Richie Kotzen
Musicien

Américain

**About “Ivory Queen”**

The Ivory Queen is a metaphor for the constant chase for outward affirmation—that need to be seen, recognized, validated, whatever you want to call it.

It's something that's become incredibly amplified by the world we're living in. You're constantly presented with numbers and reactions that supposedly tell you whether what you're doing matters. How many people watched, how many people liked it, how many people followed you. You can very easily find yourself feeding that machine and looking outside yourself for some kind of confirmation.

The line that really defines the song is, *“She never gives more than she steals.”* You may get the affirmation you're looking for, but there's always a price attached to needing it.

“Queen” establishes the power dynamic. If you're constantly looking outside yourself for affirmation, you've given something else authority over how you feel about yourself.

“Ivory” has this interesting contradiction to it. It's beautiful, valuable and elegant, but there's also destruction associated with obtaining it. Something beautiful that comes at a cost. That felt right for what the song was saying.

I played all the instruments on the recording, and I deliberately wanted it to feel performed rather than constructed. There are no samples, no tuning and none of the technology often used to correct a performance into perfection.

There's a difference between something being technically perfect and something feeling right. With “Ivory Queen,” I was much more interested in character, tension and feel.

— Richie Kotzen

Ivory Queen
Words and Music Written by Richie Kotzen
Performed and Recorded by Richie Kotzen

You won’t ever know until you walk in, walk in my shoes
She takes the air out of my head
Break it down to nothing till I’m stuck with a fever
So bad but I can’t get enough

That’s why I feel like I feel
That’s why I keep spinning the wheel
She never gives more than she steals
But she’s my cold hearted Ivory Queen

Devil’s in the details when she’s talking I can’t refuse
Watch how I drink out of her hand
Take me down to dust and bone I’m still a believer
Who cares if it’s lust for your soul

That’s why I feel like I feel
That’s why I keep spinning the wheel
She never gives more than she steals
But she’s my cold hearted Ivory Queen

And you know when she aims for the heart
There’s a chance that you don’t walk away
You gotta let it go
So sad is the fate that I know

That’s why I feel like I feel
That’s why I keep spinning the wheel
She never gives more than she steals
But she’s my cold hearted Ivory Queen