Kalai's official website (www.kalai.cc) includes the following Bio.
1979 to 1998
(Kaniela Ka lei ali’i O’kalani Kala’i December 18, 1979)
Kalai was born in Hawaii and raised in the A.K. Son of a Ke ho alu cowboy and mothered by a good woman with heavy burdens. Ten years of life, most of them spent as an Alaskan, yielded him a wisdom of wilderness and a man’s knowledge of hard times. He later left high school tooling a guitar at sixteen and building a recordable repertoir by age seventeen. The latter half of his adolescence becoming then devoted to the ironic expression of that which was passing him by.
1998 to 2000
Several explorative tangents dictated Kalai’s pace of life for the next few years although music remained a surviving therapy for him. At eighteen he relocated south with the intention of attaining a college degree in entomology. He completed one year of school working as a commercial fly tyer for international fly-fishing outfitters such as L.L. Bean and Cabela’s. He also wrote story-based and “How to” articles for several outdoor life publications such as Rod & Reel and Fly Fisherman.
2000 to 2002
Discovering that the exploitation of his wooded childhood nostalgia brought him no closer to returning to it, Kalai made a conscious decision to pave a career path in music. At twenty-one aided by friend, Sam Cardon, he began production on his professional debut “Acoustacism” on the Treble V Music label (Innovators, Digability, Soulmate, Innovators II). Acoustacism featured drummer Rick Sinese who would later become a regular member of Kalai’s band. Then at twenty-two Kalai returned home to Anchorage, Alaska to construct an in-house studio where he would produce his second album “Six Strings And The Rainy Day Man”, an album on which he would perform all of the instrumentation as well as engineering, mixing, and cover-art.
2002 to 2003
Since Kalai’s first two albums were recorded almost back to back he was unable to perform extensively until his second album was released. He then began to establish his live shows, sometimes playing acoustic but also joining forces with premiere bassist Eric Wallengren (Karizma, Louise Goffin, Poor Arnold). The two performed dozens of vocal/guitar/bass shows together. The duo was then joined by veteran drummer Rick “Sneez” Sinese (Sam Cardon, The Given, Dixie Chicks) adding a third dimension and a sense of foundation for larger shows. While still performing a twenty-three yr. old Kalai began work on his third record “Rebel Hands”.
2003 to 2004
His third Treble V Music release, Rebel Hands, was an undertaking from writing to printing. It became an eight-month, fifteen piece process that used music to bury bad memories and mourn family tragedies. The cover sports a tailored work from accomplished Painter, Graff Artist and Illustrator Ben McPherson. The material explores Kalai’s most intentional lyrics, original compositions, and savvy productions yet.
See www.kalai.cc
Untouched
Kalai Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you don't care how I say it, play it the way that you play it
So young and hungry for revenge yeah, so wise you've become stupid
Unflexible so you won't bend, won't sacrifice anything…
We're all living such similar lives, but we don't turn out the same
Cause it's the little whispers that formed all life, through the choices we made yeah
And I was told only fools rush in
I'll stay untouched
I know you learn something new every day about the birds and the bees
But you don't reserve the right to demonstrate it right here in front of me
We're all living such similar lives, helpless and ashamed
But society's law shouldn't govern our minds
Or we'll all end up the very same yeah
I'm only asking for a little time, for you to think this through
Sit back, relax and feel my rhyme deep inside of you
I don't find interesting to pass myself around
And I was told only fools rush in
I'll stay untouched.
The lyrics of Kalai's song Untouched convey a message of autonomy and individualism, emphasizing the importance of personal choices and the risk of conformity. The first verse paints a picture of a person who is determined to do things their own way, no matter what anyone else says. This person is depicted as young, hungry for revenge, and unyielding in their beliefs. The chorus highlights the idea that despite the fact that we're all living similar lives, the choices we make are what make us unique. The whispers represent the small choices that shape our lives, and it's up to us to determine our own paths.
The second verse addresses societal norms and how they can limit the individual. The singer asserts that they don't need to conform to these norms and that they won't let anyone dictate their choices. The lines about the birds and the bees refer to sex education, and how it should be kept private rather than being flaunted in front of others. The chorus is repeated, underscoring the importance of personal choice and free will.
The last verse pleads with the listener to take a moment to reflect on their choices instead of rushing into things. The singer emphasizes that they don't see the value in casual relationships, and they're not willing to compromise their beliefs. The line "sit back, relax and feel my rhyme deep inside of you" encourages a moment of introspection, asking the listener to consider the message of the song and its relevance to their own lives. The final repetition of the chorus implies that the singer will continue to choose their own path, remaining "untouched" by outside influences.
Line by Line Meaning
It doesn't matter what I say, you're gonna do it anyway
The singer feels that their opinion doesn't matter and the other person will do what they want regardless of what they say.
And you don't care how I say it, play it the way that you play it
The singer feels that the other person doesn't care about their approach or perspective and will do things their own way.
So young and hungry for revenge yeah, so wise you've become stupid
The singer thinks that the other person is young and rash, seeking revenge without much thought, and despite thinking themselves wise, they are actually foolish.
Unflexible so you won't bend, won't sacrifice anything…
The artist perceives the other person as rigid in their ways, unwilling to compromise or make any sacrifices.
We're all living such similar lives, but we don't turn out the same
Although people may lead similar lives, the choices they make ultimately determine their individual outcomes and paths.
Cause it's the little whispers that formed all life, through the choices we made yeah
The little decisions we make every day have a significant impact in shaping our lives and the world around us.
I don't find necessary to pass myself around
The singer doesn't feel the need to constantly put themselves out there or share everything about themselves.
And I was told only fools rush in
The artist has been cautioned not to hurry into things without much thought, implying that they are wise and cautious.
I'll stay untouched
The artist wants to maintain their independence and not be influenced by others' actions or opinions.
I know you learn something new every day about the birds and the bees
The artist acknowledges that people are constantly learning about sex and relationships, but they don't need to demonstrate that information in front of them.
But you don't reserve the right to demonstrate it right here in front of me
The singer believes that others should be considerate and not share explicit information or engage in inappropriate behavior in their presence.
We're all living such similar lives, helpless and ashamed
Despite similarities in experiences, people often feel helpless and embarrassed about their situations or choices.
But society's law shouldn't govern our minds
The singer thinks that people should think for themselves and not let societal expectations or norms dictate their actions or thoughts.
Or we'll all end up the very same yeah
If people don't break free from societal constraints, they will all conform and lose their uniqueness.
I'm only asking for a little time, for you to think this through
The singer is requesting that the other person take a moment to reflect and consider their actions or decisions.
Sit back, relax and feel my rhyme deep inside of you
The artist wants the other person to listen to their words and let them sink in, perhaps causing them to reconsider their choices.
I don't find interesting to pass myself around
The artist is not interested in sharing themselves with everyone and feels no need to do so.
And I was told only fools rush in
This line repeats earlier in the song and reinforces the idea that the singer is cautious and thoughtful in their approach.
I'll stay untouched.
The singer asserts that they will maintain their independence and not be swayed by others' actions or opinions.
Contributed by Tyler M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.