aKING is an audio diary of life and survival in the suburbs. Expect uncompromising, focused energy. Sing-along alternative country-inspired songs and Classic Rock anthems are at the order of the day. The tongue-in-cheek and cynical, yet sometimes sentimental lyrics are mixed with an infectious, positive energy to accurately describe the strange contrast of their unique socio-political situation. aKING is a band with unlimited aspirations, but totally aware and in-tune with where they come from.
Being members of Fokofpolisiekar, Hunter Kennedy and Jaco Venter need no introduction to the South African Music scene. Fokofpolisiekar has revolutionized Afrikaans rock music by challenging and shifting rigid Afrikaans mindsets. Controversial as they are perceived to be, Fokofpolisiekar has written themselves into the history books of Afrikaans Music with their fiery reign of excellent musicianship, relevant intelligent lyrics and larger than life live performances. FPK has won numerous awards including a SAMA for Best Afrikaans Rock album for “Swanesang” and they have opened commercial doors for Afrikaans rock music by being the first Afrikaans band to have tracks play-listed on national commercial radio station 5fm.
Hunter, who wrote most of the lyrics for Fokofpolisiekar, co wrote 8 of the tracks on the aKING album with vocalist Laudo Liebenberg Bassist Hennie van Halen has known the rest of the band since high-school. He studied for two years after school and worked in the sound industry for a while before leaving to spend some time overseas as an English teacher in China. On his return from abroad he lived in the Fokofpolisiekar house while the band was away on tour – and it was in this time that he started jamming and writing songs with Laudo. Laudo Liebenberg studied Drama at the University of Stellenbosch and is best known for playing the lead role in Marthinus Basson's acclaimed productions of Romeo and Juliet and Broers.
So Close
Aking Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The wheels are coming off at top speed
Signs can be misleading
Everything is under control
Hit the ground shaking
Moving to the heartless rhythm of a dead beat
It came without a warning
So close
We came so close
Get on with what has to be done
So close we came so close
There's nothing left to learn
There's nothing left for us
Nothing left to burn
Get on with what has to be done
Sticking needles and pins into lonely skin
Suck the marrow without thinking
Today feels like ages ago
Hanging over balconies
Smoke bellowing up and out
Always comes without a warning
The collision in me
The song “So Close” by Aking talks about the disastrous effects of trying to keep control in situations where it is impossible. The opening line evokes a sense of danger as the smoke from the rearview mirror suggests that something is wrong. The second line “The wheels are coming off at top speed” highlights the feeling of losing control as events spiral out of control. The line “Signs can be misleading” indicates how misleading cues can be when one tries to take hold of situations that are beyond control. Nonetheless, despite this sense of losing control, the singer insists that “Everything is under control”.
The chorus suggests that the collision or the disaster has already happened. The singer talks about getting on with what has to be done, indicating that the situation is irreversible. His saying “There’s nothing left for us. Nothing left to burn. Get on with what has to be done” suggests letting go of what was, and embracing the inevitable, and moving on towards a new destiny.
In the bridge section, the song shifts to the idea of self-drug use with the line “Sticking needles and pins into lonely skin.” The singer is trying to ignore the pain but also knows that they need to confront the situation head-on. The song ends on the same note as it started, with images of smoke alluding to further chaos and danger.
Line by Line Meaning
Smoke in the rear-view mirror
I'm reflecting on past mistakes
The wheels are coming off at top speed
Everything is falling apart quickly
Signs can be misleading
I can't trust my own judgement
Everything is under control
I'm trying to convince myself that everything is okay
Hit the ground shaking
I'm feeling the impact of my choices
Moving to the heartless rhythm of a dead beat
I'm going through the motions without feeling anything
It came without a warning
I wasn't prepared for what happened
The collision in me
The internal conflict I'm experiencing
So close
I was almost there
We came so close
We were almost successful
Get on with what has to be done
It's time to move forward
There's nothing left to learn
I've learned all that I can
There's nothing left for us
Our time is over
Nothing left to burn
There's no point in trying to fix what's broken
Sticking needles and pins into lonely skin
I'm inflicting self-harm to cope with my emotions
Suck the marrow without thinking
I'm consuming everything in sight without considering the consequences
Today feels like ages ago
Time has passed quickly and I can't keep up
Hanging over balconies
I'm in a dangerous place
Smoke bellowing up and out
I'm burning up on the inside and it's becoming visible to others
Always comes without a warning
Life's challenges are unpredictable
The collision in me
The internal struggle I'm experiencing
Contributed by Julian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BushLitter
My all time favourite band. It is criminal that they are not world renowned.
Stephanie
10 years later and I'm still listening to this 🥰😍🤩 Still My Favourite Local SA band 🙌🏽🤘🏽🎸
Andrew
Awesome song guys loving it! If only more record stores had your album i'm battling to find it...
sean pienaar
Proudly South African moment for me to see such a class act with such a classy video, all home grown. Especially well done on the video work!
Dean Tordensonn
Awesome... what more can be said?
Hanno Van Zyl
Yes Ouens! Goeie werk Adriaan!
Larry Leyden
BEFOK! Brilliant use of the shallow depth of field a prime lens offers on a DSLR. Nice one Adriaan!
hnrdom001
def the best aKING video... big up to the kirstenbosch and roof gig!
richard schaffer
1:30 rocked my face
Martin Le Roux
Goeie werk manne julle is befok...!!!