Although he had been drawn to music as a child and played in bands as a teenager, he chose to study graphic design as a career. However, after attaining his degree, Karunesh - a Sanskrit name meaning "compassion" - was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. His brush with death prompted him to rethink his life and embark on a spiritual journey of sorts, and in 1979 he travelled to India and became an Osho sannyasi (disciple). His accident also prompted him to choose music as a career instead of graphic design.
In 1984, Karunesh released his first album entitled Sounds of the Heart, which was met with success, followed by Colours Of Light the following year and Sky's Beyond the year after that. Songs from his album 'GLOBAL SPIRIT' are also released on several 'Buddha Bar' compilations. Three of his albums made it into the 'Top Ten Billboard Charts'. As of 2007 Karunesh has released 16 albums. Karunesh's last album is 'Path of Compassion released in 2010 from Real Music Label.
Karunesh has lived in Maui, Hawaii, since 1992.
Autumn Leaves
Karunesh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
The song "Autumn Leaves" by Karunesh is a melancholic ballad that beautifully juxtaposes the changing seasons with the change in feelings due to separation from a loved one. The opening lines "The falling leaves drift by the window, the autumn leaves of red and gold" brings to the fore a sense of nostalgia, melancholy, and mourning that inevitably accompanies the change of seasons. The leaves are used as a symbol for the end of a relationship when two people drift apart over time, just like the leaves wither and fall in autumn.
The lyrics that follow, "Since you went away the days grow long, and soon I'll hear old winter's song, but I miss you most of all my darling when autumn leaves start to fall" have a deep meaning that conveys the sense of loneliness and emptiness one feels after a separation from a loved one. The reference to winter's song suggests that the loneliness will grow stronger as time passes, and the cycle of separation and longing will continue in a never-ending loop.
The French lyrics in the song add another layer of depth to the meaning of the song. "C’est une chanson, qui nous ressemble, toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais" translates to "It's a song that resembles us, you loved me and I loved you". The lyrics beautifully capture the essence of the song that two people who loved each other once, now must go their separate ways as their paths have diverged. The line "la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants désunis" or "the sea erases on the sand the steps of separated lovers" is a poignant metaphor for how time and distance can make even the sweetest memories fade away.
Line by Line Meaning
The falling leaves drift by the window
The leaves falling off the tree branch are blowing in the wind and passing by my windowpane
The autumn leaves of red and gold
The leaves on the tree branches are different shades of red and gold during Autumn season
I see your lips, the summer kisses
I recall fond memories of kissing you during the summer season
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
I reminisce about holding your hands that are sunburned from being exposed to the sun
Since you went away the days grow long
Since you left me, the days feel longer and endless
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
The cold winter season is looming upon us and its effects can already be felt
But I miss you most of all my darling
Amongst everything and everyone, I miss you the most, my dear
When autumn leaves start to fall
My longing for you becomes more intense as I see the fall leaves fluttering down
C'est une chanson, qui nous ressemble
It is a song that resembles us, our love and our pain
Toi tu m'aimais et je t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you
Nous vivions tous deux ensemble
We lived together as a couple
Toi qui m'aimais moi qui t'aimais
You loved me and I loved you equally
Mais la vie separe ceux qui s'aiment
But life has a way of separating even those who are deeply in love
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit
Quietly and gently, separating without any commotion
Et la mer efface sur le sable les pas des amants desunis
And the sea washes away the footprints of separated lovers in the sand
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CLAUDIO MERLINI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind