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.
Rule My World
Kings of Convenience Lyrics
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Better off forgiving god
You claim that you believe in
Your kind is gonna fall
Your ship is sinking fast
And all your able men are leaving
Only someone
Superior can possibly
And honestly deserve
To rule my world
I talk before I think
You shoot before you know
Who's in your line of fire
So somehow we're the same
We're causing people pain
But I stand and take the blame
You scramble to the night
Only someone
Who's morally
Superior can possibly
And honestly deserve
Only someone
Who's morally
Superior can possibly
And honestly deserve
To rule my world
To rule my world
To rule my world
To rule my world
To rule my world
To rule my world
To rule my world
To rule my world
To rule my world
To rule my world
Explain me one more time
When they kill it's a crime
When you kill it is justice
In the song Rule My World, the Kings of Convenience sing about the notion of moral superiority and the belief that only those who possess it deserve to rule the world. The lyrics suggest that there are different types of people in the world, those who are quick to judge and harm others and those who take the time to consider their actions and take responsibility for them. The first half of the song appears to be directed at someone who is arrogant and self-righteous, who sets themselves above others and claims to be a believer but is quick to judge and condemn others.
The second half of the song draws similarities between the two individuals as both cause harm, but one accepts responsibility for their actions while the other claims it as justice. The lyrics illustrate the stark contrast in morals and values between the two people and the irony that, despite their difference in approach, they are both causing pain and suffering to those around them. Ultimately, the lyrics suggest that those who possess true moral superiority are the ones who can rule the world, but such people are few and far between.
Line by Line Meaning
You set yourself above
You hold yourself in higher esteem
Better off forgiving god
It is better to forgive God
You claim that you believe in
You state that you have faith in
Your kind is gonna fall
Your type will eventually fail
Your ship is sinking fast
Your situation is rapidly becoming worse
And all your able men are leaving
Those capable of helping are abandoning you
Only someone
Who's morally
Superior can possibly
And honestly deserve
To rule my world
Only those that are morally superior have the capability and deserve to govern my world
I talk before I think
I speak without considering the consequences
You shoot before you know
You take action before knowing the facts
Who's in your line of fire
Who is the unintended recipient of your actions
So somehow we're the same
We share the characteristic of causing pain
We're causing people pain
We are responsible for inflicting pain on others
But I stand and take the blame
I admit my wrongdoing and accept responsibility
You scramble to the night
You try to escape to the darkness
When they kill it's a crime
Taking someone's life is wrong and illegal
When you kill it is justice
You believe that your killing is justified and fair
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EIRIK GLAMBEK BOE, ERLEND OTRE OEYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind