The end of 2008 saw Grieves enlisting the help of friend and collaborator Budo to co-produce Together/Apart bringing his signature swiss-army knife, multi-instrumental backdrop to Grieves' hauntingly poignant narrative. The album began taking shape in New York as the two built off the success 88 Keys and Counting had generated and paired it with the intensity they developed from their live performances. The recording process began to shadow the theme of the album as it saw tracks recorded in Colorado and Washington in addition to New York, infusing it with a mixture of regional influences while still maintaining a cohesive sound. As the album neared completion the title took on a double meaning for Grieves as he explored new subject matter in the absence of trust, refuge in addiction, acceptance and honesty in self-reflection, and trying to find his place in the world without forgetting his roots.
Kings
Grieves Lyrics
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A pane of glass in my stomach and I don't break it for no one,
Go - The blood runs like a river when your back's turned,
And hope don't float when it's choking on its last words,
Word - which one would you use to describe this,
I'm sick of fighting everybody around me for silence,
Sick of trying to get by inside of your silly blinded,
Vision of what you thought life was before you dived in,
Headin' to the gallows with a smile on my cracked grill, and,
That's real - you can keep your little rap deals,
'Cause I don't give a damn about being king of the crap hill,
Stop - and let it fall where the chips land,
And take the earth from underneath your fragile pride and kickstand,
So, when it all clears and the rain clouds fade,
You can sleep with the rest of the skeletons in the grave.
This city.
Yeah, it's really got a hold on you.
This city.
It's really got a hold on you.
(Chorus)
You don't need to fight me off, I'm well on my way,
But I leave these cobblestones and matchsticks in the back of my brain,
I learned that you don't have a single word left that you can say,
That'll make me quiver when you wave it like a knife in my face,
Your king is dead.
You can change these bricks all day,
But not a single one will ever get you out of here and take you away,
You want a throne that can never be claimed,
But stand there looking like another drone that lost his way,
So take the broken crown off,
Bowin' in the kingdom full of fool's gold,
Searching for a diamond in a pile full of bruised hopes,
You're looking at me through those tiny, little two holes,
That lie to you and force you to be blinded when the truth shows,
Yeah, I guess I'm nothing but a blood drop,
That fell out of your last plaque-listed number one spot,
Coagulate me, I'm ready to be released and,
Out of your palms like a burgundy-patted breeze,
How poetic, you all want change but won't let it,
Get a breath of any answer you decided it was ready to breathe,
Believe me, that's the nature of the beast,
Break its little legs and then watch it try to flee,
Watch it hobble out your awful line of reach,
Turn around and pull the cotton out its mouth and pour its heart into the streets,
And when all of this is over, you can sharpen up your teeth,
Just to smile in the mirror while the rest of you depletes.
This city.
It's really got a hold on you.
This city.
Yeah, it really ate a hole through you.
(Chorus)(2X)
You don't need to fight me off, I'm well on my way,
But leave these cobblestones and matchsticks in the back of my brain,
I learned that you don't have a single word left that you can say,
That'll make me quiver when you wave it like a knife in my face,
Your king is dead.
In Grieves's song "Kings," he speaks about feeling hopeless in a city that has a hold over him. He compares himself to a pane of glass in his stomach that he won't break for anyone, emphasizing his resilience. The lyrics "the blood runs like a river when your back's turned" and "hope don't float when it's choking on its last words" suggest that he feels betrayed by those around him and has lost faith in hope. He expresses his frustration at fighting for silence and being misunderstood by those who don't truly understand what life is like. He says he doesn't care about being king of the "crap hill" because he knows his worth, and when it all clears and the rain clouds fade, he'll be on par with the rest of the skeletons in the grave.
The chorus "you don't need to fight me off, I'm well on my way, but leave these cobblestones and matchsticks in the back of my brain" suggests that he's moving on from the pain and hurt he has endured. The line "your king is dead" indicates that he's relinquished the reigns and is allowing himself to move forward without being weighed down by his past. He highlights the futility of trying to change where you are without changing who you are, saying "you can change these bricks all day, but not a single one will ever get you out of here and take you away." He encourages listeners to take off the "broken crown" and stop searching for diamonds in a pile of "bruised hopes," acknowledging that it's not easy.
Overall, "Kings" is an honest look at the struggle of living in a city that can be overwhelming and suffocating at times. At its core, the song is a call to let go of the past and move forward, understanding that true change comes from within.
Line by Line Meaning
I drink the clouded city rain water, you could never save my soul,
I am so deeply ingrained in the ways of this city that even the rainwater is a part of me. No one can rescue me from this place or the hold it has on me.
A pane of glass in my stomach and I don't break it for no one,
I feel like I have something inside of me that is holding me back, but I refuse to let anyone break me.
Go - The blood runs like a river when your back's turned,
When you turn your back on me, I feel betrayed and the pain I feel is overwhelming.
And hope don't float when it's choking on its last words,
When hope is dying, it feels like it's suffocating and losing its power.
Word - which one would you use to describe this,
There are no words that can truly capture the complexity of the situation.
I'm sick of fighting everybody around me for silence,
I am exhausted from trying to find peace in a city that is always noisy and chaotic.
Sick of trying to get by inside of your silly blinded,
I am tired of living in a world where people are so narrow-minded and unwilling to see the bigger picture.
Vision of what you thought life was before you dived in,
People often have an idealized version of life before they experience the harsh reality of it.
Take a look at me, I'm pickin' through my last meal,
I am struggling and trying to make the most of what little I have left.
Headin' to the gallows with a smile on my cracked grill, and,
I am facing something difficult or even fatal, but I am choosing to do so with dignity and courage.
That's real - you can keep your little rap deals,
I am not interested in superficial success or material possessions.
'Cause I don't give a damn about being king of the crap hill,
I don't want to be the best of something that is worthless or insignificant.
Stop - and let it fall where the chips land,
It's time to accept the outcome of a situation and let things happen as they will.
And take the earth from underneath your fragile pride and kickstand,
Don't rely on your ego or pride to hold you up; find strength within yourself.
So, when it all clears and the rain clouds fade,
Someday, eventually, the chaos and confusion will dissipate and clarity will emerge.
You can sleep with the rest of the skeletons in the grave.
We will all eventually die and will rest in the same place, so what's the point in fighting for power or superiority?
You don't need to fight me off, I'm well on my way,
I have already made my decision and am moving forward without any resistance.
But I leave these cobblestones and matchsticks in the back of my brain,
I don't forget where I come from or the struggles that led me to this point.
I learned that you don't have a single word left that you can say,
I have heard it all before and nothing you say will affect me.
That'll make me quiver when you wave it like a knife in my face,
Your words are sharp and can cut deep, but they cannot break my resolve.
Your king is dead.
The person or group that held power over me is no longer in control and I am free to live my life as I see fit.
Contributed by Callie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.