Kansas - Closet Chronicles Lyrics






Once carried through the current
And being swept away
The king is in the closet
He's hiding from today
And though he owns all fortunes
This room is where he'll stay
And his world is filled with darkness, turning grey

Gazing out the window
Of the 42nd second floor
He is separate from all others
No one knocks upon his door
And it might as well be raining 'cause the sunlight hurts his eyes
And his ears will never hear the children's cries

Once proud and full of passion
He fought the cause of man
Many people loved his courage
Many followed his command
He changed the old into the new
And the course of things to come
And then one day they noticed he was gone

At first it didn't matter
Nobody seemed to care
They all became too busy
To find him anywhere do no one knew hot even him

The problems he would find
On the day he journeyed deep into his mind

I close my eyes I go far away
Away from this battlefield
In my dreams well here I will enjoy it
Where innocence plays with all the laughing children
The kind who are crying right now
A taste of freedom from the pain
Of everything here I see
Life is sweet but I took it all for granted
And now I don't know if I could even tell you
Just what we permit, we allow

Allow me to forget the life I've made my own
I've held this nation in my hand
And yet it's not my home
Allow me just one answer just one reason why
Why this refugee of the family of man must die
Tell me why

Daydreams filled his nighttimes
And night dreams filled his days
Confusion and uncertainty
A puzzled mind of haze
You thought he was so powerful
And set upon his ways
Well he left us all to travel through this maze

I heard the king was dying
I heard the king was dead
And with him died the chronicles
That no one ever read
The closet's fully empty now
It's occupied by none
I'll draw the drapes now destiny is done





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Kansas Closet Chronicles Comments
  1. z.... ....

    Friggen song is off the charts with everything ... every gun a blazin! Robbie's insane violin solos!

  2. z.... ....

    One of many many underrated gems of Kansas. Steve Walsh's voice is a gift from Gods. Man, just sooooooooooooooooo good.

  3. B.... ....

    2:27 This part gives me goosebumps every time. So fucking good!

  4. K.... M....

    So no one knew... not even him...

  5. M.... ....

    Even 42 years after this song was written it is still the best song I have ever heard

  6. 6.... ....

    there’s no better 1 , 2 punch on vocals than Steve Walsh and Robbie Steinhart ! same could be said for Kerry Livgren and Rich Williams on guitars ! long live the 70’s and long live KANSAS ✌️🇨🇦

  7. k.... k....

    Too busy....

  8. G.... 3....

    Before there were Maynard James Keenan and Steven Wilson there was Kerry Livgren.

  9. M.... B....

    Masterpiece, no other way to say it. Great sound on this post.

  10. K.... M....

    Damn that part at 4:29 is epic!

  11. J.... S....

    RHOF is ran by Rap culture loving millennial dolts.

  12. J.... S....

    Every bit as good as Rush. True unsung heroes of the rock world.

  13. J.... B....

    This song is about Howard Hughes. Portrait he knew is about Albert Einstein

    J.... B....

    I thought He Knew was about Tesla...oh well...

    J.... B....

    I"d always heard the Livgren had said Portrait was about Albert Schweitzer. After he fully converted to evangelical Christianity he rewrote Portrait as Portrait 2 and made it about Christ.

    J.... B....

    @Megi Stardust I'm with you. I always thought it was Tesla as well.

  14. P.... ....

    Modern pop music is crap. Kansas was a band of artists, each a master, it is sad that so many people today listen to drivel.Thank you.

  15. G.... H....

    Kerry Livgren had a stroke so I hope they get into the RRHF before it's too late.

  16. G.... H....

    best vocals of any american band

  17. S.... C....

    I saw Kansas as an opening band. Packed house until they left the stage!!! The headliner had almost no audience.

  18. T.... K....

    I think Lonely Wind is Kansas' most important song but I have to say I love everything they've ever performed. They are awesome.

  19. d.... ....

