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.
Standing Tall
Bess Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got a little bit of love, oh to keep me, to keep me dry.
So bring on the storm, let the winter winds blow,
My little bit of love, oh will keep me alive.
When I fall down to my knees,
When I fall down to the floor,
When I fall down to my knees,
Where is my faith? Well I need nothing more,
Than a little bit of love, oh to give me a reason why.
So bring on the storm, let the winter winds blow,
My little bit of love, oh will keep alive.
When I fall down to my knees,
When I fall down to the floor,
When I fall down to my knees,
You'll catch me.
When I fall down to my knees,
When I fall down to the floor,
When I fall down to my knees,
When I fall down to my knees,
You'll catch me.
The song "Standing Tall" by Bess Rogers is an inspirational ballad about persevering through difficult times with the help of love. The opening lines describe the singer standing tall in the rain and snow, using their love as a shield against the storm. The storm is a metaphor for the challenges and hardships of life that we all face, and the love that the singer speaks of is a representation of the support and encouragement that we receive from loved ones. The chorus emphasizes the idea that even when we fall down, love will catch us and help us to stand tall once again.
The second verse speaks directly about the singer's faith, and how they find all the motivation they need in the love that they have. The idea is that love is a powerful force that can give us a sense of purpose and direction, even when everything else seems uncertain or chaotic. The verses are repeated, with the final repetition of the chorus emphasizing the idea that love will always be there to catch us when we fall.
Overall, "Standing Tall" is an uplifting song that encourages us to find strength in the love that we have and to use that love to persevere through difficult times. It's a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles, and that with the support of those we love, we can overcome even the most challenging storms.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm standing tall in the rain and the snow,
Despite the difficult circumstances I find myself in, I am remaining strong and resilient.
Got a little bit of love, oh to keep me, to keep me dry.
I have a source of comfort and support that helps me weather any storm or challenge that comes my way.
So bring on the storm, let the winter winds blow,
I am ready to face whatever difficulties come my way, confident in my ability to persevere through adversity.
My little bit of love, oh will keep me alive.
My support system, whether it be from loved ones or from within myself, is what gives me the strength to keep going.
When I fall down to my knees,
When I experience moments of weakness or despair,
When I fall down to the floor,
when I feel like I can't go on anymore,
You'll catch me.
I can rely on someone or something to lift me up and help me keep moving forward.
Where is my faith? Well I need nothing more,
I don't necessarily need a religious or spiritual faith to stay strong, because I have the power of love and perseverance within me.
Than a little bit of love, oh to give me a reason why.
Love and support provide me with a sense of purpose and motivation, even during difficult times.
Contributed by Katherine H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bert Jerred
Great!! Bass line kicks butt. One of my favorite Bess Rogers tunes.
Tim Taylor
I love Bess's music and saw her live in Birmingham, AL and and again at LAX terminal by chance on her way back from Australia. What a wonderful person with a great voice and brilliant creative mind.
kittawa
Downloaded this for free on Google Play a while back and it kicks off every playlist I have on there right now. :) Beautiful and uplifting.
xLifeChange101x
THIS IS A GOOD SONG
Coptic Christian Convert
nice song!!!!!!!!!!
Dopamine Overload
If you ever wanted to collaborate with an unknown multi-instrumentalist dude on YouTube (me), I would die happy, Bess.
Victor Huichapan
Love this song xD
3Dartist247
We always seem to hear negative things about social media, but they have their good points. I can't remember where I first heard Bess Rogers, but it was certainly through one or another of the social media I've followed, YouTube and last.fm being the ones where I heard the most music before joining Spotify. When I read that Bess Rogers was lead guitarist and sang with Ingrid Michaelson, I gave her a listen. Sweet voice and some sweet songs, and this may be my favorite. I love the mix of sweet lyrics and the way she can rock out too. I only regret that I haven't gotten to see her live. Maybe one day.
Brb W
Listen to latest tune from AGBW , does it sound familiar?
BabynCoco
Very nice.