The alias "k-os" is pronounced "chaos" and is an acronym for "Knowledge of Self," although in a later interview he also said that it stands for "Kheaven's Original Sound." His music incorporates a wide variety of music genres including but not limited to rap, funk, rock, and reggae. The lyrics frequently focus on promoting a "positive message" while at times expressing criticism of mainstream hip hop culture's obsession with money, fame and glorification of violence. A musician as well as a producer, k-os has written and produced a large portion of all four of his albums. k-os usually performs with a live band, something that is uncommon in the hip hop genre. He sometimes plays guitar and keyboard both during live performances and in the studio.
k-os received his first musical exposure with the single "Musical Essence," released in 1993. After the release of his second single "Rise Like The Sun" in 1996 he withdrew from the industry because he was dissatisfied with his musical style. He reappeared briefly in 1999 and released his debut album Exit in 2002. The album received positive reviews but sold relatively few copies. He released his second album Joyful Rebellion in 2004, which received platinum status in Canada. Joyful Rebellion received positive reviews, but at times was criticized for speaking extensively on the state of hip hop. k-os's third album, Atlantis: Hymns for Disco, was released in 2006, and his fourth album entitled Yes! was released in April of 2009.
Patience
K-OS Lyrics
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Swing high then swing low
I know we all know
Swing high then swing low
I know we all know
(K-Os)
I was rushing to the end
And hoping to pretend
I was knocking on heavens door my friends
But I was just a fool, caught up in the game
Everything is cool, believing in my name instead of his
And then the sun came out
I couldn't find the shade, I'm not afraid
Of the light anymore
[Chorus:]
Patience
Heavens on the side be patient
The universe is mines
Patience
Everything is grand use patience
And you can understand
(K-Os)
Now everyone knows
We hold the key deep in our souls
But we are living a life on the surface yo
What's the purpose of living lies
Somebody tell me
Some hearts are made of stone (of stone)
They'll find their way back home (home)
I know I walk the path of life eternally
To be free, its our time
[Chorus]
(Outro)
Swing high then swing low
I know we all know
Swing high then swing low
I know we all know
In K-OS's song "Patience," the artist reflects on his past mistakes and the importance of living a life with patience. In the opening lines of the song, he repeats the phrase "swing high then swing low," implying that life is full of ups and downs, and we all know this to be true. K-OS then goes on to describe how he rushed through life, hoping to reach the end quickly but ultimately realizing that life is about the journey, not just the destination.
The artist admits to being caught up in the game of life, believing in his own name rather than having faith in something larger than himself. However, K-OS begins to appreciate the beauty of life when the sun comes out and he is no longer afraid of the light. The chorus emphasizes the importance of patience in life, reminding us that heaven is on the side of those who are willing to wait and that everything is grand when we use patience. K-OS concludes the song by encouraging listeners to live a life that is true to who they are and to walk the path of life eternally in order to find true freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Swing high then swing low
Life has its ups and downs
I was rushing to the end
I was in a hurry to reach my destination
But you're everything I saw, again
But then I realized that you are what I really need
And hoping to pretend
Even though I knew the truth, I tried to ignore it and pretend otherwise
I was knocking on heavens door my friends
I was seeking something divine to fill the void inside me
But I was just a fool, caught up in the game
But I was foolishly preoccupied with superficial things
Everything is cool, believing in my name instead of his
Everything seemed okay because I was focused on myself, rather than a higher power
And then the sun came out
But then something changed, bringing clarity and enlightenment
I couldn't find the shade, I'm not afraid
I couldn't hide from the truth anymore, but I wasn't scared
Patience
Be patient
Heavens on the side be patient
The path to heaven requires patience
The universe is mines
I have control of my life and my destiny
Everything is grand use patience
Things will work out if you just have patience
Now everyone knows
Now I understand
We hold the key deep in our souls
We have the answers within ourselves
But we are living a life on the surface yo
But many of us are living superficially
What's the purpose of living lies
What's the point of living a lie if it doesn't bring you happiness?
Somebody tell me
Can someone give me an answer?
Some hearts are made of stone (of stone)
Some people are emotionally hardened
They'll find their way back home (home)
But eventually, they will find their way back to their true selves
I know I walk the path of life eternally
I understand that life is a journey with no end
To be free, its our time
Now is the time to break free and find our true selves
Swing high then swing low
Life has its ups and downs
I know we all know
We all understand this truth
Swing high then swing low
Life has its ups and downs
I know we all know
We all understand this truth
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KEVIN DERON BRERETON, RUSSELL KLYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind