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.
Underclass
King Krule Lyrics
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Makes judgment of all of us
I've had enough, lover, of what you think of me
I weren't sure at all of what I was supposed to be
The demons key, showin' me up in times of need
By setting me free
She was like
Misery, you came at last
Lock the door and run the bath
I was doin' some good, I was keepin' clean
Kept my head up above your intimacy
Unsteadily your putrid ooze will swallow me
Is it meant to be?
And find me those big sad eyes
I lay down on the empty streets
That always seem to lead me to you
Under the underclass
Deep in society's hole
That's where I saw you last
When we're beneath it all
I had this feeling I was comin' back
But little did I know
But little did I know
I had this feeling
The numb is gonna spread through me, girl
Let the fire grow cold
And prepare that bed for me, yeah
I'm under your control
Under the underclass
Deep beneath it all
I had this feeling I was comin' back
But little did I know
And little did I know
Should've been out on your own
Some things come and go
Sometimes your energy flows
In King Krule's song "Underclass," the singer sheds light on the despair and hopelessness that ensues when one belongs to the underclass of society. The moon, a symbol of judgment, hangs above, highlighting the harsh reality of societal divisions where those who belong to the underclass are seen as inferior. The singer expresses his frustration with his lover's judgment of him, feeling lost and unsure of his place in society. The demons, representing the struggles one faces, show up during moments of need but also set him free.
The singer's lover arrives, acknowledging the desperate feeling only he can give her. As she locks the door and runs a bath, the singer consoles himself with the fact that he had been doing good, keeping clean and above her intimacy, but he soon realizes that his efforts are futile as her "putrid ooze" will eventually swallow him. He wanders the empty streets, searching for his lover's big sad eyes and acknowledging that they are both part of the underclass, relegated to the deep hole of society.
The singer references the numbness that comes with hopelessness, conceding that he is under his lover's control and letting the fire grow cold. He reiterates that he had a feeling he would come back, but little did he know that he would succumb to the despair that the underclass perpetuates. The song ends with the acknowledgement that sometimes energy flows, and some things come and go, suggesting a glimmer of hope amidst the despair.
Line by Line Meaning
The moon hangs above
The moon casts judgment on all of us
Makes judgment of all of us
The moon is a symbol of judgment over everyone
I've had enough, lover, of what you think of me
I'm tired of your judgmental attitude towards me, my love
I weren't sure at all of what I was supposed to be
I had no idea what my purpose was
The demons key, showin' me up in times of need
My vices are what help me when I'm in trouble
By setting me free
Being liberated by my demons
She was like
'Nothin' ever made me feel the way you do'
She said that no one ever made her feel the way I do
Misery, you came at last
Misery inevitably arrived at my doorstep
Lock the door and run the bath
I'm preparing to take a bath in private
I was doin' some good, I was keepin' clean
I was trying to live a clean and healthy lifestyle
Kept my head up above your intimacy
I didn't let myself get too close to you emotionally
Unsteadily your putrid ooze will swallow me
Ultimately, your negative qualities will consume me
Is it meant to be?
Is this what fate had in store for me?
And find me those big sad eyes
I long to look into your sad eyes
I lay down on the empty streets
I'm lying down on the deserted streets
That always seem to lead me to you
These lonely streets keep bringing me back to you
Under the underclass
Beneath society's lowest rungs
Deep in society's hole
In the darkest depths of society
That's where I saw you last
It's where I last saw you
When we're beneath it all
When we're at rock bottom
I had this feeling I was comin' back
I had a premonition that I would return
But little did I know
I didn't realize how much things would change
The numb is gonna spread through me, girl
I am becoming increasingly desensitized
Let the fire grow cold
Allow my passion and desire to dwindle away
And prepare that bed for me, yeah
Get the bed ready for me, so I can lie down and give up
I'm under your control
You have complete power over me
Should've been out on your own
You should have been independent
And little did I know
I truly had no idea
Some things come and go
Certain things are fleeting
Sometimes your energy flows
Sometimes you have to go with the flow
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Archie Marshall, Ignacio Salvadores
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind