“Call It Fate, Call It Karma” is a haunting track by The Strokes from their 2013 album Comedown Machine. This song serves as a reflective exploration of longing, connection, and the complexities of relationships.
Musically, the song departs from The Strokes’ typical sound, incorporating a softer, jazz-influenced style that enhances its contemplative mood. The chorus expresses a yearning to exist in someone else’s presence, highlighting the pain of unfulfilled desire and the struggle to connect.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
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“Call It Fate, Call It Karma” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
Close the door
Not all the way
He don’t understand
We don’t understand
So don’t you wanna remind me
I don’t know a thing
And some of us remember
And some run out of place
In this opening verse, the imagery of closing the door but not all the way suggests a desire for connection while also maintaining some distance.
The lines “He don’t understand / We don’t understand” highlight a sense of confusion or disconnect, possibly between the narrator and another person or within themselves. The plea to be reminded indicates a yearning for clarity or understanding in a situation that feels ambiguous.
The mention of memory and feeling out of place reflects the struggle of navigating relationships where some people are anchored in shared experiences while others feel lost or disconnected.
[Chorus]
Can I waste all your time here on the sidewalk?
Can I stand in your light just for a while?
I’ve waited around to wait in a room
Having a hard time watching you
The chorus expresses a desire for presence and intimacy, even if it means being a burden. Phrases like “Can I waste all your time here on the sidewalk?” convey a sense of wanting to be close to someone, even in mundane circumstances.
The line “Can I stand in your light just for a while?” suggests that the narrator finds comfort or inspiration in the other person’s presence.
This section captures the tension between waiting and wanting, as the narrator feels a struggle in simply observing the person they are drawn to, hinting at a deeper emotional conflict.
[Verse 2]
You got it down now, don’t you?
I wanted to understand your face
So don’t you wanna remind me
I don’t know a thing
And some of us remember
And some run out of place
This verse continues the exploration of understanding and connection. The line “You got it down now, don’t you?” implies that the other person has a grasp on their emotions or situation, which contrasts with the narrator’s feelings of confusion.
The repetition of the plea for reminders reinforces the narrator’s vulnerability and desire for insight into the other person’s thoughts or feelings.
This section echoes the themes of memory and dislocation from the first verse, emphasizing the complexities of their relationship.
[Chorus]
Can I waste all your time here on the sidewalk?
Can I stand in your light just for a while?
I’ve waited around to wait in a room
Having a hard time watchin’ you (Watchin’ you)
The repetition of the chorus reinforces the narrator’s longing and the cyclical nature of their feelings. The desire to “waste time” and “stand in your light” remains a central theme, illustrating a persistent need for connection despite the challenges faced.
The addition of “watchin’ you” in the last line emphasizes the narrator’s fixation and perhaps a sense of helplessness in their admiration.
[Outro]
I needed someone
I needed someone
The outro, with the simple repetition of “I needed someone,” encapsulates the overall emotional weight of the song. It conveys a raw sense of longing and dependence, suggesting that the narrator feels incomplete or lost without the presence of another person.
This final line resonates with the themes of vulnerability and the search for connection that permeate the song.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Call It Fate, Call It Karma”
“Call It Fate, Call It Karma” by The Strokes is a poignant exploration of longing, connection, and the complexities of relationships.
The lyrics convey a deep yearning for connection, highlighted in the chorus where the narrator asks, “Can I waste all your time here on the sidewalk? / Can I stand in your light just for a while?” This expresses a desire to be close to someone, even if it means simply existing in their presence without any significant interaction.
The imagery of standing on the sidewalk suggests being on the periphery of someone’s life, wanting to step inside but feeling hesitant or unable to do so.
The opening lines, “Close the door / Not all the way,” set a tone of intimacy mixed with distance. This duality reflects the uncertainty in relationships, where there is a desire to connect but also a fear of fully opening up.
The repeated lines “He don’t understand / We don’t understand” emphasize mutual confusion, underscoring the barriers that prevent deeper understanding between people.
The narrator’s admission of not knowing anything further highlights a sense of vulnerability and the struggle to grasp the complexities of human emotions.
The song’s title suggests a sense of resignation to the whims of fate or karma. The narrator seems to accept that the connection they desire is out of their control, whether it’s due to destiny or the consequences of past actions.
On a deeper level, the song encourages contemplation on whether our experiences are predestined or the result of random chance.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.