"King Midas in Reverse" was originally a hit by
the Hollies, written by
Allan Clarke,
Tony Hicks, and
Graham Nash. It appears on their 1967 album
Dear Eloise/King Midas in Reverse. Graham Nash later recorded it
unplugged with
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young on their live album
Four Way Street.
King Midas was King of Phrygia (now in modern-day Turkey). He wished for Dionysus (god of wine and ecstasy) to make everything he touched turn into gold. Well, king midas got what he wished for but he wasn't happy since it turned EVERYTHING to gold- including his food and his wife. This song, obviously, describes a person who has the opposite problem: everything they touch turns to dust. And since this is the case, the subject is even MORE screwed.
This is most likely (or at least in my interpretation) a metaphor for someone who has trouble with relationships. The song is in the third and first person, using words like "he" and then saying "I". This piece of "psychedelic pop" describes constant trouble with relationships, making someone feel like there is something wrong with themselves. It's like today's "emo" music, except back then when a song wasn't about shaking your ass or drugs, it wasn't labelled something else.
Anyway, the subject in this song has become isolated, pushing people away for fear of them turning on him/her. Here is the lyric:
If you could only see me
I know exactly where I am
You wouldn't want to be me
Oh, I can assure you of that
I'm not the guy to run with
'cause I'll throw you off the line
I'll break you and destroy you
Given time
He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
It's plain to see it's hopeless
Going on the way we are
So even though I'd lose you
You'd be better off by far
He's not the man to hold your trust
Everything he touches turns to dust
In his hands
Nothing he can do is right
He'd even like to sleep at night
But he can't
All he touches turns to dust
All he touches turns to dust
All he touches turns to dust
All he touches turns to dust
I wish someone would find me
And help me gain control
Before I lose my reason
And my soul
He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
He's King Midas with a curse
He's King Midas in reverse
CST Approved