Upon turning 18 and moving out to Syracuse, NY to pursue his academics, Cook was met with a vibrant local music scene the likes of which he had never felt in Brussels. A home found in basement shows and the will to not only make music, but be part of a new and exciting culture of ‘do it yourself’ diligence.
After two years, and two bedroom-recorded albums under the name Spark Alaska, it was time to break out of the quiet and comfortable shell Cook had made for himself.
Equipped with an old Peavey guitar, a microphone that had never been yelled into before, and a handful of musician friends to take over for Lorenzo’s inept rhythmic abilities, Petite League was born. It was the snotty, noisey music that Cook had always wanted to make.
Kanyakumari
Petite League Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Three oceans collide like old friends
Elephant memories in your skin
Sell a bottle of beer and keep it within
Now I'm off to see if you were the last hope for me
You were lost in Kanyakumari
While I was stuck in New York City
Indian sun′s beating down on ya
Winter takes the life out of me
While you were lost in Kanyakumari
Thought I'd write home for the last time again
Five o'clock shadow and a new girlfriend
What about you, what are you up to now?
The roots of my skin, they′re still there and loud
I could have done better with you
Oh I could have done better with you
I could have done better
Oh I could have done better with you
Now I′m off to see if you were the last hope for me
You were lost in Kanyakumari
While i was stuck in New York City
Oh, you can write me from a roof of a hospital
Indian sun's beating down on ya
Winter takes the life out of me
While you were lost in Kanyakumari
The lyrics to Petite League's song "Kanyakumari" convey the longing to recapture the essence of a past relationship that has since faded away. The first verse vividly describes the feeling of reconnecting with someone for the first time again, comparing it to three oceans colliding like old friends with elephant memories inscribed in the skin. The line "Sell a bottle of beer and keep it within" suggests a reluctance to let go of memories, even as time passes.
The second verse dives deeper into the distance that has grown between the singer and their past partner. The reference to Kanyakumari creates an interesting contrast with New York City. While the singer is stuck in the frigid winter, their past partner is lost in the warmth of India's sunshine. The line "Winter takes the life out of me" further emphasizes the sense of hopelessness felt by the singer. The final verse expresses regret for not doing better in the past relationship, and a lingering curiosity about what their past partner is doing now.
Overall, "Kanyakumari" unveils complex emotions of nostalgia, longing, and regret, and does so with descriptive metaphors and comparisons that evoke vivid imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll meet you for the first time again
I want to start fresh with you and experience our first meeting again
Three oceans collide like old friends
The coming together of different elements feels natural and familiar
Elephant memories in your skin
You have a strong memory that's embedded in you like an elephant's
Sell a bottle of beer and keep it within
I'll hold my emotions in and not let them get the best of me
Now I'm off to see if you were the last hope for me
I want to find out if you were truly the one I could count on
You were lost in Kanyakumari
You were in a faraway place searching for something
While I was stuck in New York City
I was in a familiar place but still feeling lost
Oh, you can write me from a roof of a hospital
Even if you're in a difficult situation, you can still reach out to me
Indian sun's beating down on ya
You're experiencing the heat of the Indian sun
Winter takes the life out of me
The cold winter is making me feel lifeless
Thought I'd write home for the last time again
I'm considering cutting off communication for good
Five o'clock shadow and a new girlfriend
I've moved on and have a new partner
What about you, what are you up to now?
I'm curious about what you've been doing since we last spoke
The roots of my skin, they're still there and loud
The memories of us are still ingrained in me and affecting me strongly
I could have done better with you
I regret not putting more effort into our relationship
Oh I could have done better with you
I feel guilty for not treating you better
Contributed by Daniel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.