Mark and DJ's roots are in R&B, hip hop and gospel having played within the same gospel band for years. Both professional musicians, Mark began teaching Laura how to play bass in the summer of 2009. As such, Laura quickly developed a huge passion for the instrument and the aesthetic it brought to music she loved. Having worked studiously on developing her skills, both Mark and Laura were invited to tour with Ninja Tune's YPPAH supporting Bonobo across his 2010 American tour. The tour galvanised the two of them to start making music together more seriously, sowing the first seeds of Khruangbin, with DJ the natural go to for drums. Having kept in touch, Bonobo included Khruangbin's 'A Calf Born In Winter' on his 2013 'Late Night Tales' compilation. In addition to increasing the Stateside following the band has built, the release has helped Khruangbin in topping both the US & UK 'Last FM' fastest growing artists whilst 'A Calf Born In Winter' continues to be one of the most popular single downloads from the compilation.
Balls and Pins
Khruangbin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Level and true
I built my house
On shifting sands
By my hands
A realm on earth
And from the date
A giant palm
For every man
In time before
We′re couldn't stand
We′re the first
And my throne
Is your throne
And the rings
On my hand
Are you gold
And my sun
Is your sun
To the end
And my bones
Are your bones
From the grain
To the sand
To the stone
The beginning lines of the song establish a theme of creation and construction, with the singer describing how they have built their own home from sand and stone, in a manner that is both level and true. However, the next phrase reveals a contradiction: even though the house was built by the singer's own hands, it is on shifting sands, suggesting instability and a lack of permanence. The following lines describe the house as a "realm on earth," which could be interpreted in a variety of ways, such as a reflection of the singer's perceived power or influence.
As the song progresses, the focus shifts from the physical house to more abstract concepts such as "a giant palm" and "a golden shield", both of which are described as being "for every man." This implies a sense of ownership, with the singer possessing or controlling objects that they believe should belong to everyone. The final lines of the song bring everything full circle, with the singer stating that "my bones are your bones" and emphasizing the interconnectedness of all things, from the smallest grain to the largest stone.
Overall, the song seems to be an exploration of power, creation, and the relationship between the individual and the collective. The imagery of sand and stone could represent the fluidity and solidity of life, while the references to thrones and gold suggest a desire for control or dominance. At the same time, the final lines of the song suggest a recognition of the inherent unity of all things, regardless of superficial differences.
Line by Line Meaning
From sand and stone
I used the basic materials of sand and stone to start building my house.
Level and true
I made sure that the foundation was level and sturdy.
I built my house
I constructed a dwelling place for myself.
On shifting sands
However, the land where I built my house was unstable and could easily shift or erode over time.
By my hands
I personally built every aspect of my home using my own hands and labor.
A realm on earth
My house became my own personal domain and sanctuary on this planet.
And from the date
Over the years since it was built, my house has become a site of historical significance.
A giant palm
My house has become a symbol of strength and stability that provides shelter and protection to all who come within its walls.
A golden shield
As a result, it has become a source of wealth and stability for all those who depend on it for their well-being.
For every man
My house is not just valuable to me, but is a place of shared value and importance to all those who benefit from its presence.
In time before
This importance is not a new phenomenon, but has been felt by people from the distant past.
We couldn’t stand
Without the security and protection of a strong house, humanity would struggle to survive.
We’re the first
As the builders of these strongholds, humans are the originators of a long-standing tradition.
And my throne
My house is the throne from which I rule over my personal kingdom.
Is your throne
But, as it is a source of shared value, it is also a throne that belongs to all those who benefit from its stability.
And the rings
The rings on my hand represent my wealth and prosperity.
On my hand
I am proud of what I have achieved in building my house and providing security for myself and others.
Are your gold
But, as it is a source of shared value, the wealth and prosperity that come from my house belong equally to all who benefit from it.
And my sun
The sun represents my personal source of strength and energy.
Is your sun
All those who depend on my house for protection and stability are also sustained by the energy and vitality that come from it.
To the end
This importance and shared value will last until the end of time.
And my bones
My bones represent my physical body and mortality.
Are your bones
All who benefit from my house will also share in the realities of physical existence and mortality.
From the grain
The basic building blocks of all structures, including my house, come from natural materials like grain.
To the sand
Sand is another important substance that is used in the construction of buildings and structures.
To the stone
Stone is often used to provide additional stability and strength for buildings and structures, including my house.
Writer(s): Khruangbin
Contributed by Lucas V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@varoujanvisionsofficial630
[Verse 1]
From sand and stone
Level and true
I built my house
On shifting sands
By my hands
A realm on Earth
And from the date
A giant palm
A golden shield
For every man
In time before
We couldn't stand
We're the first
[Chorus 1]
And my throne
Is your throne
And the rings
On my hand
Are your gold
And my sun
Is your sun
To the end
And my bones
Are your bones
From the grain
To the sand
To the stone [Verse 2]
The crushing wind
The serpent's tooth
Bring me in
The shifting sands
From my hands
It fell to the ground
A rotten date
Seen in the palm
The golden shield
It weighed us down
A sunken tomb
A phantom town
We're the last
[Chorus 2]
And my throne
Is your throne
And the rings
On my hand
Are your gold
And my sun
Is your sun
To the end
And my bones
Are your bones
From the grain
To the sand
To the stone
To the stone
To the stone
To the stone
To the stone
To the stone
@TheWayOutisThru
Describe this song in one word.....
Ethereal.
@claudiasanchez8042
witchy
@cheekys.o.b804
This was a sleeper on this album. I just adore this
@elm3randrews773
The Guitar play ❤❤❤❤❤
@varoujanvisionsofficial630
[Verse 1]
From sand and stone
Level and true
I built my house
On shifting sands
By my hands
A realm on Earth
And from the date
A giant palm
A golden shield
For every man
In time before
We couldn't stand
We're the first
[Chorus 1]
And my throne
Is your throne
And the rings
On my hand
Are your gold
And my sun
Is your sun
To the end
And my bones
Are your bones
From the grain
To the sand
To the stone [Verse 2]
The crushing wind
The serpent's tooth
Bring me in
The shifting sands
From my hands
It fell to the ground
A rotten date
Seen in the palm
The golden shield
It weighed us down
A sunken tomb
A phantom town
We're the last
[Chorus 2]
And my throne
Is your throne
And the rings
On my hand
Are your gold
And my sun
Is your sun
To the end
And my bones
Are your bones
From the grain
To the sand
To the stone
To the stone
To the stone
To the stone
To the stone
To the stone
@AquilesHolladay
i can't stop with this song.. for months now.. the lyrics.. are Just so mysterious and amazing.. Pure BLISS!!
@GeoMariaGeorge
IKR!
@lionelthebuilder3490
it speaks to something deep deep within me
@nimadarabi2
Can this level of mysterious beauty be just subjective? It's so mesmerizing I wanna bond with anyone who receives it the same way.
@jjll7019
Hey, I'm here for the same reason. I haven't heard anything more beautiful. This song is more beautiful than the wind.