    5:44 reminds me of wayward son

  20. R.... A....

    Like Yes and Genesis, a feast of progressive rock. They should be immortalized, if not already. Carry on ....

  21. S.... K....

    This is just amazing songwriting despite your preferences for genre or instrumentation.

  22. T.... M....

    We're seeing this tour in Baltimore, Md. Saturday. Love it !!!!!!

  23. S.... j....

    If at some point listening to this you don’t feel goosebumps,you should seek medical attention...❤️🎵

  24. J.... B....

    Probably my favorite Kansas song ever

  25. S.... ....

    I hope they do not get in the hall of fame. next thing we will hear is kansas songs in dishwashing comerrcails amd it will reck what perfect assoications you have of the music in our mind. Lets just keep Kansas to music lovers. The R&R hall of fame is the Devils Game

  26. A.... R....

    KANSAS IS Still a BAND!

  27. T.... 7....

    Kansas is still ahead of it's time . ~~~~~~ ( MULDEW) gary b . ☆

  28. J.... C....

    Anyone with half a brain should be a Kansas fan, GENIUS!!!!!!!!

  29. r.... ....

    I saw Kansas live twice, the Monolith tour and the AudioVisions tour and as a live band they were tight precise and very musical. Art Rock does not get its due from the RNR Hall of Fame but it was that era because of them Yes, ELP and others that allowed the one of the best forms of musical expressionism and tonic storytelling and this song is definitely one of those.

  30. P.... C....

    Wow. A masterpiece!

  31. J.... J....

    Miracles out of Nowhere is my favorite Kansas song, but Closet Chronicles would rank a very close second.

  32. J.... F....

    I've always LOVED this song, especially at 2:52 to 4:28! AWESOME classic!!

  33. Z.... ....

    They were oceans deeper than their time. Highly underappreciated for their musicianship and lyrical styling. Otherworldly and insightful. Loved them in the 70's, love them still.
    Still got the vinyl on rotation.

  34. j.... ....

    Satan will be defeated! Good always prevails.

  35. j.... ....

    @Kent. Only the junk songs make it. Populous control. Kansas speaks truth, the "powers that be" don't like good people united.

  36. J.... S....

    Kansas reminds me of my younger day all my friends in the back of a van listening to Kansas and getting high

  37. r.... ....

    Like the Beatles, Kansas is a band that is in a league of their own !! God bless them for what they have given us !! Masterpieces !!

  38. R.... R....

    Takes me back in time

  39. �.... ....

    おい!植松!

  40. D.... M....

    Like this check out Numbers by Cat Stevens

  41. D.... M....

    Not understand it then to not understand it now still some of my favorite music of all time

  42. t.... B....

    Phil's best work imo

  43. T.... F....

    But they are inmine and yours kent thats all that matters

  44. D.... S....

    💫 ⚜️ Orchestral ⚜️💫
    ⚜️ROCK⚜️

  45. T.... ....

    Not unlike L Ron?!

  46. C.... N....

    OMG... There isn't a single band today that could write something like this!

    C.... N....

    Oh, I think you are wrong. Ever heard of Mr. Neal Morse? If not, you can look forward to explore the universe of his wonderful music. Well, we talk about writing Music. The Music is outstanding. The lyrics are not. Hope you are able to ignore the lyrics. Check out this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLCHfO2GHEU

    C.... N....

    Fucking no way.

  47. M.... C....

    What a lame song.

  48. E.... P....

    Closet Chronicles is very ethereal and haunting. A song trapped in time.

  49. R.... H....

    Lyrically 'Song for America' is the most real and historically accurate piece ever written.. in many ways it is the best work of art in music ever!

  50. G.... K....

    Their songs are pure poetry

  51. d.... m....

    the last kansas album that mattered or i was so put off by the monolith
    album that i stopped caring. "closet chronicles" was the best for me
    late stage kansas. kerry livgren's jibe at the megalomania eating away
    at howard hughes coupled with outrageous instrumental runs make this a
    keeper.

