Formed … Read Full Bio ↴Karkwa is a Canadian indie rock group from Montreal, Canada.
Formed in 1998, the group consists of vocalist and guitarist Louis-Jean Cormier, keyboardist François Lafontaine, bass guitarist Martin Lamontagne, percussionist Julien Sagot and drummer Stéphane Bergeron.
After reaching the final stages of the Francouvertes contest in 2001, the band released its debut album, Le pensionnat des établis, in 2003. The album's single "Poisson cru" reached the top of Quebec's campus radio charts, and was named the best album of the year by two critics for Montreal's alternative weekly Voir.
The band's second album, Les tremblements s’immobilisent, won three Félix Awards in 2006. In 2007, they were featured, along with The Stills, The Besnard Lakes and Mahjor Bidet, on the bill of Quebec Scene, a concert in Ottawa sponsored by CBC Radio 3.
Their album, Le volume du vent, came out in 2008 and reached more mainstream success across Québec.
In 2010, Karkwa released their latest album Les chemins de verre, which won them the 2010 Polaris Music Prize annually held in Canada.
Karkwa is opening for Arcade Fire for the second time on September 22 2011 for a free concert in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Le Compteur
Karkwa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je sens que le temps passe sur ce qui m'entoure
Plus que sur moi-même
Pendant que tout le monde parle,
dans la cour
Pendant que les enfants chassent les vieux,
au pas lourd
inconscient,
de courrir sur les mains,
Déja,
plonger à demain
Comme les craqués qui dansent
Sans savoir que l'heure avance
Sur des grands cheveux blancs,
en cavale
Viennent les vieux tourments,
de l'idéal,
Pour questionner mon coeur,
Le bal,
du "Je serais mieux ailleurs?",
La peur,
de ne pas pouvoir m'y faire,
Trop tard,
pour revenir en arrière
Comme les craqués qui dansent
Sans savoir que l'heure avance
Comme les craqués qui dansent
Sans savoir que l'heure avance
Comme les craqués qui dansent
Le Compteur by Karkwa explores the themes of passing time and the struggle of finding one's place in the world. The opening lines "Comme les routes cassent sous nos roues" (As the roads break under our wheels) set the stage for a journey, perhaps a physical one but also a metaphorical one where the singer is moving forward and noticing the passage of time around them. The chorus "Comme les craqués qui dansent / Sans savoir que l'heure avance" (Like the cracked ones who dance / Without knowing that time is advancing) speaks to the idea of living in the moment and not being aware of the bigger picture, of being lost in the present and not concerned with the future.
The second verse provides a contrast to the joyful scene of children playing in the first verse, with the line "Vennent les vieux tourments, de l'idéal" (Come the old torments of the ideal). The singer is faced with questioning their own life choices and considering if they would be better off somewhere else. The fear of not being able to adapt to a new place or situation is expressed in "La peur, de ne pas pouvoir m'y faire, / Trop tard, pour revenir en arrière" (The fear of not being able to adapt / Too late to go back). The imagery of "bal" (dance) in "Le bal, du 'Je serais mieux ailleurs?'" (The dance of 'I would be better off elsewhere?') adds to the theme of movement and change.
Overall, Le Compteur is a contemplative song that invites the listener to reflect on the passing of time and the choices they make in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Comme les routes cassent sous nos roues
As the roads break under our wheels
Je sens que le temps passe sur ce qui m'entoure
I feel time passing on what surrounds me
Plus que sur moi-même
More than on myself
Pendant que tout le monde parle, dans la cour
While everyone else talks, in the courtyard
Pendant que les enfants chassent les vieux, au pas lourd
While the children chase the old, heavily
Mois, je ne vois rien, inconscient, de courrir sur les mains, Déja, plonger à demain
Me, I see nothing, unconscious, running on my hands, already diving into tomorrow
Sur des grands cheveux blancs, en cavale
On big white hairs, on the run
Viennent les vieux tourments, de l'idéal, Pour questionner mon coeur
The old torments of the ideal come, to question my heart
Le bal, du "Je serais mieux ailleurs?", La peur, de ne pas pouvoir m'y faire
The ball of "I would be better elsewhere?", The fear of not being able to make it there
Trop tard, pour revenir en arrière
Too late to go back
Comme les craqués qui dansent
Like the crazies who dance
Sans savoir que l'heure avance
Without knowing that time is passing
Comme les craqués qui dansent
Like the crazies who dance
Sans savoir que l'heure avance
Without knowing that time is passing
Comme les craqués qui dansent
Like the crazies who dance
Contributed by Skyler T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.