because what I said was wrong
Whatever it may bring
I will live by my own policies
I will sleep with a clear conscience
I will sleep in peace

Maybe it sounds mean
But I really don't think so
You asked for the truth and I told you

Through their own words
They will be exposed
They've got a severe case of
The emperor's new clothes
The emperor's new clothes
The emperor's new clothes
The emperor's new clothes

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Sinéad O'Connor

Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor ( /ʃɪˈneɪd oʊˈkɒnər/; born 8 December 1966) is an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra. O'Connor achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of Prince's song "Nothing Compares 2 U". more »

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Written by: SINEAD O'CONNOR

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Origins
*Emperor's New Clothes* is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor. It was released in 1990 as the second single from her second studio album, *I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got*.
Chart Success
The song was a commercial success. It reached number 3 in Ireland, number 5 in Canada, number 13 in the United Kingdom, and number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
Music Video
The music video for the song, directed by John Maybury, features a heavily pregnant O'Connor and received heavy rotation on MTV. The video earned a nomination for Best Female Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards.
Song Interpretation
*Emperor's New Clothes* is a metaphorical critique of societal and religious hypocrisies, a theme recurrent in O'Connor's work.
Awards and Recognitions
The song led O'Connor to earn a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 1991 but lost to Alannah Myles.
Album Success
The album, from which the song originates (*I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got*), ended up being a huge success, topping the charts in several countries and earned a platinum certification.
Song Creation
Sinéad O'Connor co-wrote the song with Chris Birkett. The title of the song is derived from the famous fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen in which swindlers prey on an emperor's vanity.
Legacy
Over thirty years since its release, "Emperor's New Clothes" remains one of Sinéad's most played songs on radio and continues to be performed in her live sets.
Cover Versions and Sampling
The song has been sampled and covered by several artists across different genres highlighting its versatility and widespread appeal.
Influence
The themes of the song and O'Connor's outspoken persona in the music video have been lauded for paving the way for more female artists to express their opinions and critiques openly in their music.

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