  52. c.... ....

    Axl Rose is, as a day-to-day human being, a piece of shit, but what I always enjoyed was his disgust with Rolling Stone, Penthouse and Playboy and Billboard: the media moguls who had so much fucking power back then over artists, and still do in their present day incarnations; Axl told them all to fuck off, and even told the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame parasites to fuck off too. And Kansas is ten times the band GNR ever was: do you really think they give a flying fuck about being inducted into this bullshit jerk-off joke run by industry has-beens, alcoholics, drug addicts, and jew perverts?

  53. D.... M....

    Written about Howard Hughes, in case anyone didn't know.

    D.... M....

    Is it? I've often thought that myself but the line about this land is not his home makes me think it could be about Tesla.

    D.... M....

    Funny worked for Hughes aircraft back in the day.

  54. K.... C....

    and then he was gone

    K.... C....

    Kirk Chauncey ...and with him died the chronicles...

  55. D.... K....

    Kansas, one of the all- time best!

  56. S.... G....

    listening to this album in college over and over..I will always love Kansas!

  57. m.... ....

    We should all start a grass roots movement to get them in the HOF. Just on principle. How can the greatest progressive rock band this country has ever produced not be in it?

    m.... ....

    maddane I'd be all over that.

  58. D.... P....

    Steffan Pila

    I 100% agree with you, Kent Mains. Kansas should be in the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame, They definitively deserved it. A total slap in the face to the people who love Classic- Rock Music. Who agrees with me?

    D.... P....

    Styx, Boston, Three Dog Night, Doobie Brothers...…..the list not in the "Hall Of Shame" goes on and on......Everyone of these bands should have there own hallways greeting you to the entrance of the place!

    D.... P....

    Rock n Roll Hall of who gives a F#%K! Supurlatives for the "industry" mean absolutely nothing. This is music not High School.

    D.... P....

    Its because we are from fly over part of country.... I live in kansas city... 45 minutes from Topeka

    D.... P....

    I wouldn't classify this as classic rock. Just amazing music. Period. It was classic from 1977 to today.

  59. T.... M....

    Wow. They don't do it like this anymore.

    T.... M....

    The Martins it takes actual talent. too much work for the nickel these days.

  60. J.... M....

    This song still gives me goose bumps every time I hear it.

    J.... M....

    Jerry McKenzie and Icarus, too.

  61. p.... ....

    Wouldn't have been something to sit in on this band while these songs were being worked out back then ?!!!!! WOW!!!

  62. j.... ....

    Becky Grant, How about this, "Hall of Fame" is such a shithole of an outfit they don't deserve Kansas! That band has more class than you could fit inside of that Den of Filth! Kerry, Phil, Rich, Robbi, Dave and Steve! I'd say to never dirty your feet by stepping foot in that place!!!

    j.... ....

    Kansas and King Crimson... two of the best progressive acts of all time, and neither is in that hell-hole called the Hall of Fame. I honestly think they should say, No, that's quite all right; in fact, GFY when they get the eventual call

    j.... ....

    I completely agree.. the Hall of shame is a total total joke. we know how great they are. who cares what those clowns think?

  63. D.... ....

    This album was a musical masterpiece.  One of my favorites of all time.  I love the outro of this track after 5:32 - so powerful.

    D.... ....

    It's a good one. It's their best.

  64. C.... J....

    true that

  65. d.... ....

    The Mozart of rock and roll.

    d.... ....

    duane639 absolutely Duane you hit it right on the head i couldn't said it better myself.

    d.... ....

    In 1978 our local rock dj redbeard dubbed them the bach of rock memphistenn,rock103 back then

  66. N.... W....

    Just saw these guys live last week, and they still sound this AWESOME!! Definitely one of the best shows I've ever seen!

  67. B.... G....

    Dust in the Wind....play it at my funeral too...scatter my ashes when it is playing.

