Knights of Malta
| "Knights of Malta" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Artwork by Katelan Foisy | ||||
| Single by The Smashing Pumpkins | ||||
| Released | November 7, 2018 | |||
| Studio sessions | ||||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 4:37 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Billy Corgan | |||
| Producer(s) | Rick Rubin | |||
| The Smashing Pumpkins singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Knights of Malta" is the third single by The Smashing Pumpkins from their 2018 studio album, Shiny and Oh So Bright - Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. The song differed from other Shiny Vol. 1 and much of previous Smashing Pumpkins material in that it featured a gospel-infused choir along with catchy pop sensibilities. Both Q magazine and AllMusic listed "Knights of Malta" as one of the standout tracks on the album.
Although released to digital stores on November 9, 2018,[1] the song was first shared secretly on November 7, 2018. On the band's Instagram account, two photos were posted containing a lyric from the song. When the Instagram "Slumber" filter was applied to the photos, a hidden message was revealed. The first read "www.knightsof" and the second read "malta.live". Combined, it formed the URL of a site where the song could be heard via an embedded private YouTube video.[2][3]
Song title[edit | edit source]
The song title likely is a reference the actual "Knights of Malta" – a modern Catholic lay religious order. The Knights Templar, affiliated with Freemasonry, contains several degrees of Order, one of which is Knights of Malta. This order puts emphasis on morality, and is based on the teachings of the Order of St. John and the battles they experienced in the Medieval times.
Videos[edit | edit source]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
We're gonna make this happen
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
I'm gonna fly forever
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
We're gonna ride that rainbow
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
Find that open road
Catch that blazing star
And climb out of that hole
To wonder where we are
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
We're gonna make this happen
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
I'm gonna fly forever
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
We're gonna ride that rainbow
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
Where omens scar your door
Like a harvest
We're bound and set for war
But no soldier comes
A serpent for your fist
And a scarab for your mouth
The symptoms say persist
So resist
But a cure is not in doubt
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
We're gonna make this happen
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
I'm gonna fly forever
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
We're gonna ride that rainbow
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
You'll just rise on forever
As my halo shines in you
When doldrums age in platinum
I've a starship you can use
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
We're gonna make this happen
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
I'm gonna fly forever
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
We're gonna ride that rainbow
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
I'm gonna fly forever
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
We're gonna make this happen
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
I'm gonna fly forever
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
We're gonna ride that rainbow
Woah-woah-woah-woah-woah, woah
We're gonna make this happen
I'm gonna fly forever
We're gonna ride that rainbow
Release[edit | edit source]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Knights of Malta" | Billy Corgan | 4:37 |
| Released | Label | Catalog ID | Format | Country | External sites | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 9, 2018 | Napalm | Digital | Worldwide | Discogs | MusicBrainz | [1] | |
Personnel[edit | edit source]
The Smashing Pumpkins[edit | edit source]
- Billy Corgan – piano, guitar, bass, vocals
- James Iha – guitar
- Jeff Schroeder – guitar
- Jimmy Chamberlin – drums
Additional personnel[edit | edit source]
- The Section Quartet – strings
- Daphne Chen – violin
- Eric Forman – violin
- Leah Katz – viola
- Richard Dodd – cello
- Charissa Nielsen – additional vocals
- Briana Lee – additional vocals
- Missi Hale – additional vocals
Technical[edit | edit source]
- Rick Rubin – production
- Dana Nielsen – recording, mixing
- Rob Bisel – editing, mixing, recording assistance
- Sam Grubbs – production assistance
- Colin Willard – production assistance
- Dylan Neustadter – production assistance
- Tyler Beans – production assistance
- Grant Blackstock – production assistance
- Vlado Meller – mastering
Availability
| Title | Notes | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Knights of Malta | Digital download | Single |
| Shiny and Oh So Bright - Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. | Main release | Studio |
Tour stats
- Total plays: 45 plays, 1 acoustic, 2 piano, 2 artists
- First performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2018-11-28 at The Sylvee, Madison, WI, US
- Last performance: Billy Corgan 2019-11-18 at Gramercy Theatre, New York, NY, US