His first album, Was Dead, was released in 2008. His eponymous album was released on 29th May 2012, charting at twenty-one on Billboard's Heatseeker Albums chart. The album also entered the CMJ charts at fourteen, eventually climbing to number two. His most recent album, Smalltown Stardust, was released on Sub Pop in 2023.
Stranger
King Tuff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See all the kids jump-jumpin' in line
All I do is hide
And walk these streets in the middle of the night
Walk these streets in the middle of the night
Everybody dancin' in the dirty club
Everybody's givin' everybody hugs
And I walk these streets in the middle of the night
Walk these streets in the middle of the night
Walk these streets in the middle of the night
And everywhere I go, I am a stranger
There's nothing I know, I am a stranger
And everywhere I go, I am a stranger
I am a stranger
And all I do is bark...
Everybody messed up on some drugs
I'm in the basement, livin' with the bugs
I'm in the attic with no lights
And I walk these streets in the middle of the night
Walk these streets in the middle of the night
Walk these streets in the middle of the night
And everywhere I go, I am a stranger
There's nothing I know, I am a stranger
And everywhere I go, I am a stranger
I am a stranger
The song "Stranger" by King Tuff is a poignant reflection on feeling out of place and disconnected from society. The opening lyrics set the scene, with the singer observing everyone else enjoying themselves while feeling unable to join in. The image of "walk[ing] these streets in the middle of the night" emphasizes this feeling of isolation and the sense that the singer is wandering through life without direction or purpose.
The song continues with descriptions of different social situations, from a crowded club to a drug-filled gathering in a basement. In each case, the singer remains on the outside looking in, a "stranger" who doesn't quite fit in. There is a sense of frustration and loneliness in these verses, as the singer is unable to connect with others and share in their experiences.
The repeated refrain of "everywhere I go, I am a stranger" reinforces this theme, driving home the idea that the singer is disconnected from the world around them. The final line, "And all I do is bark," adds a note of bitterness to the song, suggesting that the singer's attempts to connect with others have been met with rejection or incomprehension.
Overall, "Stranger" is a powerful song about feeling lost and disconnected in a world that seems to be passing you by. The imagery is vivid and relatable, and King Tuff's plaintive vocals add to the sense of loneliness and alienation.
Line by Line Meaning
See everybody havin' a good time
Everyone seems to be having a good time, except for me
See all the kids jump-jumpin' in line
Even the children are happy and carefree, while I feel lost
All I do is hide
I don't know how to be a part of the joyful scene and hide instead
And walk these streets in the middle of the night
I wander aimlessly, alone, and lost in darkness
Everybody dancin' in the dirty club
People are having a great time partying, while I am not included
Everybody's givin' everybody hugs
People are friendly and affectionate with each other, yet I am left out
I'm in the shadows, I'm on the outside
I am excluded and remain in the darkness, watching from afar
And everywhere I go, I am a stranger
I feel like a stranger everywhere, disconnected from the world
There's nothing I know, I am a stranger
I feel like I don't belong, I don't understand the world around me
And all I do is bark...
I feel like I'm only making noise, and not contributing to anything meaningful
Everybody messed up on some drugs
People are enjoying themselves while under the influence of drugs, but I am not involved
I'm in the basement, livin' with the bugs
I'm living a life of low status, with no company but the insects
I'm in the attic with no lights
I am detached and isolated from society, hidden away in the shadows
And everywhere I go, I am a stranger
I feel like a foreigner everywhere, unknown and unnoticed
I am a stranger
I feel disconnected and out of place everywhere, no matter what I do
Contributed by Samuel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
radted411
Marc Bolan revival! But it's got a nice King Tuff flair in the chorus.
Trevor Steele
Didn't like the beginning but after hearing that chorus its started to grow on me.
Eddie Arafat
i can dig it
Leonardo Chagas
dudes i've always said it.... Fuckin' awesome, The indie t.rex haha (:
Brayan Timmo
Sounds better in the KPSU Studios, but i still liking this band
Jake Perlin
shits tuff
Jayhawks6
god damn right
Rodrigo
This is sweet
pizza dad bod
I am a stranger.....