Raised in a musical family (her mother played harpsichords that her father built), Rogers has been living and breathing music since she was 6 years old. After earning a bachelors and masters degree in music composition from SUNY Purchase, she began a steady routine of recording and touring in support of her own music and as a back up singer and lead guitarist for indie-pop artist, Ingrid Michaelson.
During a rare few months off this winter, she decided to hibernate in her Brooklyn home and write a new record. In between working on the songs, she picked up a book called "Your Inner Fish" by Neil Shubin. "The book is about our evolution from life as far back as pre-historic fish and microbes and how that has affected our bodies and our lives now. It really grabbed me and I found myself a bit obsessed. I started to look at everything we do in life as a product of evolution, and many of the songs on this record were inspired by that idea," says Rogers.
Produced by Chris Kuffner (Ingrid Michaelson's Girls and Boys) and recorded partly in a Maine farmhouse studio owned by Sam Kassirer (producer of Josh Ritter and Erin McEown) and partly in Rogers’ home studio in Brooklyn, Out Of The Ocean features a host of talented friends including Ingrid Michaelson, Allie Moss, Ian Axel, Saul Simon-MacWilliams, Elliot Jacobson and Dave Eggar (Train, Beyonce). Like Rogers' live shows, the songs themselves have a huge dynamic range. From the haunting underwater mermaid ballad "In the Waves," to the synth-laden robot love song "Math and Science," to the driving pop-rock sing-along "Water and Dirt," Out Of The Ocean mirrors our understanding of life and love through time while maintaining a pop sensibility that Rogers is known for.
Like her previous releases, Bess Rogers Presents Bess Rogers (2010), Travel Back EP (2009) and Decisions Based On Information (2007), Out Of The Ocean was made and released independently. Knowing that this new record would require a more substantial budget, Rogers put out the call to her fans through Kickstarter. Within two days of launching the campaign, the initial goal of $10,000 was met; and by the end she had raised $26,000 with over 500 backers. "It was amazing." says Rogers. "The amount of support it got was mind-blowing and made me even more excited to make this record and get it out there into the world."
Bess' music has been featured on such television shows as One Tree Hill, Pretty Little Liars, Raising The Bar, and Switched At Birth, and a national Motts for Tots commercial. She has shared the stage with Ingrid Michaelson, Loudon Wainwright, Ari Hest, Ian Axel, Allie Moss and more. Out Of The Ocean was released on October 4, 2011, and was supported by a extensive tour in the US and the UK.
Anchor
Bess Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Light as a feather, blown by the wind without you,
I float above all that I love and I can't get home,
Till you pull me back, you show me that I'm not alone.
(Chorus)
I need an anchor to hold me down,
Baby you keep my feet on the ground,
When it turns to night, stars just fade into the darkness.
I'm lost in the tides, sailing without a compass.
Nothing to show which way to go, it all seems wrong.
Till you bring me back, you show me that I'm already home.
(Repeat Chorus)
I need a moon that'll calm the sea,
Baby you do the right thing for me,
Don't let me float, don't let me float away.
Honey you're the reason ,
That I get up when my knees are bleeding,
While I wake up when I'm lost and dreaming,
Yeah you bring me back.
Honey you're the reason ,
That I get up when my knees are bleeding,
While I wake up when I'm lost and dreaming,
Yeah you bring me back.
(Repeat Chorus)
(Repeat Chorus)
I need a moon that'll calm the sea,
Baby you do the right thing for me,
Don't let me float, don't let me float away.
In "Anchor," Bess Rogers sings about the feeling of being lost without a sense of direction or purpose, and how her partner serves as the stabilizing force that keeps her grounded. The opening lines, "Gravity feels weaker than it ever used to / Light as a feather, blown by the wind without you," suggest a sense of weightlessness and aimlessness that the singer is struggling with. She feels disconnected from the things she loves and unable to find her way back home, but finds comfort in her partner's presence when he pulls her back and reminds her that she is not alone.
The chorus, "I need an anchor to hold me down / Baby you keep my feet on the ground / Don't let me float, don't let me float away" reinforces the idea of needing a steady force to keep her grounded and focused. The second verse continues the theme of being lost, this time using the metaphor of sailing without a compass, but once again finding her way back with her partner's help. The line "you show me that I'm already home" highlights how her partner's presence is what makes her feel truly at ease and comfortable.
The final repetition of the chorus adds in the line "I need a moon that'll calm the sea / Baby you do the right thing for me," which extends the nautical metaphor and emphasizes the idea that the right person can bring a sense of calm and balance to one's life.
Overall, "Anchor" is a heartfelt declaration of love and gratitude towards a partner who serves as a stabilizing force in the midst of uncertainty and confusion. It speaks to the universal human need for connection and support, and the importance of having someone in our lives who makes us feel truly anchored.
Line by Line Meaning
Gravity feels weaker than it ever used to.
I feel weightless without you and everything I used to know seems insignificant.
Light as a feather, blown by the wind without you,
I feel directionless without you and everything seems to slip away.
I float above all that I love and I can't get home,
I feel disconnected from the things that I love and I can't find my way back without you.
Till you pull me back, you show me that I'm not alone.
You provide me with the stability and support I need to feel secure and connected.
I need an anchor to hold me down,
I need someone to keep me grounded and prevent me from drifting away.
Baby you keep my feet on the ground,
You are the one who provides me with a sense of direction and purpose.
Don't let me float, don't let me float away.
Please don't let me lose myself and drift away from the things that matter most.
When it turns to night, stars just fade into the darkness.
Without you, everything loses its shine and nothing seems clear.
I'm lost in the tides, sailing without a compass.
I am directionless and can't find my way without your guidance.
Nothing to show which way to go, it all seems wrong.
Without you, everything seems uncertain and I can't find my bearings.
Till you bring me back, you show me that I'm already home.
You provide me with a sense of belonging and allow me to find my way back home.
I need a moon that'll calm the sea,
I need someone who can provide me with peace and stability in times of chaos.
Baby you do the right thing for me,
You always know how to support me and provide me with what I need.
Honey you're the reason,
You are the one who gives me purpose and direction in life.
That I get up when my knees are bleeding,
You provide me with the strength to keep going even when times are tough.
While I wake up when I'm lost and dreaming,
You help me find my way back when I am feeling lost and disconnected.
Yeah you bring me back.
You are always there to bring me back to reality and provide me with the support I need.
Contributed by Aiden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maggie J
When i was pretty young my dad was playing this in the car and i declared it was my favorite song. it’s rly nostalgic now :’)
Philippa
I need this on Spotify...
This song is sooooo good, thank you chasing life for leading me to Bess! I will wait patiently
Luiza Daniol
Heard this on the show 'Chasing Life'. Amazing song!
Jim Crabb
Love the laugh n guitar rythm at the intro...great song...arrangement and mix is just so sweet! Jim
lauren marie
Heard the first 2 seconds of the song on chasing life and instantly got my phone out so I can type the lyrics and find this amazing song!! Great music!
Delishtomo
Actually heard this on the overhead radio in a store, had to remember the lyrics so I could look it up later. Very nice. ':P
Bess Rogers
Thanks for finding me! :)
N.S.S
chasing life brought me here!!!!!!!
Norma Tetuán
Chasing Life :D jojo