There are at least two bands called The Kingpins.

1. The Kingpins ar… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two bands called The Kingpins.

1. The Kingpins are a "road-tested, consumer-approved" rock quintet from Montreal, Canada, with a past as a ska unit with a brass section, organ, spy-flick guitar licks and rock-steady rhythms. The first Kingpins single, 'On the Run', won a MiMi (Montreal Independent Music Industry) award for 'Best Single' in 1995. The following year saw the dawn of their own label Stomp Records and the first Kingpins full-length, 'Watch Your Back?'. By 1997 the band was on newspaper covers and national TV, trapped between grunge and techno. The band's second album, 'Let's Go To Work' (1999), got them nationwide mainstream airplay, headline gigs all over Europe, NorthAmerica and Japan, as well as breakout slots on packages like the Warped Tour. Their third full-length, 'Plan of Action', saw them make choices. The line-up was stripped down to a five-piece, with Lorraine taking up vocal duties full-time. While maintaining solid ties to the rhythms and positive energy of ska, they explored punk, pop, new wave, moving balladry, even breakbeats. The album raced to the top of the Canadian college charts.

2. The Kingpins were a young and wild garage beat band from South London, United Kingdom, in the mid-1960s, fronted by Ray Neale. They made a handful of recordings, but never released a record at the time... not under the moniker The Kingpins anyway. They did masqurade as Those Fadin' Colours for a single on the Ember label and as Orange Seaweed for a single on Pye. Some of their recordings as The Kingpins popped up in later decades on some compilations of 1960s garage beat, freakbeat and mod proto-psychedelic mod beat, notably 'You're My Girl'.

Watch Your Back
The Kingpins Lyrics

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Back when I was a teen
My father he said to me:
"I've got a story for you.
Your back! Watch Your Back."

Living life under the gun
Ain't so easy when you're on the run
Always listen to this advice,

Your back, Watch Your Back."

Tried once to get away
Had to turn the other way
Soon felt a knife in my back
Holy Shit man, I'm under attack.

Back when I was a teen
My father he said to me:
"I've got a story for you.
Your back! Watch Your Back."

My best friend was a thief
Problem stealing from me,
As he taxed me, he used to say
Your back! Watch Your Back."

Now this story is over and done
Think about it when you're on the run

Always listen to this advice,
Your back, Watch Your Back."

Overall Meaning

The Kingpins's song "Watch Your Back" describes the importance of being vigilant and cautious in life. The song starts with the singer narrating how his father warned him about the dangers of life as a teenager. He shares his father's story who emphasized the importance of watching one's back at all times. As the song progresses, the lyrics highlight the challenges of living a life under scrutiny and how it is tough to be on the run always.

In the second verse, the singer shares an incident where he was betrayed by his best friend, who also used to tax him while stealing from him. The song concludes with the chorus that urges listeners to keep the advice in mind when faced with difficult situations. The lyrics of the song caution people to be aware of their surroundings and take necessary precautions to avoid being taken advantage of by others.

Overall the song is a reminder to be always vigilant as one's actions can have consequences, and it can be challenging to navigate through life without considering the risks and being aware of the people around you.

Line by Line Meaning

Back when I was a teen
When I was younger

My father he said to me:
My dad gave me some advice

"I've got a story for you.
"Let me tell you a tale

Your back! Watch Your Back."
Be careful of danger behind you

Living life under the gun
Being under constant threat

Ain't so easy when you're on the run
It's difficult to escape danger

Always listen to this advice,
Pay attention to this warning

Your back, Watch Your Back."
Be cautious of what's behind you

Tried once to get away
I tried to escape

Had to turn the other way
But I had to change direction

Soon felt a knife in my back
I was stabbed in the back