  68. B.... G....

    Hall of Fame....if you're there, you probably suck.

  69. A.... B....

    Great Album! Want all of side one +Dust in the Wind played at my funeral!!!

    A.... B....

    Mine too. Requested long ago.

    A.... B....

    What about taking out a life insurance policy with a payout sufficient to have the band play it live at the funeral?

  70. Z.... I....

    This Band has been over looked for a long time. But their stories that they have behind their songs are astronomical and fabulous. I love to read reworks as they sing for me the songs. quite possible the best story tellers in the history of song writers. Kansas is Great, Thanks gentlemen for the great music!!! JDE

  71. D.... B....

    Allow me just one answer just one reason why
    Why this refugee of the family of man must die
    Tell me why

  72. J.... ....

    Kansas earns no respect and they seriously need it..

  73. D.... R....

    KANSAS will get in to the R N R HALL of FAME when the r n r hall grows some brains....

  74. S.... P....

    Steffan Pila

    I agree with you @Kent Mains. Kansas deserves to be in the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame. They are one of the most popular Progressive Rock Bands in the History of Rock N' Roll.

  75. K.... M....

    Fucking masterpiece, so many of their songs are, yet they aren't in the Hall of Fame.

    K.... M....

    I'm Helplessly hoping for a miracle out of nowhere..

    K.... M....

    Hard Rock Cafe is the true Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You'll find ALL the best rock bands there. I went to one in Destin, Florida, and it was amazing! They have artifacts from many bands, and all the songs on demand from the best bands in history including Kansas. They actually put the effort into being a Hall of Fame to rock and roll.

    K.... M....

    Kent Mains " I've no tiiiime for Time magazine or Rolling... Stone" Jethro said so and Kansas should too... The true faces of the bands are expressed in the hearts of the listeners. That's my thought on it

    K.... M....

    I agree Always been my favort

    K.... M....

    Incredible

  76. J.... C....

    Great LP..................!

  77. c.... ....

    One of the true progressive bands of the 70's.

  78. A.... G....

    I remember my dad listening to this on record and I would steal them to listen good times

    A.... G....

    +Alan Granger God bless Dad.

  79. B.... N....

    I know its about howard Hughes but why does the song say ive held this nation in my hand and its not my own. Is he referring to mexico because hughes was American

    B.... N....

    +BFF Nonfunctional I always took it as figuratively speaking, didn't feel at home here or anywhere.

    B.... N....

    more a matter he didn't fit in anywhere

  80. C.... M....

    I hear that progressive rock bands are too considered too pretentious for the rock n roll hall of fame. Kansas is just one of the many great 70s bands who can't seem to get in even though real rockers like Disco Queen Donna Summer had no problem getting in.

    C.... M....

    Screw the hall of fame. Too many bands like this one, or King Crimson .......... Mahavishnu Orchestra .............. Deep Purple ............... even the more commercial ones like Yes for a while ............. just can't seem to buy a seat in the place. When they miss talent of that level, they lose all rights to the name "Hall of Fame". But you have to remember the lackings of those who control it. Namely Rolling Stone mag. Rate Dylan as the sixth best singer of all time? I love Dylan's stuff, but I'm not about to make the mistake of calling him a great singer.

  81. B.... B....

    STILL THE BADDEST

  82. E.... S....

    16 dislikes? WTF??!!

    E.... S....

    +Eduardo Segura I feel sorry for them. This is a masterpiece!

  83. z.... ....

    I remember being locked in my room. With this tune in my head. So, being a child of the 70's. There was pencil and paper. and I drew.. But not as great as my Children. For I never kept them from discovery! And I am so proud, for they are so beautiful!

  84. z.... ....

    I remember being locked in my room. With this tune in my head. So, being a child of the 70's. There was pencil and paper. and I drew.. But not as great as my Children. For I never kept them from discovery! And I am so proud, for they are so beautiful!

