Hailing from Manchester, indie rock quartet Courteeners received regular co… Read Full Bio ↴Hailing from Manchester, indie rock quartet Courteeners received regular comparisons in the U.K. press to the leading lights of three previous waves of Mancunian Brit-pop: the Smiths, the Stone Roses, and Oasis. The band's alternately jangly and bombastic brand of indie guitar rock bears the influence of all three acts, as well as comparisons to contemporaries like Kasabian, Editors, and Kaiser Chiefs. They debuted in the late 2000s with the hit album St. Jude, evolving over the years by incorporating synth pop and dance grooves on albums such as 2013's Anna and 2020's More. Again. Forever.

Featuring vocalist Liam Fray, lead guitarist Daniel "Conan" Moores, and drummer Michael Campbell, Courteeners formed in Manchester in 2006, when the 22-year-old Fray -- already known around town for his acoustic singer/songwriter gigs -- brought three of his childhood friends (including ex-bassist Mark Cupello) together to form a proper band. After signing to Loog Records, a pseudo-indie label owned by Polydor, the Courteeners released their limited-edition debut single, "Cavorting," in August 2007. Three more singles, "Acrylic," "What Took You So Long?," and "Not Nineteen Forever," dotted the charts between October 2007 and March 2008, prior to the release of the group's debut album. Produced by Stephen Street (celebrated for his work with the Smiths, Blur, and the Cranberries) and featuring Fray's painting of Audrey Hepburn on the cover, St. Jude was released in April 2008. The album reached number four in the U.K., where it also achieved gold status.

While touring in support of the record, the Courteeners began playing new material at select shows, much of which found its way onto 2010's Falcon, a slower, more ambitious set of songs. The band's third album, Anna, reflected an '80s synth pop influence and arrived in early 2013. In 2014, the Courteeners returned with their fourth studio album, Concrete Love, which found them building upon Anna's anthemic '80s-influenced sound. The album fared well, reaching number three on the U.K. albums chart. A year after Concrete Love, the group parted ways with bassist Cupello, replacing him with longtime collaborator and producer Joe Cross. In 2016, they released their fifth studio album, Mapping the Rendezvous. Featuring singles "The 17th" and "No One Will Ever Replace Us," the set peaked at number four in the U.K.

Celebrating the tenth anniversary of their debut in 2018, the Courteeners issued St. Jude Re:Wired, a reimagined vision of their 2008 breakthrough. They embarked on a celebratory concert run in England before returning to the studio for a proper follow-up to Rendezvous. Their sixth set, More. Again. Forever., arrived in early 2020 and came as a result of a dark period of uncertainty for Fray and the band. Featuring a distinctly dance-friendly sound influenced by LCD Soundsystem, the set focused on bass grooves and insightful lyrics that marked a late-era maturation for the crew.

Biography by Stewart Mason

Kings Of The New Road
The Courteeners Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I loved you, I still do, I probably always will do
I left home, and then phoned, to see if you like to dance
A memory, you and me, nobody else ever has to see
I loved you, I still do, I probably always will do

I loved you, I still do, I probably always will do
A lift home, we argue, I tell you to get to France
A memory, you and me, never gonna let anybody else see

I loved you, I still do, I probably always will do

The kings of the new road never do what they're told
The kings of the new road never do what they're told

The kings of the new road never do what they're told
The kings of the new road never do what they're told

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Kings Of The New Road" by The Courteeners seem to be about a past relationship that holds a significant place in the singer's heart, despite its end. The first two verses talk about a memory of dancing with the person he loved, and later arguing with them, telling them to leave the country. Although these memories are not necessarily pleasant, they are still cherished by the singer who confesses to still loving the person and always will. The repetition of the same verse twice, echoes the idea that the singer's feelings towards the person have not changed, and probably never will.

The chorus, "The kings of the new road never do what they're told" is an interesting addition to the song. It could be interpreted as a metaphor, highlighting the singer's rebellious nature, and perhaps the reason why the relationship might have ended in the first place. The idea of being a king of the new road could also mean someone who's paving his own path and not following the conventional ways of society. It's almost like the singer is saying, "despite everything that happened, I am still true to who I am."

Line by Line Meaning

I loved you, I still do, I probably always will do
The singer is declaring their ongoing love for someone.

I left home, and then phoned, to see if you like to dance
The singer left their house and called someone to ask if they would like to dance with them.

A memory, you and me, nobody else ever has to see
The singer and the person they are addressing share a private memory that is not meant for anyone else to witness.

I loved you, I still do, I probably always will do
The artist reiterates their continued love for the person they are addressing.

A lift home, we argue, I tell you to get to France
The artist gave the person they are addressing a ride home and had an argument with them, telling them to go to France.

A memory, you and me, never gonna let anybody else see
The singer and the person they are addressing have another private memory that they do not want anyone else to know about.

The kings of the new road never do what they're told
The singer is referring to themselves and their friends as the kings of the road and suggests that they never follow the rules.

The kings of the new road never do what they're told
The artist repeats that the kings of the road always defy authority and do as they please.

The kings of the new road never do what they're told
The artist reiterates that the kings of the road are rebels who never conform to the expectations of others.

The kings of the new road never do what they're told
The artist emphasizes that the kings of the road are always independent and will not let anyone control them.

Contributed by Henry B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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