Küsschen (English Translation) – Abor & Tynna
💋 [Chorus: The Empty Ritual]
Kisses left, right, left—but we don’t know each other.
And I sip, sip, sip—it’s not on me.
It’s funny, I was born here too,
But the glow is not deceptive—I’d rather be lost here, yeah.
Kisses left, right, left—but we don’t know each other.
And I sip, sip, sip—it’s not on me.
It’s funny, I was born here too,
But the glow is not deceptive—I’d rather be lost here, yeah.
💰 [Verse 1: The World of Privilege]
Supplied until the end of life—
Your parents are already thinking about your profit today.
Large Louis V bags filled with school supplies—
You’d also like to have a thick gold bar for confirmation (Uh).
Ice melts in your Belvedere.
You never drink, but then order more anyway.
Your gait has a certain elegance—
Looking deep into my eyes, asking politely for a dance.
🤔 [Pre-Chorus: The Unanswered Question]
But what I don’t understand:
Dolce Vita on an endless loop.
Whether that makes me happy, I don’t know—
But I’m sitting at the same table with you.
💋 [Chorus]
Kisses left, right, left—but we don’t know each other.
And I sip, sip, sip—it’s not on me.
It’s funny, I was born here too,
But the glow is not deceptive—I’d rather be lost here, yeah.
Kisses left, right, left—but we don’t know each other.
And I sip, sip, sip—it’s not on me.
It’s funny, I was born here too,
But the glow is not deceptive—I’d rather be lost here, yeah.
🏛️ [Verse 2: The Oversized Life]
Everything is oversized—
Renaissance ceilings are high, and the aisles are narrow.
We are at the brunch with silver cutlery,
Though I know that your Coco is hidden behind the Monet (Yeah).
🤔 [Pre-Chorus]
But what I don’t understand:
Dolce Vita on an endless loop.
Whether that makes me happy, I don’t know—
But I’m sitting at the same table with you.
💋 [Chorus]
Kisses left, right, left—but we don’t know each other.
And I sip, sip, sip—it’s not on me.
It’s funny, I was born here too,
But the glow is not deceptive—I’d rather be lost here, yeah.
Kisses left, right, left—but we don’t know each other.
And I sip, sip, sip—it’s not on me.
It’s funny, I was born here too,
But the glow is not deceptive—I’d rather be lost here, yeah.
🌃 [Outro]
Yeah—
The glow is not deceptive—I’d rather be lost here, yeah.
🥂 Lyrics Meaning & Emotional Core
“Kisses” is a keenly observed portrait of the wealthy social scene and the alienation it can produce. The speaker moves through this world, participating in its rituals, but remains acutely aware of its hollowness.
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Core Theme: The Superficiality of Affluence
The song’s central critique is directed at a life of inherited privilege and performative wealth. The opening verse paints a picture of children who are “supplied until the end of life”—their futures already secured by their parents’ wealth. The image of “large Louis V bags filled with school supplies” is a perfect encapsulation of this: even the most mundane aspects of life are branded and commodified. The desire for a “thick gold bar for confirmation” (a Christian rite of passage) shows how even sacred traditions are infiltrated by materialism. -
The Empty Ritual
The chorus describes the social dance: kisses on the cheek, sips of drinks—all gestures of intimacy and connection that are completely hollow. “But we don’t know each other” is the key line. These are not genuine interactions; they are performances, obligations, the currency of a social world where relationships are transactional and superficial. The speaker sips, but “it’s not on me”—they are not paying for the drink, but also not buying into the game. -
Born Here, But Not of Here
“It’s funny, I was born here too” is a moment of ambivalent recognition. The speaker shares an origin with these people, perhaps a similar background, but they feel fundamentally different. They are inside the room but not part of the scene. This is the outsider’s perspective within one’s own world. -
The Glow and the Lost
The repeated line “the glow is not deceptive” is paradoxical. The glow—the shimmer of wealth, beauty, and elegance—is real. It’s not a trick. But the speaker, rather than being seduced by it, would rather be “lost here.” This is a rejection of the easy path. Being “lost” might mean being adrift, uncertain, or outside the established order—but that state is preferable to being found and trapped within the glow. -
Dolce Vita on a Loop
The pre-chorus questions the endless repetition of the sweet life. “Dolce Vita” (the sweet life) has become a loop, a cycle without variation or meaning. The speaker doesn’t know if this life makes them happy, but they acknowledge their complicity: “I’m sitting at the same table with you.” They are part of the scene, even as they critique it. -
Coco Behind the Monet
The second verse adds another layer: “your Coco is hidden behind the Monet.” Coco (likely referring to Coco Chanel) represents fashion and branding, while Monet represents high art. The implication is that consumerism and luxury are hiding behind the façade of culture and refinement. The brunch with silver cutlery is a performance of taste, but the reality is more commercial. -
The Oversized and the Narrow
The description of “Renaissance ceilings” that are high and “aisles” that are narrow creates a sense of grandeur that is also constricting. The space is magnificent but cramped. This mirrors the emotional state of the speaker: surrounded by beauty and wealth, yet feeling trapped.
In essence, “Kisses” is a song about the alienation of privilege. The speaker navigates a world of Louis Vuitton, Belvedere, and Renaissance ceilings, participating in its rituals of cheek-kisses and champagne sips. But they see the emptiness beneath the glow. They were born into this world, but they don’t belong to it. And in a final, defiant twist, they declare that they’d rather be lost—adrift, uncertain, outside—than found and trapped within the deceptive light. The glow is real, but it’s not for them.
