The Emperor's New Clothes (song)

Lyrically, the song is about personal tribulations amid the oppression of the world around her, while she sings: "I will live by my own policies/I will sleep with a clear conscience".[1]

Matthew Hocter from Albumism said that the song "shows a conviction that is part anger and part middle finger to the never-ending judgement the singer faced at the time with her star sky rocketing, scrutiny around her Catholic faith, and her role as a newly single mother."[2] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as one of several "moments of brilliance".[3] Jodi Cleesattle from American Eagle wrote that the song is "the album's closest thing to a typical rock song", noting it as "an up-front autobiographical song with even, somewhat gritty vocals and strong backing on both electric and acoustic guitars."[4] Bill Coleman from Billboard described it as "jangly",[5] adding that the "clever, guitar-laced rocker is a fine choice as a follow-up". He also said it "should confirm O'Connor's status as a viable pop radio star."[6] Tom Moon from Knight Ridder called it a "show-stopping moment" and added that it is a "bitter what-I-learned-on-the-road song".[7] Music & Media noted it as "hard-hitting pop".[8] David Giles from Music Week said it's "a rockier track" and more like "Mandinka" than "Nothing Compares 2 U", "though without any of the former's quirkiness."[9] David Quantick from NME wrote that it is a song "very heavy on specifics and is full of not very obscure lines like. "He thinks I just became famous and that's what messed me up" and the splendidly un-rock 'n' roll "You know how it is/And how a pregnancy can change you"."[10] The lyric "It seems like years since you held the baby/ While I wrecked the bedroom," according to Mark Richardson from Pitchfork, "is delivered with a muted lilt, O'Connor's voice bright and possibly a little hopeful, confident in her strength despite the weight of the past".[11] Pop Rescue wrote that the song itself is "a rockier song" than the others on the album, adding that "it really has a great rhythm and shows that Sinéad is equally at home of these harder pop rock songs. This is a brilliant track!"[12] William Shaw from Smash Hits stated that "this is the most confessional record ever" and described it as "goose-pimplingly honest" in his review.[13]

US CD single

1. "The Emperor's New Clothes" (LP Version) – 5:16
2. "The Emperor's New Clothes" (Main Mix) – 4:37
3. "What Do You Want?" – 2:58
4. "Mandinka" (Jake's Remix) – 5:58

• Sinéad O'Connor – vocals, songwiter, producer, acoustic guitar
• John Reynolds – drums
• Andy Rourke – bass
• Marco Pirroni – electric guitar
• Chris Birkett – engineering