The Locomotive by King Krule Lyrics Meaning – An Ethereal Journey Through Desolation and Desire
Lyrics
At least what I was hoping
The barriers stayed open
Now it’s just for the wait
And how unjust is this weight
My back was so broken
Tear me apart, pull me open
(Look inside) See the corrosion
The Tannoy spoke my name
This vessel was delayed
No objects in motion
A subject to smoking
The platform sighs, “My empty emotion”
As trackies walk on by
I’m alone, I’m alone
In deep isolation
In the dead of night, in the dead of night
Waiting for the train
In the dead of night I howl
We all have our evils
We’re told just to keep calm
Curled up and feeble
Plagued by our brains, the internal sinking pain
I wish I was equal, if only that simple
I wish I was people (I wish)
The train it now arrives, I plead just take me home
Step the gap of minds, he steps the gap of minds
We all have our evils
We’re told just to keep cool
The soul of the people
I wish I was equal, I wish I was equal, I wish I was equal
Twist the soul of the people
In the chilling depths of ‘The Locomotive,’ King Krule takes listeners on a nocturnal voyage through the psyche of a restless soul. Archy Marshall, known musically as King Krule, has long been a conjurer of the moodiest soundscapes, blending a mélange of punk jazz with trip-hop and a dose of existential blues. This track is no exception, drawing us into a narrative that’s as haunting as it is compelling.
Here we dissect the layers, seeking out the hidden rifts and narratives woven into the poetic lyricism of Marshall. ‘The Locomotive’ is an introspective lament, a murky reflection caught in the flickering lights of a delayed train. Each verse, each line, is a car on this metaphoric train of thought where Marshall scrutinizes his own mind and the vastness of human emotion. We plumb the melancholic depths of ‘The Locomotive’ to extract the meaning lodged deep beneath its surface.
Riding the Rails of Archy Marshall’s Psyche
King Krule’s mastery of setting a mood shines through in the stark imagery of ‘The Locomotive.’ He’s not merely in a place but moving through an emotional landscape that is palpable and visceral. This song is not just heard; it’s felt—like the vibrations of an arriving train’s rumble. The mood is existential, as though Marshall is on the brink of a major life transition, waiting to be taken home, but also painfully aware of the barriers that lie ahead.
As we follow his journey, the lyrics convey a discord between the physical state of waiting for a train and the metaphorical standstill of his life’s progression. The open barriers suggest opportunities, yet he remains hindered by the ‘unjust weight’ of his own mental state. This juxtaposition of movement and stasis recurs, drawing listeners into the push and pull of desiring change while being anchored by one’s own inner demons.
Unpacking ‘The Locomotive’s’ Haunting Weight
In ‘The Locomotive,’ King Krule presents us with ‘the corrosion’ inside, a candid look into the emotional decay he feels. There is a raw vulnerability expressed through the words ‘Tear me apart, pull me open,’ inviting us to witness the internal disintegration he’s experiencing. This is not simply a case of the blues; it’s a profound and troubling erosion of the spirit.
The train, delayed and ever-awaited, becomes a symbol of hope—a chance for escape from the mental paralysis holding him back. However, the stillness of his surroundings, a platform alive with ’empty emotion,’ and the train that ‘now arrives’ only to usher in further contemplation, not relief, echoes the complexity of seeking solace when you feel entirely disconnected from both yourself and others.
The Striking Power of King Krule’s Lyrical Vulnerability
Marshall’s lyrics in ‘The Locomotive’ resonate because they are painstakingly personal. His confession of ‘I wish I was equal, if only that simple’ not only underscores a universal longing for inner peace and normalcy but also speaks to the broader human experience of alienation and the desire for connection.
The notion of wishing to be ‘people,’ to blend into the fabric of society without the weight of one’s mental battles, sheds light on the isolation and yearning that tether Marshall to the song’s eponymous locomotive—always arriving, never quite departing.
The Hidden Meanings Behind a Nocturnal Narrative
Beneath its literal interpretation as a song about waiting for a train, ‘The Locomotive’ holds a cryptic heart. When Marshall alludes to battling our demons, maintaining our calm, and being ‘curled up and feeble,’ he touches on the fight or flight response so many encounter amid personal struggles. The train and its delay become a metaphor for suppressed ambitions and the smothering grip of anxiety.
King Krule doesn’t just offer a window into these sentiments—he artfully captures the paradox of wanting to break free while feeling extensively bound. The train’s arrival, a potential release, ultimately signifies a circuitous return to the starting point, leaving us to wonder if the protagonist, and perhaps Marshall himself, is ever truly capable of leaving behind his afflictions or if he’s perpetually stuck in a cycle of stationary contemplation.
Memorable Lines Echoing the Soul’s Cry for Freedom
‘In the dead of night I howl,’ King Krule mourns—a line that echoes with primal intensity. It doesn’t ask for attention; it demands it, encapsulating the desperate need for expression that surges within moments of overwhelming claustrophobia. It’s evocative of Ginsberg’s Howl, a recognition of the chained beast within, seeking the light but engulfed by darkness of night’s hold.
This lyric, along with the refrain ‘I wish I was equal, I wish I was equal,’ forms the cornerstone of ‘The Locomotive’s’ plaintive plea. They haunt the listener long after the final chord fades, a persistent reminder of the song’s depth and the existential yearning for balance and belonging that is as much a part of Marshall as it is embedded in the human condition.
