Born Margaret Wander, Dessa’s first release with Doomtree, False Hopes, int… Read Full Bio ↴Born Margaret Wander, Dessa’s first release with Doomtree, False Hopes, introduced a unique sensibility to underground hip-hop: literary, bitter-sweet, and wry. She alternated between a clever, droll persona as an emcee and her earnest, unaffected delivery as a singer with a low, clear alto voice. Her a cappella arrangements delicate and expressive, full of sad, old world harmonies. False Hopes attracted a varied set of ferociously dedicated fans in the Midwest and beyond. The press compared her to Lauryn Hill and Ladybug Mecca, and then as “equal parts Ani DiFranco and Mos Def” (Rift Magazine).
Most recently, Dessa published a book under the Doomtree banner. Spiral Bound, her collection of essays and poetry, was dubbed a “dazzling literary debut” by the City Pages and “witty and desperately honest” by Alive Magazine.
A Badly Broken Code, her solo full-length record was released in January 2010 to an eagerly waiting number of listeners and music-writers alike. It earned 4 stars from Urb Magazine, a mention in Spin, and rave reviews from publications across the country.
Most recently, Dessa published a book under the Doomtree banner. Spiral Bound, her collection of essays and poetry, was dubbed a “dazzling literary debut” by the City Pages and “witty and desperately honest” by Alive Magazine.
A Badly Broken Code, her solo full-length record was released in January 2010 to an eagerly waiting number of listeners and music-writers alike. It earned 4 stars from Urb Magazine, a mention in Spin, and rave reviews from publications across the country.
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A Badly Broken Code
Dessa Lyrics
Alibi Well I'm sure it's complicated And I'm sure your story goes…
Children's Work My father was a paper plane My mother was a windswept…
Crew The bartender says, "Kid, one day you'll get famous, Which…
Dixon's Girl Oh someone taught Your walls to talk But if they ask me I…
Dutch Mind your step, I keep the overhead low, Just the…
Go Home It's too dark Just the passing cars illuminate the room An…
Into The Spin So here we go back again Slow climb but quick To…
Matches to Paper Dolls I changed the locks, but your key, Your key's still…
Mineshaft II Fifteen years from tonight You have to make a decision The…
Momento Mori Here we are, rounding the edge again, And I wonder if…
Poor Atlas I'm building a body From Balsam and Ash I'm building a bod…
Seamstress I kept an angel In a box beneath my bed Little…
The Bullpen Forget the bull in the china shop There's a china-doll in…
The Chaconne Now the bough breaks The books I read Said you were a…
The Crow That old crow came back today Sitting in my window like…