  85. B.... T....

    at '2:53' this reminds me of something that would be in an old sci fi movie uuurgh this song give me mini orgies

    B.... T....

    Orgasms?

  86. O.... P....

    This album is so deep - you keep wondering just WHAT IS IT ABOUT!! It seems to be about the riddle of Life, about the meaning of Your Place in the Universe, ...about well ...Everything! I remember being quite mesmerized by it when it was Album of the Year. I listened to it over and over…  Played wicked air guitar to "The lightning's Hand" … it was a fantasy adventure like Tolkien, but also was about "modern-man" dealing with the dawning information age, and still about teenagers going through everything teens go through. Wow… they really don't make albums like this any more!

    O.... P....

    it is about Howard Hughes

    O.... P....

    I know this is an older post; but the music industry always passed this type of music by, and so they still do.

    O.... P....

    Old-Man Parker portrait he knew is about Albert enstien

    O.... P....

    Out of the 500 albums in my collection it’s very hard to say, but I think this might be my favorite album of all time!

  87. J.... H....

    God I Love this band! :)))

  88. A.... ....

    The 12 people that thumbed this song down are obviously in the closet yet!

    A.... ....

    @Becky Grant I agree...lol

    A.... ....

    Becky Grant or Beiber

    A.... ....

    Nah, probably just rap fans. Bieber fans have never heard of Kansas, nor the band.

    A.... ....

    they're hiding the fact that they like the same gender?

    A.... ....

    12 is but a small sample of brainwashed millennials who think that Justin Beiber and Kanye are good musicians ! so glad my teen years were during the 70’s ! it really must suck to be a pop fan !🤢🤮

  89. A.... ....

    Justin Bieber can sing and play this song!

    A.... ....

    @Alittlebitnuts2day in 30 years--if he is lucky, he is still far too green and inexperienced

    A.... ....

    +Alittlebitnuts2day That you would even say that shows how little you understand about musc. He couldn't come close to this if he tried.

    A.... ....

    @greenshp obviously the little punk doesn't even know how to pick up an instruments!

    A.... ....

    +Alittlebitnuts2day Justin who?

    A.... ....

    +Alittlebitnuts2day in your fantasies

  90. �.... ....

    ハイウェイスター!?

  91. K.... K....

    Can you relate?  I bought the album, wore it out listening to all the songs (17 years old at the time).  Howard Hughes had already died and my brain put it together that it sounded a lot like his life.  Come to find out it was!  Here's another one for those who care:  Foreigner:  "I left a small town for the apple in decay."   Was the "apple in decay" New York City?  Trivial; but finding meaning in the words we all heard!  I remember sharing that with my best friend at the time and he thought it could be.

    K.... K....

    +Keith Kinnaird I always thought the "apple in decay" was NYC.

  92. f.... ....

    I remember when I bought this CD in 2001, I took it to road trip along West Coast, from Seattle to Los Angeles. and this particular song played in my car when I drove route 101 somewhere between Redwood Forest and San Francisco. Beautiful song, beautiful road, scenery along the Pacific coast. So good memory.

    f.... ....

    Times like that are what make life worth living!!!

    f.... ....

    @awaken77 A special place; I loved it when I lived out there!

  93. M.... ....

    Wonderful masterpiece!

  94. j.... ....

    Masterpiece just like many other Kansas tunes 

  95. T.... ....

    I used to listen to Point of know return throughout many times. It was the first 8 track I bought when I got my Camaro z 28 78 flavor

    T.... ....

    @Thebenefitman54 i mentioned "8 Track" to my "Neighbor" at The Kansas Concert here last night, in Wichita B-) that was during a Leftoverture tune :D

  96. W.... C....

    Glorious!

    W.... C....

    +Wanda Cortés And beyond.

  97. R.... N....

    Jorn Lande wants to cover this song one day.

  98. B.... B....

    keeps getting better each time i hear it

  99. B.... B....

    says so much