kala
Elizabeth Fraser Lyrics


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Do you recognize me
Here on this sleeper train
And do you feel the pain

Growing into the night, Mary
And I can feel the taste
Of your birthday cake
Remember how it was
To hold you into my arms, Mary.

It wasnt there
The summer lights around

I wasnt there
His hand upon my knees
And were gone
Across the sunny streets

And were gone
The day you died, Mary
And we go faster now
Together throught the fields
Here on this sleeper train
And I can touch your face, Mary.

The precious things weve done
Hidden under my skin
I let you sleep a while
I leet you sleep
A while, Mary.

It was there
The summer lights around
I was there
His hand upon my knees
And were gone
Across the sunny streets.





And were gone
The day you died, Mary

Overall Meaning

The song Kala by Elizabeth Fraser is a heartfelt and emotional tribute to a loved one who has passed away. The lyrics seem to be addressed to a dear friend or family member named Mary. The song opens with a question, "do you recognize me?", and then goes on to describe being on a sleeper train, night falling, and feeling the pain of losing Mary. Fraser reminisces about sharing birthday cake with Mary and holding her in her arms. The refrain, "It was there/The summer lights around/I was there/His hand upon my knees/And were gone/Across the sunny streets," is a beautiful and haunting reminder of the memories we create and the people we share them with.


As the song progresses, it becomes clear that Mary has passed away, and Fraser is reflecting on their time together. She talks about how they move faster now, together through the fields, on the sleeper train, and how she can touch Mary's face. The "precious things we've done" are now "hidden under my skin," and Fraser lets Mary sleep for a while, perhaps indicating that the pain of loss is too much to bear at times. The last refrain, "And were gone/The day you died, Mary," is a poignant reminder that life is short and fleeting, and we should cherish the time we have with those we love.


Overall, Kala is a beautiful, moving tribute to a lost loved one. The lyrics offer a sense of comfort and hope in the face of grief, reminding us that even though our loved ones may be gone, their memory lives on within us.


Line by Line Meaning

Do you recognize me
Asking if the person remembers and knows her


Here on this sleeper train
Referring to the place they are in


And do you feel the pain
Asking if the person feels the same pain and sorrow she does


Growing into the night, Mary
Describing how the pain and sorrow intensifies with each passing moment


And I can feel the taste
Suggesting that the memories are still fresh and vivid


Of your birthday cake
Recalling a particular moment in time


Remember how it was
Asking the person to recall a past event


To hold you into my arms, Mary.
Reminiscing on holding her in her arms in the past


It wasnt there
Revealing an absence


The summer lights around
A descriptive element from the past


I wasnt there
Admitting to not being present during an event


His hand upon my knees
Suggesting intimacy or touch


And were gone
Expressing the idea of something fleeting, passing or leaving


Across the sunny streets
Describing the scenery that accompanied the passing of something


And were gone
Re-emphasizing the transient nature of things


The day you died, Mary
Referencing a very traumatic event


And we go faster now
Describing a sense of urgency or desire to move on


Together through the fields
Imagining a journey together


Here on this sleeper train
Identifying the current mode of transportation


And I can touch your face, Mary.
A moment of intimacy or closeness with the one who is gone


The precious things weve done
Referring to a past shared experience and memories


Hidden under my skin
A metaphor for how the memories are internalized and never disappear


I let you sleep a while
A sense of letting go or giving space


I let you sleep
A decision to allow rest


A while, Mary.
A personal and intimate statement to the one who is gone




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRASER, TIERSEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@karziflora

Really nice...perfect for a steamy summer day, gives me chills! Lots of love Dear Shume!

@vladimirkapralov

*peacefulness* in which crazy world needs

@inbrokenimages

a very enjoyable video and the song choice is a great one. the water effect is keen, i like that... cheers.

@joellyshooshoo

@shum65 Aw thanks, Shum. I'm great, how are you! Thanks for video

@bobbysevensevenseven

Quite an interesting and moody vid, Davey! I'd forgotten how much I like Elizabeth Fraser's work with Yann Tiersen, and need to pull out this CD soon.

@Diamondsky66

Sweet :)

@opwave79

Cool.  It's got a definite 23 Envelope look to it.  I've only recently discovered this song, but have been a Liz fan for decades.

@meezsvale80

🖤

@bobbysevensevenseven

@shum65 Davey - I didn't realize you meant my Holy Joe ! Thank you !

@Diamondsky66

shum, are you on facebook ?

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