A popular misconception is that this is the name of the band featuring him and not just his stage name. However, at live shows, he will usually introduce his band members by their similar pseudonyms - some fellow Fence Collective artistes such as "The Pictish Trail" (aka Johnny Lynch), On The Fly and Uncle Beesly, to name but the usual line-up.
Albums include: Kenny and Beth's Musakal Boat Rides (2003); Rocket D.I.Y. (2005); KC Rules OK (2005); Bombshell (2007) and Flick The V's (2009).
You can find a full discography of his close to 40 self released CD-Rs here
www.kingcreosote.com
Miserable Strangers
King Creosote Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And oh how we slaved to pave our way
And only to be dropped upon this quay
And only to be press-ganged overseas
Is this the end of the begining or the begining of the end
And these miserable strangers will be the making of our friends
They've been dropped upon this quay
Just the same as you and me
Are you so bewildered inside
But you know we'll have the new life that we talked of loud and proud
Hack them high and hold them dear
For we'll soon forget these faces in the crowd blurred by our tears
And yet we'll miss them year on year
So let's pull ourselves together like the others
We'll throw our hats into the air
And try to raise a hearty cheer
And at the back of my mind and I was always hoping I might just get back
At the back of my mind and I was always hoping I might just get back
Always hoping I might just get back
At the back of my mind I was always hoping I might just get back
At the back of my mind I was always hoping I might just get back
Always hoping that I might just get back
Always hoping that I might just get back
The song "Miserable Strangers" by King Creosote is a melancholic tribute to the struggles of starting a new life. The lyrics reflect the feeling of disillusionment and uncertainty that accompanies leaving one's comfort zone and embarking on a new journey. The singer expresses his exhaustion with trying to be brave and make a better life for himself, only to end up feeling press-ganged overseas and dropped "upon this quay." He wonders if this is the "end of the beginning or the beginning of the end."
Despite feeling like a stranger in a new place, the singer acknowledges that the experience is not unique to him but is shared by others who also find themselves struggling in a foreign land. The people he meets, the "miserable strangers," are the ones who will become his friends and help him make a new life. The lyrics suggest that even though it's hard to let go of the past and the people left behind, it's important to look forward and embrace the new life that's waiting.
Line by Line Meaning
I've done with being brave
I'm tired of acting tough and pretending everything is okay
And oh how we slaved to pave our way
We worked hard to achieve our goals
And only to be dropped upon this quay
But now we've been left stranded and abandoned in this unfamiliar place
And only to be press-ganged overseas
Forced to leave our homes and loved ones to serve in a foreign land
Is this the end of the begining or the begining of the end
Are we at the beginning of a new chapter or at the end of our story?
And these miserable strangers will be the making of our friends
Despite our current struggles, we will eventually form strong bonds with these unfamiliar people
They've been dropped upon this quay
Just like us, these strangers have been abandoned in this unfamiliar place
Just the same as you and me
They are going through the same difficult experience as we are
With each step forward there's two looks back
For every bit of progress we make, we are reminded of what we've lost
Are you so bewildered inside
Do you feel lost and confused on the inside?
But you know we'll have the new life that we talked of loud and proud
Despite the hardships, we still have hope for a better future
Hack them high and hold them dear
We should cherish the relationships we've made and hold onto them tightly
For we'll soon forget these faces in the crowd blurred by our tears
In time, these strangers will become distant memories, obscured by our emotions
And yet we'll miss them year on year
But we will still feel a sense of longing for the connections we made
So let's pull ourselves together like the others
Let's gather our strength like those around us who have persevered through similar hardship
We'll throw our hats into the air
We will celebrate our small victories and moments of happiness
And try to raise a hearty cheer
We will do our best to stay positive and keep our spirits up
And at the back of my mind and I was always hoping I might just get back
Deep down, I have always held onto the hope of returning to my old life
At the back of my mind and I was always hoping I might just get back
That longing for familiarity and normalcy has always been in the back of my mind
Always hoping I might just get back
I constantly hold onto the possibility of returning to the life I once had
At the back of my mind I was always hoping I might just get back
That glimmer of hope for returning to what was familiar has always been present in my mind
At the back of my mind I was always hoping I might just get back
I cannot shake the desire to go back to what I knew before
Always hoping that I might just get back
That longing for the past and the possibility of returning to it is always lingering in me
Writer(s): Kenny Anderson
Contributed by Arianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Johny Cash
on Pauper's Dough
Whilst I would agree the song is about poverty and injustice it seems strange to me that you make no reference to the metaphorical vehicle of the song-namely Scotland’s mining industry with its pernicious conditions and poor pay. (Clarty surrounds, clawed out tonnage, on our knees). Nonetheless it provided employment, but t was cruelly abandoned by the politics of the day as elsewhere, with no replacement employment.
Johny Cash
on Pauper's Dough
The lyrics of "Pauper's Dough" by King Creosote are a commentary on societal injustice and the struggle for equality. The first line speaks of injustice being on its knees underground, highlighting the prevalence of unfairness in society. The next line, "The clawed-out tonnage is to our detriment," highlights the negative consequences of this injustice. The use of the word "clawed-out" suggests that those who are suffering are being dragged down by the weight of inequality, like a weight clawing at their ankles. The following lines describe the financial struggle of those living in poverty. Despite their limited means, they are "striving to be counted," trying to make a difference and fight for their rights. The chorus repeats the phrase "rise above the gutter you are inside" four times, emphasizing the importance of overcoming one's struggles and fighting for a better life.b
Magnus Helgason
on Klutz
I have to admit that Scottish is not the easiest English accent, and I'm sure I'm still far off the mark, and several things in the lyrics don't make any sense to me, but to me it sounds more like.
Well i swore I would not get content/caught out again, well I swore I would off (?) when i walk
I meant to tell you that my ex girl friend
But you were not the cause of my descontent
Meant to tell you that colors tasted great
that my feelings look like gold
I dream of demons inside out.
had them dance the culvert strap (?), in my yellow clogs, what a twat
How foolishly I looked at you my friend, what a klutz I was
How foolishly I looked at you back then, what a klutz I was