Allen and Halliwell spent time in the USA with extended stays in New York and Louisiana in 1987. These stays led to a new vision of rock and roll. Soon they brought on Martyn Barker, another ex-Shrieker, to play drums and Dominic Miller to play guitar. Miller had spent time in the band World Party (and now is with Sting.). To round out the band, they recruited Walter Wray to be their lead singer.
Shortly after King Swamp's self-titled album release in May 1989, the press had much to say- Music Week called the album "a throbbing blast of molten rock from a band with London sass" ; Sounds noted that the album had "startling gravity....towering and volatile, and alive with primal energy"; and RAW judged it as "a blistering, caustic rock 'n' roll album.....King Swamp swathe into the jungle with the arrogance and certanty of missionaries" .
King Swamp's first single, "Is This Love?", reached number 21 on Billboard's Album Rock chart.
The band released two albums and nine singles & promo Cds before disbanding in 1991.
Wray later produced a solo album with Dominic Miller in 1993, who later went on to play with Sting.
King Swamp's albums:
King Swamp - self titled debut album
released in 1989
Tracks:
Is This Love?
Blown Away
Man Behind The Gun
Original Man
Widders Dump
Year Zero
The Mirror
Motherlode
Louisiana Bride
The Sacrament
Wiseblood - the second album
released in 1990
Tracks:
Wiseblood
One Step Over The Line
Floating World
Walk The Knife
Can't Be Satisfied
Nightfall Over Eden
Walk On Gilded Splinters
Some Kind Of Love
Kiss The Sun
Wiseblood (original mix)
One Step Over the Line
King Swamp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Move,
Like a hungry cat
Prowling underneath
The moon,
So I must chase the
Game,
Through the jungle of
Day.
Big Daddy, he runs this
Town,
Uses guns and pills
And powders just to
Keep us down,
But I won't make that
Deal,
Got a mind full of
Muscle and a heart of
Railroad steel.
Six is nine,
Black is white,
Walking through the
Night of strange
Delight,
One step over the line.
Operator, get me
Higher ground,
In muddy water and I
Fear that I might
Drown,
There's a wind a-
Blowing, fit to blow
Me clean away,
And the night's so
Wounded, keeps
Bleeding into the day.
Six is nine,
Black is white,
Walking through the
Night of strange
Delight,
One step over the line.
Big Mama, you run this
Town,
I give you long-necked
Bottles and you turn
'em upside down,
But I'm gonna make
Your deal,
Got a mind full of
Muscle and a heart of
Railroad steel.
Six is nine,
Black is white,
Walking through the
Night of strange
Delight,
One step over the line
The lyrics of King Swamp's "One Step Over the Line" are full of vivid imagery and metaphors that explore the themes of power, rebellion, and identity. The song begins with the singer admiring someone's stealthy movements, comparing them to a hungry cat prowling under the moon. This person seems to represent a force that the singer must chase through a jungle of confusion, perhaps symbolizing the challenges of navigating through life's uncertainties.
The song takes on a more explicitly political tone in the second stanza, with the mention of Big Daddy, who runs the town using guns, pills, and powders to keep people down. Despite this oppressive force, the singer declares that they won't make a deal and instead have a mind full of muscle and a heart of railroad steel, suggesting a steadfast determination to resist Big Daddy's power. The chorus, which repeats the lines "Six is nine, black is white, walking through the night of strange delight, one step over the line," seems to emphasize the idea of crossing boundaries and challenging conventional wisdom.
The final stanza of the song introduces Big Mama, who the singer offers long-necked bottles to in exchange for some kind of deal. However, the singer quickly clarifies that they too will not make a deal and have the same unbreakable spirit as before. Overall, "One Step Over the Line" is a powerful and poetic commentary on the complexities of power dynamics and the importance of standing up for oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
So sly, the way you Move,
Your movements are cunning, like a cat stalking prey under moonlight.
Like a hungry cat Prowling underneath The moon,
Your movements are driven by a deep hunger, like a cat in search of food under moonlight.
So I must chase the Game,
I am compelled to pursue whatever it is you are after.
Through the jungle of Confusion one more Day.
I must navigate through the chaotic and confusing situation just one more day.
Big Daddy, he runs this Town,
An authoritative figure, Big Daddy, is in charge of this town.
Uses guns and pills And powders just to Keep us down,
Big Daddy uses violence and drugs to oppress us and maintain power.
But I won't make that Deal,
I refuse to engage in any agreement with Big Daddy.
Got a mind full of Muscle and a heart of Railroad steel.
I am mentally and emotionally strong and resilient.
Six is nine,
Reality is warped.
Black is white,
Things are not as they seem.
Walking through the Night of strange Delight,
I am experiencing an unusual and exciting night.
One step over the line.
I am dangerously close to crossing a line and entering unknown territory.
Operator, get me Higher ground,
I need to be in a safer and more secure place.
In muddy water and I Fear that I might Drown,
I am in a precarious situation and risk being overwhelmed.
There's a wind a- Blowing, fit to blow Me clean away,
I am exposed to external forces that may easily overpower me.
And the night's so Wounded, keeps Bleeding into the day.
The night is full of pain and trauma that extends into the daytime.
Big Mama, you run this Town,
A powerful woman, Big Mama, is in charge of this town.
I give you long-necked Bottles and you turn 'em upside down,
I offer you alcohol, which you consume completely.
But I'm gonna make Your deal,
But I am going to make my own terms and conditions.
Got a mind full of Muscle and a heart of Railroad steel.
I am mentally and emotionally strong and resilient.
One step over the line.
I am dangerously close to crossing a line and entering unknown territory.
Contributed by Max W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.