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.
Little Kids
Kings of Convenience Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone's dad is watching
From the side of the playground.
I'm following my shadow so I cross the street.
Car passing stereo I like the beat.
Open up the door,
Turning on the fan.
Dropping down the keys that I held in my hand,
To be heard in the staircase,
Enter the room and let down her bag.
Asking me all kinds of trivial questions,
Pretending an everyday life we don't have.
Little kids playing in the park downtown.
Soon they'll be all gone as the sun goes down.
Little kids playing in the park downtown.
Soon they'll be all gone as the sun goes down.
And rises over, Brooklyn Bridge tomorrow,
Hours later I will follow,
Wake up to a life that's hollow without love.
The song "Little Kids" by Kings of Convenience is a beautiful exploration of the fleeting nature of life, love, and the moments in between. The first verse describes kids playing in a park while their dad watches from the sidelines. The singer then follows his shadow and crosses the street while enjoying the sound of a passing car's stereo. The second verse is more introspective and speaks of waiting for someone special to arrive, pretending to be leading an everyday life when in fact it is far from ordinary. The chorus repeats several times, emphasizing the idea that these moments are ephemeral and fleeting. The final lines of the song speak of the future, with the rising sun over Brooklyn Bridge symbolizing a new day and a new beginning, but also highlighting the emptiness that comes from living life without love.
The lyrics themselves are beautifully crafted, with a poetic quality that captures the feeling of the moment. The use of imagery, such as the kids playing in the park and the rising sun over the bridge, creates a vivid mental picture for the listener. The theme of passing time and the fleeting nature of love and life is one that is easily relatable and strikes a chord with many listeners. The song is a testament to the power of music to capture the essence of life and the emotions that go with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Little kids playing in the park downtown.
Children are enjoying themselves in a local park situated in the city center.
Someone's dad is watching / From the side of the playground.
A father is keeping a watchful eye on the kids from the perimeter of the playground.
I'm following my shadow so I cross the street.
The singer is walking in the city and crosses the street while following their own shadow.
Car passing stereo I like the beat.
The artist hears a car pass by with a stereo blaring music and enjoys the rhythm of the beat.
Open up the door, / Turning on the fan. / Dropping down the keys that I held in my hand, / And then start waiting for her steps / To be heard in the staircase, / Enter the room and let down her bag.
The artist arrives home, opens the door, turns on the fan, puts down their keys, and waits for their companion to come home. They hear their companion's footsteps on the stairs, then they enter the room and put down their bag.
Asking me all kinds of trivial questions, / Pretending an everyday life we don't have.
The singer's companion asks them insignificant questions and acts like they are living a regular, mundane life, when in reality they are not.
Soon they'll be all gone as the sun goes down. / And rises over, Brooklyn Bridge tomorrow, / Hours later I will follow, / Wake up to a life that's hollow without love.
The children playing in the park will soon leave when the sun sets. Tomorrow, the sun will rise over the Brooklyn Bridge and the singer will follow later in the day. They will wake up to a life that feels empty and without love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EIRIK GLAMBEK BOE, ERLEND OTRE OEYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind