The Pet Shop Boys’ ‘King's Cross’ is the final track from their critically acclaimed second album, Actually, released in 1987. It is a poignant commentary on the societal and political landscape of 1980s Britain, particularly under Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Government, which had won a third successive General Election earlier that year. It's a song that resonates with the despair and disillusionment of the era, set against the backdrop of one of London's most noticeably rundown areas at the time.
In the liner notes for the album, the subject matter is obvious;
The first line sets up the song. It’s an angry song about Thatcherism.
Mrs Thatcher ascended to power with the pledge of strong leadership, and in this song, they perceive 'the smack of firm government' as a symbolic blow. It often signifies that under stringent governance, it's the most vulnerable, the ones at society's margins, who bear the brunt. The notion of 'firm government' frequently translates to the disadvantaged and overlooked being the first to feel its harsh impact.
In the 1980s, the King's Cross area was synonymous with drug abuse, prostitution, and general urban decay. It is home to two of the UK’s busiest railway stations, and a third is a few minute’s walk away1. Its location north of central London is the gateway to England’s capital from parts of the East Midlands, the north of England and Scotland2. Pet Shop Boys singer Neil Tennant said that King’s Cross was a recognisable landmark coming into London for those attempting to find opportunities away from the high unemployment areas of Northeast England at the time.
The liner notes continue;
I just thought that was a metaphor for Britain – people arriving at this place, waiting for an opportunity that doesn’t happen, waiting for the dole queue or some documentation for the NHS. … That’s what firm government tends to mean – you hit the weakest person, the man at the back of the queue.
This grim reality is the canvas upon which the lyrical narrative is painted. The song addresses the pervasive despair and hopelessness of the time, particularly among those marginalised by Thatcher's policies. The reference to the "dole queue" symbolises the unemployment crisis, with people receiving benefits in the form of "giro" cheques. This scenario led to long queues to collect the payment and collective frustration and uncertainty about the future.
Tennant's approach to the lyrics was influenced by a friend's offhand comment during a drive through King's Cross. As he mentions in the album's liner notes, the vague and contradictory nature of the comment inspired the song's theme of being "pushed around" by external forces. The lyrics delve into the powerlessness individuals feel in the face of a rigid and uncaring system, where actions like reading a book or writing a letter to the paper seem futile against societal neglect.
The musical composition of ‘King's Cross’ starkly contrasts the upbeat synth-pop sound that characterises much of the Pet Shop Boys' work of the time. A minimalist arrangement accentuates its sombre tone, enhancing the song's reflective and melancholic mood. Tennant's vocals, delivered with a sense of resignation and weariness, further underscore the despair and disillusionment conveyed in the lyrics.
Remarkably, ‘King's Cross’ was released just a few months before the catastrophic King's Cross fire of 1987, which resulted in 31 deaths. While the lyrics were intended as a metaphor for the state of Britain, they inadvertently mirrored the tragedy, particularly in lines like "dead and wounded on either side, you know it's only a matter of time." This unfortunate coincidence lent the song an eerie prescience and a deeper, more haunting resonance.
The 1980s were a challenging time for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly with the emergence and spread of AIDS. King's Cross, known as a popular spot for gay men, became a symbol of both freedom and fear. The song subtly touches upon this aspect, with the underlying threat of AIDS looming over each encounter. The line "it's only a matter of time" hints at the pervasive anxiety of contracting HIV, a reality that profoundly affected the gay community during that era and recently the subject of Russell T. Davies’ It’s A Sin, named after another Pet Shop Boys’ song.
It was produced by Stephen Hague, who suggested the key change halfway through. Hague was also the one who recorded the trains going through North London to King's Cross. The song features a distinctive sound that sets it apart from the rest of the album. Chris Lowe's use of synthesisers and electronic instruments creates a modern and timeless soundscape, capturing the essence of an urban landscape in flux. The track's production quality reflects the Pet Shop Boys' commitment to musical innovation and their ability to blend pop sensibilities with thought-provoking lyrics. When the song was written, Tennant said it was guitar-based, quite Dylanesque and even the first demo was slower and hymn-like.
Since the late 1980s, King's Cross has experienced a significant transformation. Major redevelopment efforts and establishing the Eurostar service at St. Pancras International have revitalised the area, turning it into a vibrant, upscale district. With the fictional wizard story Harry Potter referencing a platform 9 3/4 at the station, the neighbourhood has gone from a place to be avoided to an attraction of its own.
This change exemplifies the dynamic nature of urban spaces and the potential for renewal, even in the most neglected areas. The station received a sparkling new roof and façade in the last decade, as did the places around the station. The once-industrial landscape is now dotted with sleek office buildings, luxury apartments, and trendy boutiques. The redevelopment has attracted a mix of tech companies, creative industries, and educational institutions, making it a hub of innovation and culture. Google's UK headquarters and Central Saint Martins, a leading arts and design college, are notable occupants of the area. Granary Square, alongside the Regents Canal, has become a popular gathering spot for locals and visitors, surrounded by diverse eateries, bars and independent shops.
While there is no official video for the song, Derek Jarman’s art-house film to accompany Actually, called It Couldn’t Happen Here3, features ‘King’s Cross’, so this clip serves as a de facto music video.
In the album’s original running order, ‘King's Cross' was the first track. A friend of the band listened to it and said, 'Well, that's great, you've made the album sound boring.” On an album that tackles consumerism, HIV/AIDS, privatisation and other issues in Thatcher’s Britain, it seems fitting that it ends on poverty rather than starting with it.
In the most recent data, St. Pancras was the 8th busiest, King’s Cross 15th and nearby Euston 10th.
Cambridge, Peterborough, Hull, Doncaster, Leeds, Bradford, York, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Brighton, Nottingham, Sheffield, Luton, Canterbury and Dover as well as Brussels and Paris, are reachable from King’s Cross and St. Pancras with Euston hosting services to/from Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham too.
Another song on the album.