Kahimi Karie カヒミ・カリィ (born Mari Hiki 比企マリ, March 15, 1968) is a Japanese fe… Read Full Bio ↴Kahimi Karie カヒミ・カリィ (born Mari Hiki 比企マリ, March 15, 1968) is a Japanese female Shibuya-kei vocalist.

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. Karie currently lives in Tokyo, Japan, though she spent much of her career in Paris.

Sleepwalking
Kahimi Karie Lyrics

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How funny to wake up in my bare feet
In front of the door to the street
I thought this was the way to the run way
But I know I'm not an air plane

I seem to be in a new place
But I miss the old one so
How dare you say I'm not awake

Are you sure how do you know ?

Sleepwalking Sleepwalking

My pajamas do not mean
I'm at a pajama party
The piano was not meant for this
Wandering is the best way to rest

Sleepwalking Sleepwalking

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Sleepwalking" by Kahimi Karie are open to interpretation, but they seem to suggest a feeling of disorientation and confusion. The singer wakes up in her bare feet, apparently disoriented and unsure of where she is. She mentions a runway, but states that she knows she is not an aircraft. She seems to be in a new place, but misses the old one, suggesting a sense of loss or nostalgia. The line "How dare you say I'm not awake?" could be interpreted as a response to someone telling her that she is not really awake, perhaps because she is acting strangely or seems unresponsive.

Throughout the song, there is a sense of confusion and ambiguity. The line "My pajamas do not mean I'm at a pajama party" suggests that there may be a miscommunication or misunderstanding of some kind. The piano is also mentioned, but it is not clear what role it plays in the song. The singer seems to be wandering, but it is not clear where she is going or why.

Overall, "Sleepwalking" seems to be a meditation on the experience of disorientation and confusion, and the feeling of being lost in one's own thoughts and perception. The theme of sleepwalking creates a sense of being disconnected from reality, and suggests that the singer is struggling to find her place in the world.

Line by Line Meaning

How funny to wake up in my bare feet
It's amusing to find myself waking up barefooted

In front of the door to the street
I'm standing by the street door

I thought this was the way to the run way
I mistook the street door as an airport runway

But I know I'm not an air plane
However, I'm aware that I'm not an airplane

I seem to be in a new place
I feel like I'm in a new location

But I miss the old one so
But I'm longing for the place I was before

How dare you say I'm not awake
How can you claim that I'm not awake?

Are you sure how do you know ?
Are you certain? How can you tell?

My pajamas do not mean
Just because I'm in my pajamas doesn't imply

I'm at a pajama party
That I'm in a pajama party

The piano was not meant for this
I'm playing the piano which is not intended for this