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.
Know How
Kings of Convenience Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never been here before
Peculiarly entrusted
Possibly that's all
Is history recorded
Does someone have a tape?
Surely, I'm no pioneer
Just a little bit of danger
When intriguingly
Our little secret
Trust say trust me
'Cause no one will ever know
That this was happening
So tell me why you listen
When nobody's talking?
Oh oh oh, what is there to know?
Oh, this is what it is
Oh oh oh, you and me alone
Sheer simplicity
Oh oh oh, what is there to know?
Oh, this is what it is
Oh oh oh, you and me alone
Sheer simplicity
Oh oh oh, what is there to know?
Oh, this is what it is
Oh oh oh, you and me alone
Sheer simplicity
The lyrics in Kings of Convenience's song "Know-How" suggest a sense of familiarity with the situation, and confidence in handling it. The lyrics "Riding on this know-how" seem to suggest that the singer is not new to the situation they are in. The next line, "Never been here before," could be read as an acknowledgment that while the situation may be familiar, some aspects of it are new or different this time. The lyrics "Constellations stay the same" further reinforce the idea that while circumstances may change, some things remain constant.
The lyrics then take on a secretive tone, with the lines "'Cause no one will ever know/That this was happening." The singer seems to suggest that there is something they are doing that needs to be kept secret. The line "So tell me why you listen/When nobody's talking?" is particularly interesting, as it implies that there is some kind of shared understanding between the singers.
The chorus with the repetition of "Oh, what is there to know?" and "Sheer simplicity" reinforces the idea that the situation is simple and familiar to the singers. It may suggest a desire to keep things unassuming and uncomplicated. Overall, the lyrics to "Know-How" suggest a sense of confidence in handling a familiar but mysterious situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Riding on this know-how
We are relying on our expertise to navigate this situation
Never been here before
Despite our expertise, we have not encountered this exact situation before
Peculiarly entrusted
We have been given an unusual amount of responsibility
Possibly that's all
Perhaps this is the extent of what we are capable of
Is history recorded
Has anyone documented what has happened in similar situations before?
Does someone have a tape?
Is there a record of what has happened that we can learn from?
Surely, I'm no pioneer
I am not the first person to attempt this
Constellations stay the same
The universe is consistent and stable, even if our own lives are uncertain
Just a little bit of danger
There is some level of risk involved in what we are doing
When intriguingly
But we are still drawn to it out of curiosity or interest
Our little secret
What we are doing is not meant for public knowledge
Trust say trust me
I am asking for your trust in this situation
'Cause no one will ever know
We must keep this a secret from the outside world
That this was happening
So that nobody finds out what we are doing
So tell me why you listen
Why do you pay attention to what I say?
When nobody's talking?
When there is nothing else to discuss or reveal?
Oh oh oh, what is there to know?
What else do we need to understand?
Oh, this is what it is
This is the reality of the situation
Oh oh oh, you and me alone
It is just the two of us in this situation
Sheer simplicity
The situation is straightforward and uncomplicated
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Eirik Glambek Boe, Erlend Otre Oeye, Leslie Feist
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aaminakayani5225
Lyrics
Riding on this know-how
Never been here before
Peculiarly entrusted
Possibly that's all
Is history recorded?
Does someone have a tape?
Surely, I'm no pioneer
Constellations stay the same
Just a little bit of danger
When intriguingly
Our little secret
Trusts that you trust me
'Cause no one will ever know
That this was happening
So tell me why you listen
When nobody's talking
What is there to know?
All this is what it is
You and me alone
Sheer simplicity
What is there to know?
All this is what it is
You and me alone
Sheer simplicity
What is there to know?
All this is what it is
All this is what it is
You and me alone
Sheer simplicity
@susususu3878
Riding on this know-how.
Never been here before.
Peculiarly entrusted,
possibly that's all.
Is history recorded,
does someone have a tape?
Surely, I'm no pioneer,
constellations stay the same.
...
Just a little bit of danger,
when intriguingly, our little secret,
trusts that you trust me.
'Cause no one will ever know,
that this was happening,
so tell me why you listen,
when nobody's talking.
...
What is there to know?
All this is what it is.
You and me alone,
sheer simplicity.
...x3
@widyakamara3241
Riding on this know-how.
Never been here before.
Peculiarly entrusted,
Possibly that's all.
Is history recorded,
Does someone have a tape?
Surely, I'm no pioneer,
Constellations stay the same
Just a little bit of danger,
When intriguingly, our little secret,
Trusts that you trust me.
'Cause no one will ever know,
That this was happening,
So tell me why you listen,
When nobody's talking
What is there to know?
All this is what it is
Oh... You and me alone
Sheer simplicity...
What is there to know?
All this is what it is.
Oh... You and me alone,
Sheer simplicity...
What is there to know?
All this is what it is.
Oh... You and me alone,
Sheer simplicity...
@InflatablePlane
I’ll never forget the first time I heard this song. In the airport coming back from Seattle in 2005. I was hooked right there and then. As soon as I found out who the band was I ran out and bought this album. Every track is absolute gold and it gets played from time to time.
@fasttrack70
i first heard these guys in about 2002 i fell in love with them straight away
@sedayaman1806
Meliksah Altuntas'in az TT'sinden duydum geldim. Şarkının yarısından sonra istemsizce gözlerimi kapatıp kendimi geçmişte en huzurlu hissettiğim ana gidip gülümseme ve ağlama arası bi yerde sıkışmış hissettim. İnsanın üzerinde bıraktığı etki çok başkaymış. Şimdi bu şarkıyı hep aynı duyguyla dinleyeceğim..
@sergioalvarado5610
Gracias por componer e interpretar temas con melodía, armonía, musicalidad y calidad. Tengo 70 años de edad y hojala me alcanze la vida para escucharlos. Mi hijo fue quien me dijo,,,, te voy a poner algo que te va a gustar. Totalmente cierto. Cuando vienen a México.
@aramledezma4230
Sergio Alvarado Probablemente nunca, señor. Ya se separaron. Pero si le gusta eso, ecuche los álbumes solistas de los miembros. Uno se llama Legao y es de Erlend Øye y el otro se llama Analog Dance Music de Kommode.
@paolarubio2817
Si no sabemos la información mejor no hacer rumores. @Sergio Alvarado, KOC sigue existiendo, yo también estoy en espera de que regresen desde hace 5 años, es tan componiendo su nuevo disco, Sólo nos queda esperar. Que buena onda que te agrade su música. Es pura vitalidad. Saludos.
@ElinGomezRonzon
Siguen juntos y señor, siga disfrutando :) pero como bien le dijeron como solistas también son excelentes.
@ezrimartinez5947
estuve en el concierto de Erlend en abril que fue aqui en México y me toco verlo al final del concierto y le preguntaron que si vendria nuevamente con Eirik y dijo que si
@cesarramirezsanchez6475
Mi padre no escucha la música que compongo, vamos, como para recomendarle encima a un grupo.
Chic@s, gracias por la información. Echaré un vistazo a esos solistas. Seguro que merece la pena.
Saludos.
@rl2552
This is one of the greatest songs I've ever heard, and it made me want to quit my job and start a three-piece band where we sit around on the floor and play acoustic guitar. I haven't given up on that dream yet.