In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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 ham and safe from greed,
A little protection is at that you need,
Safe from ham 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.
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 ham and safe from greed,
A little protection is at that you need,
Safe from ham 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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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.