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.
The Build Up
Kings of Convenience Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lasted for days
Lasted for weeks
Lasted too long
Our hero
Withdrew
When there was two
So there was none
Worn into the vaguely announced
Worn into the vaguely announced
The spinning top made a sound
Like a train across the valley
Fading, oh so quiet
But constant 'til it passed
Over the ridge into the distances
Written on your ticket
To remind you where to stop
And when to get off
The spinning top made a sound
Like a train across the valley
Fading, oh so quiet
But constant 'til it passed
Over the ridge into the distances
Written on your ticket
To remind you where to stop
And when to get off
The spinning top made a sound
Like a train across the valley
Fading, oh so quiet
But constant 'til it passed
Over the ridge into the distances
Written on your ticket
To remind you where to stop
When to get off
When to get off
When to get off
When to get off
The lyrics to Kings of Convenience's song The Build-Up are about the difficulties that come with indecision and the realization that sometimes the choices we make determine the outcomes of our lives. The build-up referred to in the first stanza suggests that the indecision has been going on for far too long and has become something that has been worn into the singer's mind. The lyrics suggest that the singer of the story has been faced with a decision in which they were unable to make a choice, ultimately leading to them being left with nothing.
The second stanza describes the sound of a spinning top that resembles that of a train, fading out into the distance until it's no longer audible. This could represent the singer's indecision, which resulted in missed opportunities, leading to the sound ultimately fading out. The reference to the ticket is a reminder to that person to know when to stop, to make decisions to avoid missed opportunities, and to ultimately get off the train before it has passed them by.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that indecision and the inability to make choices can lead to missed opportunities and unfulfilled lives. It's a warning to be present, make decisive choices, and live life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
The build-up
The tension between two people
Lasted for days
Went on for a long time
Lasted for weeks
Continued for an extended period of time
Lasted too long
Lasted longer than it should have
Our hero
A main character in the story
Withdrew
Pulled away or disconnected
When there was two
When there were two options or people to choose from
He could not choose one
He was unable to make a decision
So there was none
And so he ended up with neither option
Worn into the vaguely announced
Quite familiar with the vaguely defined
The spinning top made a sound
A metaphor for the passing of time
Like a train across the valley
A comparison to the sound of a train
Fading, oh so quiet
Gradually becoming less noticeable
But constant 'til it passed
Consistently present until it was gone
Over the ridge into the distances
Moving away into the far-off future
Written on your ticket
Clear instructions on how to proceed
To remind you where to stop
To provide guidance on when to end things
And when to get off
When it's time to move on
When to get off
When it's time to move on
When to get off
When it's time to move on
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Eirik Glambek Boe, Erlend Otre Oeye, Leslie Feist
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RafaRLNG
The build-up
Lasted for days
Lasted for weeks
Lasted too long
Our hero withdrew
When there was two
He could not choose one
So there was none
Worn into the vaguely announced
The spinning top made a sound
Like a train across the valley
Fading, oh so quiet
But constant till it passed
Over the ridge into the distances
Written on your ticket
To remind you where to stop
And when to get off
@brooklyndoran
still one of my favourite albums of all time.
@paulcoe7511
absolutely epic
@rudolfoespinosa82
for me too
@alessimoncic8395
That second part is mesmerizing. 🙂
@jamesbailey5624
I'm just so glad I'm here and alive to hear your voice.
@ladykws
This song, a journey of pain, with the baggage of a spirit that will never give up.
@fraidwoodcesco
ladykws you explained perfectly what I was feeling, thank you <3
@ZekeMan62
An indomitable spirit is anything but baggage.
@TheFakeyCakeMaker
This song is about a coward who was seeing two girls and because he couldn't choose, left town but...okay.
@reneedavies9231
stuey's all about the build up so what they say