The second single from On, “King of the Kerb”, is a mid-tempo rock song that desribes the antics of local street criminals. The arpeggiated guitar chords used throughout the song are similar to those used by Britpop contemporaries Suede, and indeed the glissando motif in the song’s introduction bear...
[Verse 1]
Sugar smile savvy, the king of the kerb
Got a temper in the style of a bomb
Got his friends in his pocket or safe behind bars
All the local boys know what he's done
[Pre-Chorus]
He turns it on, he turns it on
He turns it on
[Chorus]
Same boys doing it for themselves
There's somebody out there doing it for you
Safe while you're paying out for your health
They're the kings of the kerb
And everybody knows what they're worth
[Verse 2]
Sugar smile savvy, the king of the kerb
Keeps the order in this part of the town
All the shadows in the alley, the shapes at the bar
Like to service him when he does the rounds
[Pre-Chorus]
He turns it on, he turns it on
He turns it on
[Chorus]
Same boys doing it for themselves
There's somebody out there doing it for you
Safe while you're paying out for your health
They're the kings of the kerb
And everybody knows what they're worth
[Bridge]
Safe from harm and safe from greed
A little protection is all that you need
Safe from harm and safe from greed
They're just a racket machine
[Chorus]
Same boys doing it for themselves
There's somebody out there doing it for you
Same boys doing it for themselves
There's somebody out there doing it for you
Same boys doing it for themselves
There's somebody out there looking out for you
Safe while you're paying out for your health
They're the kings of the kerb
They're the kings of the kerb
They're the kings of the kerb
And everybody knows what they're worth
[Outro]
La-la-la, lie, lie, la, lie, la
La-la-la, lie, lie, la, lie, la
La-la-la, lie, lie, la, lie, la
La-la-la, lie, lie, la, lie, la
La-la-la, lie, lie, la, lie, la
La-la-la, lie, lie, la, lie, la
King of the Kerb was written by Sonya Aurora Madan & Glenn Johansson.
King of the Kerb was produced by Paul Q. Kolderie & Sean Slade.
Echobelly released King of the Kerb on Mon Sep 18 1995.