In 2006, Arthur's song "In the Sun" was covered by Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.) and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. Released for a Hurricane Katrina Relief program, the EP includes six versions of the cover, one of which has Arthur himself singing with Stipe.
Arthur established his own record label, Lonely Astronaut Records, in 2006, and released two studio albums, Let's Just Be (2007) and Temporary People (2008) with backing band The Lonely Astronauts. Arthur subsequently returned to performing and recording as a solo artist, releasing The Graduation Ceremony in 2011 and the double album, Redemption City in 2012.
Arthur is also an acclaimed painter and designer. His artwork has graced the sleeves of his entire discography; the sleeve design for his 1999 album entitled Vacancy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.
King of the Pavement
Joseph Arthur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From inside the basement
It's good to be king
King of the pavement
Our friendship is pure
Like lights inside us pouring
I knew you before
It's good to be king
King of the pavement
But you can't kiss my ring
Down in the basement
Our spirits will soar
My soul needs a cleansing
I want to explore
Being forgiven
We lay down at night
In darkness together
The moon and you fight
To capture forever
The gods can hear me sing
From inside the basement
It's good to be king
King of the pavement
The song King of the Pavement by Joseph Arthur seems to be about the power dynamics between two friends. The singer sings about being heard by the gods when he sings from inside the basement, implying a sense of isolation and seclusion. Despite this, he relishes in being the king of the pavement, suggesting that he has found a sense of strength and authority in his situation.
The second verse delves into the singer's relationship with his friend, which he describes as pure and full of light. However, he notes that he only knew him under certain circumstances, never in the morning. This may suggest that their friendship has certain limitations or boundaries, and that they only connect in certain contexts.
The chorus of the song shows the conflicting emotions of the singer. While he enjoys his position of power as the king of the pavement, he notes that his friend cannot kiss his ring in the basement. This may point to the friend's lack of power or agency, and a sense of inequality in their relationship.
The third verse is more introspective, with the singer singing about the need for spiritual cleansing and a desire to seek forgiveness. He portrays himself as someone who wants to explore different aspects of life, perhaps suggesting that he is not happy with the status quo.
The fourth and final verse returns to the themes of isolation and connectedness, with the singer and his friend lying down together in darkness, while the moon and the friend fight for permanence. This seems to suggest a sense of fleetingness and impermanence in their relationship, as well as a sense of tension or conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
The gods can hear me sing
My voice echoes from deep within the basement, as if the divine entities can hear my melodies.
From inside the basement
The place where I reside, hidden from the world outside.
It's good to be king
It's empowering to have control over my own world.
King of the pavement
Ruler of the world that's within my reach, in the streets where I roam.
Our friendship is pure
Our bond is unblemished, like the radiance of the bright lights within us.
Like lights inside us pouring
The radiance within us is unstoppable, as if it's pouring out of our souls.
I knew you before
Our spiritual connection existed long before we met in person.
But never in the morning
Our encounters were limited to the darkness of night, never in the clarity of daylight.
But you can't kiss my ring
I don't demand reverence or loyalty from my friends, just companionship.
Down in the basement
Where I'm hidden from the rest of the world, in a place where intimacy thrives.
Our spirits will soar
Our souls will be lifted up to new heights, when we connect in the right moments.
My soul needs a cleansing
I yearn for purification, a chance to emerge from my cocoon as something new.
I want to explore
I'm eager to venture beyond the boundaries of what I already know or have experienced.
Being forgiven
I desire to be absolved of my mistakes, to leave behind my faults and flaws in search of something better.
We lay down at night
We retire for the evening, sharing our secrets in the comfort of the dark.
In darkness together
In the shadows, we reveal our innermost thoughts and feelings, our fears and hopes, our dreams and desires.
The moon and you fight
You struggle with the moon for control over my heart and soul, each competing for my affections.
To capture forever
Both the moon and you vie for the chance to own a piece of me, to keep me forever in your grasp.
Contributed by Gianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.