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.
Singing Softly To Me
Kings of Convenience Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're not part of your close surroundings.
Like words in a letter sent,
Amplified by the distance.
Possibilities and sweeter dreams,
Sights and sounds calling form far away,
Calling from far away.
I didn't know you then, now did I girl?
I didn't know you then, now did I girl?
I didn't see the brave girl so near me.
I didn't know you then, now did I girl?
I couldn't hear you sing softly to me.
I wanted a mystery that couldn't be solved,
I wanted a puzzle with pieces missing.
I wanted a story that couldn't be told,
Only the fishing part of fishing.
I didn't know you then, now did I girl?
I couldn't hear you singing softly to me.
I didn't know you then, now did I girl?
I didn't see the brave girl so near me.
I didn't know you then, now did I girl?
I couldn't hear you sing softly to me.
And now I find
It was you all the time.
I'm in love again
It's too late now
In these lyrics, the singer is reflecting on a past love that he didn't fully appreciate at the time. He speaks of how things seem better when they are distant and not a part of your immediate surroundings, perhaps suggesting that the idea of a relationship seems more idealized when it is not yet a reality. He also mentions the appeal of a mystery or a puzzle, suggesting that he may have been more interested in the idea of the person than the person themselves.
He then goes on to express regret for not recognizing the value of this past love, lamenting that he didn't hear her singing softly to him or see the bravery she possessed. The repetition of the line "I didn't know you then, now did I girl?" emphasizes this sense of missed opportunity and highlights the irony that he didn't realize what he had until it was gone.
The final lines suggest that the singer has now realized the error of his ways and is in love again, but it is too late to go back and make things right with the person from his past.
Overall, this song is a bittersweet reflection on the missed connections and lost opportunities that often come with love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Things seem so much better when
Distancing yourself from certain things or situations can sometimes make them appear better than they actually are.
They're not part of your close surroundings.
Being too close or involved with certain things or situations can sometimes make them appear worse than they actually are.
Like words in a letter sent,
Just like how words in a letter can seem more meaningful than when they're simply spoken.
Amplified by the distance.
Being separated can sometimes make things or people seem stronger, more important, or more impactful than they actually are.
Possibilities and sweeter dreams,
Distance can make things and situations seem full of potential and promise, allowing for hopeful and optimistic thoughts.
Sights and sounds calling form far away,
Distance can create a sense of curiosity and intrigue, drawing attention to things that would normally go unnoticed or be ignored.
Calling from far away.
Distance can create a longing or desire for things or people that are out of reach or unattainable.
I didn't know you then, now did I girl?
The artist did not have knowledge, experience, or a relationship with the girl in the past.
I couldn't hear you singing softly to me.
The artist did not have an intimate or meaningful connection with the girl, and therefore did not have the opportunity to appreciate or enjoy her singing.
I didn't see the brave girl so near me.
The artist did not recognize or appreciate the strength and courage of the girl who was in close proximity.
I wanted a mystery that couldn't be solved,
The singer desired something intriguing, complex, and unexplainable that would continuously capture their attention and curiosity.
I wanted a puzzle with pieces missing.
The artist craved a challenge or problem that required ingenuity and intellect to solve, but that also had an element of incompleteness or uncertainty.
I wanted a story that couldn't be told,
The singer desired an experience or situation that was so unique or unexplainable that it couldn't be communicated properly to others.
Only the fishing part of fishing.
The singer only wanted to enjoy the process or journey of trying to unravel or understand something, rather than actually achieving a final result or answer.
And now I find
The singer has come to a realization or discovered something.
It was you all the time.
The artist finally recognizes that the person or thing they were seeking or desiring was always right in front of them.
I'm in love again
The artist has fallen in love or rekindled a romantic relationship.
It's too late now
The realization or discovery has come too late, and the opportunity for change or action has passed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EIRIK GLAMBEK BOE, ERLEND OTRE OEYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind