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 Girl From Back Then
Kings of Convenience Lyrics
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"I don't want to suffer."
But she told me
She had nothing to offer,
No more.
I sat down and said
"I don't want to suffer."
She had nothing to offer,
No more.
Now that I know that
I did not know you then
The lyrics of Kings of Convenience's The Girl From Back Then serve as an emotional reflection on the past and the realization that things were not always as they seemed. The singer expresses regret at not fully appreciating someone from their past and wanting to avoid any more suffering. However, the girl from back then tells the singer that she has nothing to offer, implying that their relationship has already ended. The repetition of the lyrics drives home the feeling of disappointment and loss.
The last line "Now that I know that I did not know you then" reveals that the singer's perception of the girl from back then was flawed, as they now understand that they did not truly know her. The agony of regret over missed opportunities and misunderstandings is palpable in the song's somber melody and haunting harmonies. The singer's desire to avoid suffering and their admission of not seeing the person for who they really were adds a layer of humanity to the song, making it relatable and touching to anyone who has experienced heartbreak or felt the sting of regret.
Line by Line Meaning
And I sat down and said
I expressed my feelings by declaring my intention to stop feeling pain.
"I don't want to suffer."
I explicitly stated my desire to avoid any further emotional distress.
But she told me
She responded to my statement.
She had nothing to offer,
She acknowledged that she had nothing to provide or contribute.
No more.
This lack of offering or contribution was final and not subject to change.
Now that I know that
This line suggests the singer has gained some new understanding.
I did not know you then
The singer now realizes that they did not understand or fully see the person they are referring to in this song at that time in the past.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EIRIK GLAMBEK BOE, ERLEND OTRE OEYE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind