Midnight afternoon
Morning comes, but not too soon
Or else he wakes up in my bed
We are separate
Vampires in our nights aware
I'm no longer happy in there

Rosa, Rosa, Rosa
Oh, where is my heart?
Rosa, Rosa, Rosa
Oh, where is my heart?
I can never tell her
That she is a witch
Sewing up my heart again
Love in equal stitch

Oh I am not in love
I am not in love
I'm not
Oh I am not in love
I am not in love
I'm not

Rosa, Rosa, Rosa
Where is my heart?
Rosa, Rosa, Rosa
Where are my arms?
Morning, morning, morning
Will wake me up cold
Mourning, mourning, mourning
Reminds me that I am getting old

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Grimes's song Rosa, at first, might seem a little cryptic and hard to understand. The song seems to speak about unrequited love and, maybe, a toxic relationship. The first few lines create an image of two people, vampires, who are aware of their nocturnal habits, aware of their separate existences, and aware of their own discontent with their relationship. The singer seems to be unhappy with the situation and maybe wishing to break free from it.

Then the chorus comes in and the name "Rosa" is repeated several times. It is unclear who Rosa is, but the repetition of her name gives her some significance. She might be the person who caused the breakup, or maybe she is the source of a forbidden love. The singer says they can never tell her that she is a witch, which might mean that Rosa caused the breakup in a supernatural way. Maybe she cast a spell on the singer's partner or made them fall out of love. The line "Sewing up my heart again, love in equal stitch" is particularly interesting because it seems to describe the process of heartbreak and how the love that was once there is now stitched back together in equal measures of love and pain.

The last stanza of the song seems to talk about the aftermath of a breakup. The singer mentions not being in love and getting old, which might suggest that they have been in this situation before and are now jaded. The repeated chorus of "Rosa, Rosa, Rosa, where is my heart?" is particularly powerful, as it conveys a sense of loss and longing.

Overall, Rosa is a beautifully crafted song that speaks about love and heartbreak in a poignant and subtle way. Grimes's voice adds to the ethereal quality of the song, and the lyrics manage to convey complex emotions in a few lines.

Line by Line Meaning

Midnight afternoon
The time of day is irrelevant, as it is always dark and gloomy in this relationship.

Morning comes, but not too soon
The singer is dreading the start of a new day, since it means being away from the person she desires.

Or else he wakes up in my bed
The singer wants to forget about her lover and move on, but she can't seem to stay away from him.

We are separate
Despite their connection, the artist and her lover are fundamentally different and cannot be together.

Vampires in our nights aware
The artist and her lover only come alive at night and are constantly aware of each other's presence.

I'm no longer happy in there
Being with her lover no longer brings the singer happiness and she wants out of the relationship.

Rosa, Rosa, Rosa
The singer is calling out to someone named 'Rosa' who may represent an escape or a new love interest.

Oh, where is my heart?
The artist feels lost and incomplete without a deep emotional connection to someone.

I can never tell her
The artist is keeping a secret from 'Rosa' and is unable to share her true feelings.

That she is a witch
The artist sees 'Rosa' as a supernatural being who possesses an alluring and dangerous power.

Sewing up my heart again
The singer is trying to heal from a broken heart, but 'Rosa' keeps reopening the wound.

Love in equal stitch
'Rosa' gives and takes in equal measure, leaving the artist confused about her intentions.

Oh I am not in love
The singer denies being in love with anyone, possibly due to fear of getting hurt.

I am not in love
The singer repeats her denial, trying to convince herself and others that she is not attached to anyone.

Rosa, Rosa, Rosa
The singer's longing for 'Rosa' persists, possibly suggesting an inability to move on from past relationships.

Where are my arms?
The artist feels helpless and alone without a loving embrace from someone.

Morning, morning, morning
The start of a new day makes the artist feel empty and unfulfilled.

Will wake me up cold
The singer anticipates feeling numb and uninspired when she wakes up each day.

Mourning, mourning, mourning
The repetition of this word implies that the singer is grieving the loss of something important in her life, perhaps youth or love.

Reminds me that I am getting old
The artist feels like time is slipping away and she may never find true love or contentment.

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