Snaith grew up in Dundas, Ontario, Canada, which gave its name to a song from his debut album Start Breaking My Heart. He studied at the University of Toronto as an undergrad, but was based in the UK for several years until he completed his Ph.D. in mathematics at the Imperial College, London in 2005.
Snaith previously recorded under the stage name "Manitoba", but changed it under threat of a lawsuit by Handsome "Dick" Manitoba, frontman for The Dictators, a punk-rocker with an appetite for litigation. Uninterested in the legal stoush, Snaith is quoted saying that he chose the new moniker "Caribou" while on an LSD trip with friends in the Canadian wilderness. He then climbed a tree and didn't come down until he finished his first album under the new moniker, which was four months later.
He has recorded five full lengths: Start Breaking My Heart, a jazzy, "folktronica" IDM album, Up in Flames, the critically acclaimed shoegazer with analog synths and sometimes live, sometimes sampled drums, The Milk of Human Kindness, his krautrock-inspired album that bleeds 70's prog and 70's drugscapes, the psychedelic pop record, Andorra which landed him the prestigious 2008 Polaris Music Prize on September 29th, 2008 and Swim a disco / dance inspired album created from the idea of making dance music that sounds like being under water. A few years prior to the recording of the album, Snaith's wife gave him swimming lessons as a Christmas present, prompting him to take it up as a new hobby. This partially led to the eventual ideology behind Swim.
His eclectic live performances are renowned, in part for their use of simultaneous drummers and synchronised visuals. The live band currently consists of Dan Snaith (guitar, keyboards, vocals, drums, flutophone), Ryan Smith (guitar, keyboards), Brad Weber (drums) and John Schmersal (bass, vocals).
Second Chance
Caribou Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing you could say I don't already know
That I don't get that second chance baby
Yeah you know I'll just keep on waiting
I don't have to make up my mind
At the way you talk to me
Just tell me if you want my love
Cause oh you know that I keep on waiting
Just be careful what you do, oh, oh
Please tell me there's a second chance, baby
If you really, really want it
Boy, you let me know
If it's cold you know I'm waiting for the moment
Tell me if you want
Tell me if you really want it
'Cause boy you know I do
Tell me now 'cause I'm just waiting for the moment
Tell me if you want
You know you make my love come down
Just in how you talk to me
And I could wait forever here for ya
Yeah, you know I'll just keep on waiting
'Cause I don't have to make up my mind
Not if you could still believe
That I'm the one who'll be around
I can see that we both are changing
Just be careful what you do to me
Just be careful what you do, oh, oh
Please tell me there's a second chance, baby, oh, oh
Oh, babe
My love's for ya
Boy, you know that it's all for real, ooh, oh, oh, ooh
My love's for ya
You know that it's all for real, ooh, ooh
'Cause you know that it's for real, oh
If you really, really want it
Boy, you let me know
If it's cold, you know I'm waiting for the moment
Tell me if you want
Tell me if you really want it
'Cause boy you know I do
Let me know, 'cause I'm just waiting for the moment
Tell me if you want
If you really really want it
Boy, you let me know
If it's cold, you know I'm waiting for the moment
Tell me if you want
Boy, if you
And if you really really want it
If you want it's okay, oh, oh
The lyrics of Caribou's song "Second Chance" convey a sense of longing and uncertainty. The singer is waiting for a second chance with a lover who seems unsure of their feelings. The singer is willing to wait indefinitely, but also acknowledges the possibility of being hurt. The repeated refrain of "tell me if you want my love" emphasizes the singer's desire for clarity and openness. The verses also suggest a fear of indecisiveness, with the singer stating that they don't have to make up their mind if the lover is uncertain. The bridge presents a moment of reassurance, with the singer expressing their love unequivocally. Overall, the song conveys the complexity of relationships and the vulnerability that comes with putting oneself out there.
Line by Line Meaning
I really wanna show you now
The singer wants to express their feelings to the other person.
Nothing you could say I don't already know
The singer already understands the other person's point of view.
That I don't get that second chance baby
The singer is lamenting the fact that they don't get another opportunity with the other person.
Yeah you know I'll just keep on waiting
The artist is willing to wait for the other person if it means a chance to be with them.
I don't have to make up my mind
The artist is willing to be patient and take their time to make a decision.
At the way you talk to me
The other person's words affect the way the singer feels.
Just tell me if you want my love
The singer wants to know if the other person wants to be in a relationship with them.
Cause oh you know that I keep on waiting
The artist is steadfast in their willingness to wait for the other person.
Just be careful what you do to me, oh, oh
The artist is warning the other person that their actions have consequences.
Please tell me there's a second chance, baby
The artist is asking for another opportunity to be with the other person.
If you really, really want it
The singer wants to know if the other person truly wants to be with them.
Boy, you let me know
The artist is asking the other person to communicate their feelings.
If it's cold you know I'm waiting for the moment
The singer is willing to be patient, even when the other person is distant or unresponsive.
Tell me if you want
The singer is asking for clarity and honesty from the other person.
You know you make my love come down
The other person has a powerful effect on the singer's emotions.
And I could wait forever here for ya
The artist is willing to wait indefinitely for the other person.
Not if you could still believe
The artist is suggesting that the other person may have doubts.
That I'm the one who'll be around
The singer is assuring the other person that they will always be there.
Just be careful what you do to me
The singer is warning the other person that their actions have an impact on the singer.
Please tell me there's a second chance, baby, oh, oh
The artist is pleading for another chance with the other person.
My love's for ya
The artist has strong feelings for the other person.
Boy, you know that it's all for real, ooh, oh, oh, ooh
The artist is assuring the other person that their feelings are genuine.
If you really really want it
The singer wants to know if the other person truly desires a relationship.
Let me know, 'cause I'm just waiting for the moment
The artist is willing to wait for the other person to make a move.
And if you really really want it
The singer is still asking for confirmation of the other person's feelings.
If you want it's okay, oh, oh
The singer is indicating that they are open to a relationship if the other person is willing to commit.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Victor Snaith, Jessica Lanza, Jeremy Greenspan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arup02
The synths here... I'm in heaven. Magnifique.
@lobohombreinLA
Caribou + Jessy Lanza. Perfection!!!!!
@organon9K
You know what makes this song so fucking good? The fact that the bass kicks in after 2 minutes and 39 seconds. And then that powerful sub bass at 3:45. So subtle. Pure genius.
@DominicSnyder
Now this is a good comment.
@PeckPeckimapaycheck
This song has SO much patience.
@vinodefresa
I've been listening to this song for three years
@MimMdance
I love finding awesome artists randomly.
@rawrvintageisclassic
It feels strangely satisfying to see my heart being torn apart by this track.
@AConnors16
Second Chance breaks my heart, it's so good.
@user-bo1ue1ur3t
this is soooo wild. sounds like you had a fever dream and heard a pop song in it