Named after the Elvis Presley film King Creole, King Krule is a solo projec… Read Full Bio ↴Named after the Elvis Presley film King Creole, King Krule is a solo project of Archy Marshall (born 24 August 1994), a London-based artist who has been compared to Joe Strummer and Billy Bragg. The singer, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist raised eyebrows with the 2010 single "Out Getting Ribs," released under the alias Zoo Kid, which showcased his distinctively raw voice. Anticipation for Marshall's first album grew as the song earned him a spot on various high-profile "artists to watch" lists, as well as a nomination in BBC's Sound of 2013 poll.

In 2013, while still a teenager, Marshall released the first King Krule album, 6 Feet Beneath the Moon, on XL in the U.K. and True Panther in the U.S. Marshall then collaborated with his brother Jack for the relatively fluid, more electronic A New Place 2 Drown. Released in 2015 and credited to Archy Marshall, its physical edition was packaged with a 208-page book of poetry, photography, and art. King Krule fully reactivated in 2017 with a handful of varied singles -- the dreamlike ballad "Czech One," the mid-tempo rocker "Dum Surfer," and the rumbling "Half Man Half Shark," all featuring saxophone from Ignacio Salvadores -- that led up to The Ooz, an hour-long follow-up written during a three-year period.

06 baby blue
King Krule Lyrics

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Baby blue

My sandpaper sigh
Engraves a line
Into the rust of your tongue
I could've been someone
To you
Would have painted the skies blue

Baby blue
If you knew
Baby blue

Edging closer
You swing my way
I've got no chance
And nothing to say
But stay
Here for a while
Baby blue

But if only
You could see
My shadow crossing your path
It won't be the last

Baby blue

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Baby blue" by King Krule seem to describe a missed opportunity with a love interest. The opening lines of "My sandpaper sigh, engraves a line into the rust of your tongue" suggest a sense of regret for the things he didn't say or do that could have changed their relationship. He acknowledges this when he sings "I could've been someone to you", implying that he could've been the one to make her feel loved.

The chorus of "Baby blue If you knew, Baby blue" expresses a desire to show her a different side of life, to paint the skies blue in her eyes. He thinks that if she could see how great their love could be, then maybe she would feel the same. When she's near him, he feels a pull towards her, even though he knows there's no real chance. He sings "Edging closer, you swing my way, I've got no chance and nothing to say but stay here for a while, Baby blue". He's stuck in the moment with her, wishing he could make her see what he sees.

The final lines of "But if only you could see, my shadow crossing your path, it won't be the last, Baby blue" further emphasizes this missed opportunity. He knows he'll never lose the love he has for her, but he also doesn't see a future with her. The whole song is an internal conversation with himself, trying to come to terms with the fact that he missed his chance with her.

Line by Line Meaning

My sandpaper sigh
My rough and scratchy exhale

Engraves a line
Creates a deep mark

Into the rust of your tongue
On the corroded surface of your speech

I could've been someone
I had the potential to be important to you

To you
In your eyes

Would have painted the skies blue
Could have made everything seem better and more beautiful

Baby blue
A term of endearment or nickname

If you knew
If you were aware

Edging closer
Moving nearer

You swing my way
You show romantic interest in me

I've got no chance
I do not have a possibility of being successful with you