In this episode, Eugene, Oregon’s Justin King shares the story behind his song “Sparrows,” which is featured no his latest album, Humilitas Occidit Superbiam.

I wrote this tune sitting on a roof in New York. It’s mostly a song about the failure I felt in my relationships and with the band. [Justin King and the Apologies] I was drinking a lot, not sleeping much, etc.. I was feeling very tired of trying and tired of myself.

Sparrows

Unsurprised look up into the sky
She tells you how you’ve failed
With eight lives spent
Repent repent repent
The bottle’s just no savior

LA loves herself and no one else
Jesus wastes his blood and time
Yellow lines divide the sides of vine
She has hers and I have mine

Planes pass overhead against the red
Sky counting black sparrows
Overdose there’s lead inside my clothes as I work my tired miracles

One last hook the piss is nearly took
I’m fresh out of fairy tales
Warm regrets against the coldest winters yet
This song sleeps in our marrow cause I love you so, cause I love you so, cause I loved you so

Justin King, an amazing guitarist and sometimes-war-photographer, has just released his first solo album since the dissolution of his band, The Apologies, a couple of years ago, and the first release he’s created since splitting with Epic Records. Humilitas Occidit Superbiam is available for purchase through iTunes and CDBaby, but you can listen to it for free on his site right now.

Here’s video of Justin performing “Sparrows,” which appears on the new album, in 2007. Enjoy!