kala
Yann_Tiersen Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do you recognize me
Here on this sleeper train
And do you feel the pain

Growing into the night, Mary
And I can feel the taste
Of your birthday cake
Remember how it was
To hold you into my arms, Mary.

It wasnt there
The summer lights around

I wasnt there
His hand upon my knees
And were gone
Across the sunny streets

And were gone
The day you died, Mary
And we go faster now
Together throught the fields
Here on this sleeper train
And I can touch your face, Mary.

The precious things weve done
Hidden under my skin
I let you sleep a while
I leet you sleep
A while, Mary.

It was there
The summer lights around
I was there
His hand upon my knees
And were gone
Across the sunny streets.





And were gone
The day you died, Mary

Overall Meaning

The song Kala is a melancholic reflection on loss, memory and the passage of time. The opening lines ask the listener if they recognize the singer, who is on a sleeper train and presumably traveling to some destination. The second line, "And do you feel the pain," creates a sense of emotional distance and suggests that the singer is struggling with grief or longing. This is reinforced by the repetition of the name "Mary," which could be a name of someone who has passed away, or someone who the singer misses intensely.


The lyrics shift between present and past tense, adding to the sense of dislocation and fragmentation. The line "Growing into the night, Mary" creates a sensory image of the darkness stretching out around the singer, while the line "And I can feel the taste of your birthday cake" is a vivid, tactile memory of a specific moment in time. The verse ends with the singer reminiscing about holding someone named Mary in their arms, adding to the bittersweet tone of the song.


The chorus shifts to a more abstract imagery, with the lines "It wasn't there, the summer lights around / I wasn't there, his hand upon my knees / And we're gone, across the sunny streets." This could be interpreted as a lament for missing out on the pleasures of life or love, or as a reflection on how memory can distort or fade over time. The final verse returns to the theme of loss, with the repeated line "And we're gone, the day you died, Mary." The song ends with a sense of resignation, but also with a poignant reminder of the power of memory to keep loved ones alive in our hearts.


Line by Line Meaning

Do you recognize me
Are you able to identify me?


Here on this sleeper train
We are currently present on a train meant for sleeping.


And do you feel the pain
Are you experiencing discomfort?


Growing into the night, Mary
The discomfort is increasing as the night passes, Mary.


And I can feel the taste
I am able to sense the flavor.


Of your birthday cake
I can taste the cake that was made on your birthday.


Remember how it was
Recall how it used to be.


To hold you into my arms, Mary.
The feeling of holding you in my arms, Mary.


It wasn't there
It did not exist.


The summer lights around
The illumination during the summertime.


I wasn't there
I was absent.


His hand upon my knees
Somebody's hand was put upon my knees.


And we're gone
We depart from the present place.


Across the sunny streets
We move across the streets filled with sunlight.


The day you died, Mary
The day you ceased to exist, Mary.


And we go faster now
We are increasing in speed.


Together through the fields
We travel together across the open area.


Here on this sleeper train
We are currently present on a train meant for sleeping.


And I can touch your face, Mary.
I am able to feel your face, Mary.


The precious things we've done
The valuable accomplishments we achieved.


Hidden under my skin
Concealed beneath my surface.


I let you sleep a while
I allowed you to rest for some time.


I let you sleep
I allowed you to rest.


A while, Mary.
For a brief period, Mary.


It was there
It existed.


The summer lights around
The illumination present during the summertime.


I was there
I was present.


His hand upon my knees
Somebody's hand was put upon my knees.


And we're gone
We depart from the present place.


Across the sunny streets.
We move across the streets filled with sunlight.


The day you died, Mary
The day you ceased to exist, Mary.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Laura Noceta

Yann Tiersen is a musical genius! His music in always so incredibly touching.

AHM Faishal

Which language was used to write the song?

Yollin Avila

Yann Tiersen es un excelente Artista!

alpha Onde

Il y a Mozart, il y a Yann Tiersen ...grand, bouleversant.

nancy antoniou

absolutely love it!

Blaze Fortesque

nancy antoniou yeah is beuty

teresa suarez

Yanntastic!! Magnifique !!!

s reddo

Yanntastic!!!! LOOOOOOOL
you are a genius...

Blaze Fortesque

teresa suarez ouii

olgachefugge

this is my voyage through air on a bike. it'll fly and it'll take me into a rainbow. drops will be made of wet paint.

More Comments

More Versions