The band was formed in 1993 by Geoff Farina, Eamonn Vitt and Gavin McCarthy. In 1995, Jeff Goddard joined the band as bass player, and Vitt moved to second guitar. Vitt departed Karate to pursue a medical career in 1997.
Karate’s perfectionism and attention to detail belied the off-the-cuff ethos of the indie rock world, and some considered them to be as un-punk as it gets. But fans would say that their auto-didactic music studies, compulsive control of their song arrangements, ascetic studio values, and Geoff’s work modifying old tube amplifiers and creating original album artwork, was pure DIY. Karate was even compulsive about naming this recording, which was originally called "594” since it was believed to be a recording of their 594th show, according to “The Showlist.” Culled mostly from Jeff Goddard’s elephantine memory, The Showlist is a mammoth list of Karate’s 695 shows, complete with dates, venues, support bands, and even the specific tour vehicle used to get to each show. But when Gavin recently discovered a flyer for a forgotten early show that had somehow evaded Jeff’s memory, the band quickly changed the title to '595'.
The early incarnation of Karate included Eamonn Vitt on bass and guitar, and when Jeff Goddard joined early on, they recorded In Place of Real Insight as a four-piece. When Eamonn left to pursue medical school, the lineup stabilized and remained a trio until their 2005 demise. Karate also built up a close-knit community of collaborators who shared their same no-nonsense values, including Tape Op tech guru Andy Hong who engineered most of their studio albums, Flower Booking’s Mahmood Shaikh who booked the band for over a decade, and tour manager / live sound engineer Greet Vyvey who traveled with the band on all their European tours.
Since the band's breakup, Jeff and Gavin recorded a bass/drums project called Possible Path, and Gavin began drumming for the legendary Boston psych-rock band Cul De Sac. Geoff and Gavin have a new band called Glorytellers that also features Josh Larue (Mice Parade, Him, The Sorts ) on electric guitar. Geoff started work on a new solo release for Southern Records, a recording of pre-War blues songs with Chris Brokaw (Codeine, Pullman, The New Year), and recently appeared on an all-covers record called Guilt by Association with Devendra Banhart, Mike Watt, Will Oldham, Petra Haden, Mark Mulcahy, Jim O'Rourke, and other great performers.
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Karate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kick out my spokes and send me sprawled on the schoolyard
I'm not too broke I'm just relaxed cause I work hard
Well you know I can't imagine things from her side of the sidewalk
If I just ride right through that, what is a neighbourhood?
I take my time so I can drive better
I close my eyes and verify to the letter
Well you know, you know I try, I try to get around, but from 95, what is a neighborhood
95 is nothing without you
You know this ride is nothing without you along
Milmea Cass I've got my wheels on you, every day, but I'm just riding away
Towards a house where I can sleep and I can smoke in the bedroom
Like a housemate should in my neighborhood
I've got a ride that says I can take this out of state
But what does it mean if I don't go your way
Press a prayer on a penny down by the rest stop.
I've got so many and you keep me from spending them all
You know I try to save a few like I should
From 95, this is your neighbourhood
This is your neighbourhood
95 is nothing without you
You know this ride is nothing without you along
Drive, drive, drive, drive 95, drive, drive, drive 95, drive, drive, drive, 95
The song "Karate" by Pedro the Lion is filled with poetic language that takes some time to fully unpack. Milmea Cass is the main subject of the song and her relationship with the singer is heavily implied by the use of "wheels" which is often slang for a woman or a car. The singer is essentially saying that he's got Milmea Cass under his control but she is "narrow and weak" which implies that she is very impressionable and easily influenced. The singer is challenging her to "tell me the truth, if you can" which could mean different things depending on the situation. It could be that the singer is aware that Milmea Cass is not entirely truthful with him, or it might also be a broader critique of people in general who struggle to be sincere.
