Kahimi Karie (カヒミ・カリィ), born Mari Hiki (比企マリ) on March 15, 1968, in Utsunom… Read Full Bio ↴Kahimi Karie (カヒミ・カリィ), born Mari Hiki (比企マリ) on March 15, 1968, in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, is a singer. She debuted with the independent EP, "Kahimi Karie and the Crue-L Grand Orchestra / Mike Alway's Diary" in 1992.

Kahimi sings in English, French, and Japanese (among other languages) with breathy child-like vocals. Her music can be considered ethereal, whispery pop; a number of songs have been written for her by Momus. She also has a strong connection to Cornelius, who collaborated on many early works, and whose trendy Trattoria label released many of her EPs in the mid-'90s.

Clip Clap
カヒミ・カリィ Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't know who you are
And I don't know
where you're going
But I'm sure you'll go far
with the way you're walking
I see you walking in the streets
I am just behind you
I'm following you so close

I could even touch you
Clip clap clip clap,
I hear the tapping of your...
Clip clap clip clap,
I hear the tapping of your...
Clip clap clip clap,
I hear the tapping of your shoes

Hey!foxy
Where are you going?
Can I please Come with you?
You don't wanna see me
You don't wanna turn around
Yeah, You ignore me
Oh please turn around!
Clip clap clip clap,
I hear the tapping of your...
Clip clap clip clap,
I hear the tapping of your...
Clip clap clip clap,
I hear the tapping of your shoes
Wouh!these cool shoes!
Where did you find them?
Hey!these hot shoes!
Where did you buy them!
Woah!these crazy shoes!
Tell me,
where did you nick them?
Clip clap clip clap,
I hear the tapping of your...
Clip clap clip clap,
I hear the tapping of your...
Clip clap clip clap,
I hear the tapping of your shoes
Clip clap clip clap,
I hear the tapping of your...
Clip clap clip clap,
I hear the tapping of your...

Clip clap I hear the tapping
of your beautiful shoes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Clip Clap" by カヒミ・カリィ explores the concept of stalking and admiration from afar. The song's narrator details their fascination with a stranger they see walking on the streets, whose footsteps they can hear with a constant clip clap noise. The singer is following the stranger so closely that they could almost touch them. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the tapping noise of the stranger's shoes, as if it's a mesmerizing soundtrack to the singer's obsession.

The second verse introduces the singer's desire to join the stranger's journey, but he/she is aware of their rejection even without being verbalized. The singer pleads for the stranger to turn around and acknowledge their presence, possibly looking for a clue to decode the stranger's vibe. The final verse takes a different approach, as the singer shifts from their stalker-like behavior to asking about the stranger's shoes. The singer acknowledges their beauty and craziness, asking where they came from. It's possible that the shoes serve as a symbol of the stranger's perceived mysterious and intriguing life, driving the singer's curiosity further.

Overall, "Clip Clap" is a catchy and upbeat song, but it also touches on the dark themes of stalking and being ignored or rejected despite the infatuation. The song's narrative leaves many questions unanswered, making it open to various interpretations.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't know who you are
I am unaware of your identity

And I don't know where you're going
I am unaware of your destination

But I'm sure you'll go far with the way you're walking
Your walking style is commendable and I am sure you will achieve great success

I see you walking in the streets
I observe you walking on the road

I am just behind you
I am following you from a short distance

I'm following you so close, I could even touch you
My proximity to you is such that I could touch you

Clip clap clip clap, I hear the tapping of your...
The sound of your footsteps is like clip clap clip clap

Hey!foxy Where are you going?
Hey there, charming person. May I know where you are heading?

Can I please Come with you?
May I accompany you on your journey?

You don't wanna see me
You seem uninterested in seeing or acknowledging me

You don't wanna turn around
You seem uninterested in turning around to face or speak to me