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King of the Kerb Lyrics

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.

He turns if on, he turns it on, he turns it on.
Same boys doing it for themselves,
There's somebody out there doing it for you,
Safe white you're paying out for your health,
They're the kings of the kerb,
And everybody knows what they're worth.

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 round.

He turns if on, he turns it on, he turns it on.
Same boys doing it for themselves,
There's somebody out there doing it for you,
Safe white you're paying out for your health,
They're the kings of the kerb,
And everybody knows what they're worth.

Safe from harm and safe from greed,
A little protection is at that you need,
Safe from harm and safe from greed,
They're just a racket machine.

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 it for you,
Safe white 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.
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8 Meanings

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Cover art for King of the Kerb lyrics by Echobelly

I always assumed this song was about wide-boy pimps. Kings of the kerb relating to kerb crawlers. They don't have to make money, there's somebody out there doing it for them. Entrapment the girls by convincing them a little protection is all that they need. Getting suddenly violent with the girls as he has a temper in the style of a bomb. The shadows in the alley servicing him as he does the rounds and everyone in the community knows what an awful person he is, everyone knows what he's worth.

Negative
Subjective
Fear
Exploitation
Violence
Community
Enslavement
Dominance
Cover art for King of the Kerb lyrics by Echobelly

Fantastic song! I can't believe I'm the first to post! I love all Britpop but this has to be one of my favourites! In my opinion, this song has the best intro ever. That guitar riff is second to none. I think it's just about those hard little bullies who think they're all that when actually, if everyone stood up to him then he would back down. That's just my opinion though.

Cover art for King of the Kerb lyrics by Echobelly

Woahh, just one comment for an amazing song. But I agree with you on the meaning.

Does this song make anyone think of the beach? Maybe I'm just weird, but the sound and vocals really make me visualize the beach. Weird.

Cover art for King of the Kerb lyrics by Echobelly

Love this band and this song, one of my faves, definetely. Saw them live mid 90's, awesome.

Cover art for King of the Kerb lyrics by Echobelly

echobelly is known for their political lyrics. So I think this is about the "big man" -- politicians, or cops etc--- "bullying" the public :)

Cover art for King of the Kerb lyrics by Echobelly

It's about pimps.

Cover art for King of the Kerb lyrics by Echobelly

great tune. catchy... and about a playerrrrr

Cover art for King of the Kerb lyrics by Echobelly

It's about a gang running a protection racket. "Safe while you're paying out for your health" - as long as you pay the gang they will protect your business (which might be illicit). But if you don't pay you will likely be a target or will be forced to leave their turf.

Song Meaning