Slipping Through (No Kings)

Album: X's for Eyes (2025)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "It's about what's going on in our country," The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus lead singer Ronnie Winter said of this song. "The destruction of it."

    Winter was deeply affected by a series of immigration raids in early June 2025 that took place in and around Los Angeles, where he lived. President Trump mobilized the California National Guard to quell protests, raising alarms about civil liberties.

    "My neighbors are disappearing," Winter added. "Families are being torn apart. And our community has reached a breaking point. These aren't strangers, they're our friends, our loved ones. They're not immigrants to us, they're neighbors. And like Jesus said, 'Love thy neighbor.' That's what this song is about."
  • In the song title, "Slipping Through (No Kings)," the first part is because, as Winter said, "Everything we ever stood for is 'slipping through.'" The second part, which isn't in the lyric, is a reference to the "No Kings" protests that took place around the country on June 14, 2025 when Trump staged a military parade on his 79th birthday.
  • Ronnie Winter wrote and produced this song with Matt Squire, who has worked with Ariana Grande, Boys Like Girls, Panic! at the Disco and many others in the field of pop music. This was the first time the band used an outside writer; Winter had always written their songs on his own or with his bandmates.
  • The song was released as a single from the 2025 Red Jumpsuit Apparatus album X's For Eyes. The animated music video introduced the "X's For Eyes" concept, showing a couple in a bombed-out city walking around with X's in place of their eyes, representing how they've been dehumanized and silenced. They get their eyes back after finding a flag for "The Alliance," which is the band's fan community.
  • The "No Kings" subtitle makes it pretty clear who this song is about, but in case there was any doubt, on June 14, 2025, Ronnie Winter posted a video on Instagram that was shared by the band where he told Trump supporters they weren't welcome at their shows.

    "If you voted for Donald Trump, do not come to my shows or ever, not just these four years," he said. "Don't come to my shows because you're going to hear a lot of woke propaganda, and you're going to hear the actual words of Jesus. You're going to see a lot of acceptance from all areas of life and races, and you're just going to see a lot of harmony. That's not what you're about. Don't come. Refunds are available."

    The song was released on July 19, 2025.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.