Kingdom of One

"Kingdom of One"
Promotional single by Maren Morris
from the album For the Throne: Music Inspired by the HBO Series Game of Thrones
ReleasedApril 26, 2019 (2019-04-26)
Length3:35
LabelColumbia
Songwriters
ProducerRicky Reed
Maren Morris promotional singles chronology
"Common"
(2019)		 "Kingdom of One"
(2019)		 "Just for Now"
(2020)
Lyric video
"Kingdom of One" on YouTube

"Kingdom of One" is a song by American singer and songwriter Maren Morris. It was released on April 26, 2019, as a promotional single of For the Throne: Music Inspired by the HBO Series Game of Thrones (2019). Produced by Ricky Reed, the song was written by Morris with Reed, Nate Mercereau, Sam Harris, and Wayne Hector. Inspired by the world of Game of Thrones, "Kingdom of One" incorporates dark, atmospheric production and lyrics reflecting the series' themes of power, conflict, and resilience.

Background and release

"Kingdom of One" was released as part of For the Throne, a soundtrack album inspired by the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones. Announced by Home Box Office (HBO) and Columbia Records in April 2019, the project marked HBO's first collaboration with a major record label on a soundtrack and featured original songs by artists including SZA, Ellie Goulding, the Weeknd, and Morris.

Ahead of the song's release, Morris promoted "Kingdom of One" on social media, writing that she had "channeled [her] inner Daenerys Targaryen" while recording it and encouraging fans to let the song "take you there" in anticipation of Game of Thrones. The song was released on April 12, 2019.

Composition

Built around a descending minor-key acoustic guitar progression, "Kingdom of One" features lyrics inspired by the imagery and themes of Game of Thrones. The song gradually builds in intensity toward its chorus, where Morris delivers the defiant refrain, "So you wanna play God? / Come on / Is that all you got? / Come on". It also references Depeche Mode's 1989 song "Personal Jesus" with the lyric, "Reach out and touch your faith."

Critical reception

Writing for Texas Monthly, Dan Solomon praised "Kingdom of One" as a "reverb-drenched, minor-key exploration of the loneliness" found in the world of Game of Thrones. He also viewed the song as "a bit of a flex" from Morris, arguing that she successfully stepped outside her country and pop "comfort zones" while sounding equally convincing in a darker musical style.

Personnel

Credits were adapted from Tidal.

Notes

  1. ↑ Credited as Eric Frederic

References

  1. ↑ Keaney, Quinn (April 21, 2019). "The Game of Thrones Season 8 Soundtrack Includes SZA, Maren Morris, The Weeknd, and More". Popsugar. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  2. ↑ Leimkuehler, Matthew (April 12, 2019). "Maren Morris releases haunting new Game of Thrones-inspired track 'Kingdom of One'". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  3. ↑ Stefano, Angela (April 12, 2019). "Hear Maren Morris' 'Kingdom of One' From Game of Thrones Soundtrack". The Boot. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  4. ↑ Freeman, Jon (April 12, 2019). "Hear Maren Morris' Game of Thrones-Inspired Song 'Kingdom of One'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  5. ↑ Solomon, Dan (April 26, 2019). "Texas Monthly Recommends: Maren Morris's Game of Thrones Song". Texas Monthly. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  6. ↑ "For the Throne (Music Inspired by the HBO Series Game of Thrones)". Various artists. Tidal. April 22, 2019. Credits. Retrieved July 5, 2026.