The lyrics then shift to a scene where the singer falls off his bike and gets hurt. He then reflects on his life and says that he's not too broke but just relaxed because he works hard. He then ponders what a neighborhood really means, and whether or not it has any real value. The lyrics further explore his sense of disillusionment when he says, "you know I try to get around, but from 95, what is a neighborhood, what is a neighborhood?" Here, the singer is questioning the limits that society places on us, and whether or not it's worth it to try and find meaning in the places we live. The final verses of the song bring us back to Milmea Cass, who is still very much on the singer's mind. He talks about driving along the highway, 95, which only has significance when Milmea Cass is there riding with him. Without her, the ride is empty and meaningless, and ultimately it's she who gives his life purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
Milmea Cass I've got my wheels on you, so narrow and weak why don't you tell me the truth, if you can
I have control over you, Milmea Cass, but you don't seem capable enough to handle it. Can you at least speak honestly with me?
Kick out my spokes and send me sprawled on the schoolyard
If you attempt to harm my ride and me, you will be the one who suffers the consequences.
I'm not too broke I'm just relaxed cause I work hard
Although it may seem like I don't have much, I am content with my life because I work hard to earn it.
Well you know I can't imagine things from her side of the sidewalk
I find it difficult to understand Milmea Cass's perspective because we come from different backgrounds.
If I just ride right through that, what is a neighbourhood?
If I were to ignore and disregard the people and environments around me, what would be the point of having a neighborhood?
I take my time so I can drive better
I believe taking my time will lead to better outcomes and fewer mistakes.
I close my eyes and verify to the letter
I use my other senses to confirm that I'm navigating correctly, even if I'm not relying completely on sight.
Well you know, you know I try, I try to get around, but from 95, what is a neighborhood
I attempt to adjust and explore but it's difficult to connect and belong when I'm always driving past everyone and everything.
What is a neighborhood?
What defines and signifies a neighborhood's sense of community?
95 is nothing without you
This ride means nothing to me without you.
You know this ride is nothing without you along
This ride has no purpose or meaning if you're not with me.
Milmea Cass I've got my wheels on you, every day, but I'm just riding away
I have an influence over you, Milmea Cass, but even with that there's a feeling of restlessness that compels me to keep driving further and further away.
Towards a house where I can sleep and I can smoke in the bedroom
I have an idea of what my ideal living situation would be like and it involves having the freedom and comfort to smoke inside my home.
Like a housemate should in my neighborhood
I believe I would be a good neighbor and housemate if I lived in a place that accommodated my smoking habits.
I've got a ride that says I can take this out of state
My vehicle has the capability to transport me beyond this state's borders.
But what does it mean if I don't go your way
However, if I don't make choices based on your preferences, then does it make a difference?
Press a prayer on a penny down by the rest stop.
I am hoping for a sign of good luck on my journey, and I'm demonstrating that through a symbolic gesture by leaving a penny on a rest stop.
I've got so many and you keep me from spending them all
I have a lot of hopes and dreams for my future, but it's challenging because I'm weighed down by trying to meet your expectations.
You know I try to save a few like I should
Regardless, I still try to make progress and move forward but it's often done conservatively so I can be responsible in my other ventures.
From 95, this is your neighbourhood
This neighborhood belongs to you, Milmea Cass, as you have a clearer connection to it than I do as someone just passing through.
Drive, drive, drive, drive 95, drive, drive, drive 95, drive, drive, drive, 95
I'm constantly driving along route 95, trying to get somewhere or figure something out.
Contributed by Layla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@oliv.yt-
That ain’t no Kai 💀💀💀 that’s a BAHHH 🐑
@franciscosanz9143
“Kiai”
@RixxRyen
"AaAaAaAaAaHhHhHhHhHh!" 🐑
@story-elking
😂😂😂😂😂
@brigettehughes91
Ye I can say it as a half yellow belt
@love_girl1243
Yes ikrr
@oceanic9905
The " YaAaahhh" got me dead😅
@tuanasaybas8690
Me too😂
@Halo144
On bro
@dgabriel7527
Me too bor😂😂