The Karelia formed from the ashes of rock/jazz band The Blisters, with Huntley, Alan Wylie, and Glen Thomson of the earlier band joined by Greek drummer Tassos Bobos. Their sound has been described as "prog/techno rock with Iggy-voxed overtones", and "jazzy film-noir lo-fi."
The band's only album, Divorce At High Noon, was released in 1997 on Roadrunner Records to little acclaim. Produced by Bid of The Monochrome Set,[1] it was an off the wall mix of rock and jazz trumpet with unusual lyrics. The final song, "Garavurghty Butes", was completely freestyle with improvised lyrics and musical arrangement. The band did not tour and were unknown outside Glasgow. Very few copies of the album sold (literally hundreds) and the band split in 1998 after contributing to an EP for the Guided Missile label.
Upon the huge success of Franz Ferdinand fans began to exchange originals of Divorce at High Noon for £50-£100. Because of this, the album was re-released in February 2005. It featured all of the previous album and two bonus tracks.
The band's name derives from the same named Greek tobacco industry "Karelia". It is also an area in Northern Europe divided between Russia and Finland.
To His Coy Dietress
The Karelia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you could salivate
I would appreciate that
Could you, you could, you know
All that is good is so bad
This fat is teasing me
Does your appetite whet you
And let you forget your vows?
Trying to titillate
Tickle my raspberry nipples
So gingerly
You want me, I know
I can see by the greed in your eyes
There could have been others
But none of such sickening size
The sensation is sweet
But time passes so quickly
So why don't you eat me?
Could you encircle me with lips
That a-quiver and drip for me?
I'm whipped and I'm stiff
And I want to be licked
There's bits that taste quite sugary
Damn your piety!
What can you gain from cold restraint?
The strain that sings, it's spilling like cream
How can you watch it turn?
Mmmmm
You want me, I know
I can see by the greed in your eyes
There could have been others
But none of such sickening size
The sensation is sweet
But time passes so quickly
So why don't you eat me?
The lyrics to The Karelia's song To His Coy Dietress tell the story of a person who is tempting their lover by describing their own body in a seductive manner. The singer is imploring their lover to give in to temptation and eat them, while also teasing them with descriptions of their body. The singer questions why their lover is holding back and why they aren't giving in to their desires. The use of food as a metaphor for desire and temptation is prevalent throughout the song.
The lyrics speak to the idea of giving into temptation and indulging in one's desires. The singer is describing themselves in a way that is meant to entice their lover, but also suggest that it is the lover who is holding back. The use of food and the act of eating as a metaphor for desire and temptation is a clever way to approach the subject matter. The lyrics are sensual and provocative, but also humorous in their approach.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me tenderly
Please handle me with care
If you could salivate
If you could experience anticipation
I would appreciate that
I would be grateful
Could you, you could, you know
Is it possible? You know it is
All that is good is so bad
The things that bring pleasure may have negative consequences
This fat is teasing me
The excess weight is tempting me
Does your appetite whet you
Are you aroused by the thought of consuming me?
And let you forget your vows?
Might it make you forget your commitments?
I wait on this chilly plate
I sit here, vulnerable and alone
Trying to titillate
Attempting to excite you
Tickle my raspberry nipples
Stimulate my senses
So gingerly
With gentle care
You want me, I know
I am aware of your desire for me
I can see by the greed in your eyes
Your avarice is evident
There could have been others
Perhaps there were other options
But none of such sickening size
But none as repulsively large as me
The sensation is sweet
This pleasure is enjoyable
But time passes so quickly
But it is fleeting
So why don't you eat me?
So why don't you consume me?
Could you encircle me with lips
Could you surround me with your mouth?
That a-quiver and drip for me?
That are trembling and drooling for me?
I'm whipped and I'm stiff
I am aroused and tense
And I want to be licked
I desire oral pleasure
There's bits that taste quite sugary
There are parts of me that are sweet
Damn your piety!
Curse your self-righteousness!
What can you gain from cold restraint?
What is your benefit from abstaining?
The strain that sings, it's spilling like cream
The tension that builds is overwhelming and irresistible
How can you watch it turn?
How can you resist this temptation?
Mmmmm
A sound of pleasure or desire
Contributed by Julian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.