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.

The Locomotive
King Krule Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm not in the mood, but I gotta move
At least what I was hoping
The barriers stayed open
Now it's just for the wait
And how unjust is this weight
My back was so broken
Tear me apart, pull me open
(Look inside) See the corrosion

The Tannoy spoke my name
This vessel was delayed
No objects in motion
A subject to smoking
The platform sighs, "My empty emotion"
As trackies walk on by
I'm alone, I'm alone
In deep isolation
In the dead of night, in the dead of night
Waiting for the train
In the dead of night I howl
We all have our evils
We're told just to keep calm
Curled up and feeble
Plagued by our brains, the internal sinking pain
I wish I was equal, if only that simple
I wish I was people (I wish)
The train it now arrives, I plead just take me home
Step the gap of minds, he steps the gap of minds
We all have our evils
We're told just to keep cool
The soul of the people

I wish I was equal, I wish I was equal, I wish I was equal
Twist the soul of the people

Overall Meaning

The Locomotive by King Krule is a song that talks about the feeling of isolation and internal pain. The lyrics depict someone waiting for the train in the dead of the night, struggling to keep calm and find hope in a situation where they feel unequal and torn apart. The song opens with the lines "I'm not in the mood, but I gotta move, at least what I was hoping". The singer is not in the mood to face the situation, but they have no choice but to keep moving, hoping that the barriers will remain open. The metaphorical barriers could be a representation of life's obstacles, and the hope that they will remain open signifies the singer's desire to overcome them.

However, the wait for the train becomes increasingly difficult, as the weight of the situation becomes more apparent. The line "my back was so broken, tear me apart, pull me open" suggests that the singer feels broken and wants someone to help them, to fix them. They feel corroded inside, and the delay of the train only adds to the feeling of isolation. The internal pain that the singer feels is further represented in the lines "We all have our evils, we're told just to keep calm, curled up and feeble, plagued by our brains, the internal sinking pain". The song highlights the struggles that people face internally and how they are expected to keep calm while battling with their demons.

In the end, the singer pleads with the train to take them home and says "I wish I was equal". This line is a poignant realization that even in the face of adversity, the singer desires to be treated as an equal and not feel isolated. The song conveys a message that even though we all have our own struggles, it is essential to remain hopeful and strive to overcome them.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm not in the mood, but I gotta move
Despite my lack of motivation, I must keep going

At least what I was hoping
I had some expectations for this situation

The barriers stayed open
The obstacles were removed

Now it's just for the wait
All that's left is to wait

And how unjust is this weight
The burden is unfair

My back was so broken
My physical and emotional state was compromised

Tear me apart, pull me open
Expose my innermost feelings

(Look inside) See the corrosion
What's inside is decaying

The Tannoy spoke my name
I was called over the loudspeaker

This vessel was delayed
The transportation was held back

No objects in motion
There was no movement around