After first earning notice thanks to a series of acclaimed European festival appearances during the summer of 1999, the twosome signed to American label Kindercore to issue their lovely eponymous debut the following spring. Quiet Is the New Loud was issued in early 2001 on Astralwerks. The album used many of the same tracks from the Kindercore release but re-ordered them and replaced a few with newer songs. The remix album Versus followed later in the year and featured remixes by artists as diverse as Ladytron, avid Whitaker and Four Tet. After a three year layoff during which Øye recorded a solo album, 2003's Unrest, and gained some reknown as an electronica DJ while Bøe worked on finishing up his psychology degree, the pair teamed up again for the recording and release of 2004's Riot on an Empty Street.
After a 5 year layoff, the band released Declaration Of Dependence on October 20, 2009 on Astralwerks in the US and Virgin Records in the UK.
Erlend Øye has released some solo material and is also a member of The Whitest Boy Alive.
Eirik Glambek Bøe is also a member of a second band, Kommode. The Whitest Boy Alive and Kommode toured together this year for a short period.
Cayman Islands
Kings of Convenience Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To cool off in the shadows
Then into the street
Following the water
There's a bearded man
Paddling in his canoe
Looks as if he has
Come all the way from the Cayman Islands
These canals, it seems
They all go in circles
Places look the same
And we're the only difference
The wind is in your hair
It's covering my view
I'm holding on to you
On a bike we've hired until tomorrow
If only they could see
If only they had been here
They would understand
How someone could have chosen
To go the length I've gone
To spend just one day riding
Holding on to you
I never thought it would be this clear
The lyrics to Kings of Convenience's song "Cayman Islands" describe a journey through the city, possibly Venice or Amsterdam based on the canals mentioned in the second verse. The opening lines, "Through the alleyways/To cool off in the shadows/Then into the street/Following the water," suggest a desire to escape the heat and sun, and to explore the hidden corners of the city. The bearded man in the canoe, who appears to have come from the Cayman Islands, adds to the sense of adventure and mystery.
The second verse contrasts the circular canals with the uniqueness of the two people on the bike. They are the only difference in the uniformity of the buildings and waterways around them. The wind in their hair suggests freedom and joy, but it also obscures their view, forcing them to hold on to each other for safety. The final lines express a sense of clarity and contentment: "I never thought it would be this clear." The singer feels that he has found something meaningful and special during this one day of riding with his companion, and wishes that others could "see" and "understand" why he has chosen to spend his time this way.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of exploration, escape, and the joy of shared experiences. The singer is seeking something unique and meaningful in his journey through the city, and finds it through his connection with his companion.
Line by Line Meaning
Through the alleyways
We take a shortcut through narrow streets
To cool off in the shadows
We seek refuge from the hot sun
Then into the street
We emerge back into the open
Following the water
We are guided by the canal
There's a bearded man
We spot a stranger in a canoe
Paddling in his canoe
He glides along the water
Looks as if he has
He seems like he's come
Come all the way from the Cayman Islands
From far away, like the Caribbean
These canals, it seems
We notice how the canals connect
They all go in circles
The path is repetitive and cyclical
Places look the same
The surroundings are monotonous
And we're the only difference
Our presence is the only variation
The wind is in your hair
The breeze blows through your locks
It's covering my view
It obstructs my sight
I'm holding on to you
I'm grasping your hand
On a bike we've hired until tomorrow
We're renting bicycles for just one day
If only they could see
If only people at home knew
If only they had been here
If only they had visited this spot
They would understand
They would comprehend
How someone could have chosen
Why someone would opt
To go the length I've gone
To travel this far away
To spend just one day riding
To journey for a day by bike
Holding on to you
Together, hand in hand
I never thought it would be this clear
I never realized the clarity of this moment
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EIRIK GLAMBEK BOE, ERLEND OTRE OEYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@amandamonazita9862
Through the alleyways
to cool off in the shadows,
then into the street
following the water.
There's a bearded man
paddling in his canoe,
looks as if he has
come all the way from the Cayman Islands.
These canals, it seems,
they all go in circles,
places look the same,
and we're the only difference.
The wind is in your hair,
it's covering my view.
I'm holding on to you,
on a bike we've hired until tomorrow.
If only they could see,
if only they had been here,
they would understand,
how someone could have chosen to go the length I've gone,
to spend just one day riding.
Holding on to you,
I never thought it would be this clear.
@renatamuller8604
Cayman Island lyrics
Through the alleyways
To cool off in the shadows
Then into the street
Following the water
There's a bearded man
Paddling in his canoe
Looks as if he has
Come all the way from the Cayman Islands
These canals, it seems
They all go in circles
Places look the same
And we're the only difference
The wind is in your hair
It's covering my view
I'm holding on to you
On a bike we've hired until tomorrow
If only they could see
If only they had been here
They would understand
How someone could have chosen
To go the length I've gone
To spend just one day riding
Holding on to you
I never thought it would be this clear
@scotthuang1226
Through the alleyways,
To cool off in the shadows,
Then into the street,
Following the water,
There's a bearded man,
Paddling in his canoe,
Looks as if he has,
Come all the way from the Cayman Islands,
These canals, it seems,
They all go in circles,
Places look the same,
And we're the only difference,
The wind is in your hair,
It's covering my view,
I'm holding on to you,
On a bike we've hired until tomorrow,
If only they could see,
If only they had been here,
They would understand,
How someone could have chosen,
To go the length I've gone,
To spend just one day riding,
Holding on to you,
I never thought it would be this clear.
@jaharheart3320
Legend song, 2024 I'm still love this song
@its.just.me__d8627
🫰💜
@QueenOfConvenience17
I really can’t describe how I feel every time I listen to this song, it takes me somewhere else, not the islands, somewhere inside my soul, sometimes is a happy feeling sometimes sad, sometimes it heals something I didn’t even know was there, after all this years is the safe place where I allow myself to feel, everything. So thank you for this.
@vitoriar3588
I feel the same.. so safe listening to This song
@danielguguk7683
well, that's major 7 chords for you
@natasiafergina527
yes me too and im crying so hard rn
@bella_testastretta
really?? I want whatever it is that you are smoking!
@tannguzman5347
I feel the same with all theirs songs
@orlasbwb
When I was a child, my parents separated and I locked myself in my room to disconnect from everything, this song brought me peace, beyond the lyrics of the song, it gave me a feeling of tranquility and reflection, now at my 31 years , it continues to generate positive emotions to continue with my life. Thk a lot
@stevenanthony3470
that's deep bro.. hope you'll always happy and find peace