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.
What We Want
Bess Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By the heavy weight of our own thoughts
Maybe all this time we've searched around
It's been so long, it's been so long that we forgot
What we want, what we want, what we want, what we want, we have already got
You can store your innocence away
Study who you are and who you're not
But you don't know how to feel today
What you want, what you want, what you want, what you want,you have already got
No, you won't find it if you're looking
Too busy with your endless searching
Oh, no
No, you won't find it if you're looking
Oh, no
Too busy with your endless searching
'Cause what we want, what we want, what we want, what we want
What we want, what we want, what we want, what we want we have already got
What we want we have already got
What we want we have already got
The song "What We Want" by Bess Rogers is a powerful anthem that seems to be encouraging listeners to stop searching for things that they already have or have had all along. The first verse, "Maybe all this time we've been held down by the heavy weight of our own thoughts, maybe all this time we've searched around, it's been so long that we forgot what we want," seems to suggest that people may be holding themselves back from achieving what they want because they have been overthinking and searching instead of taking action. The repeated refrain of "What we want, what we want, what we want, what we want, we have already got" reinforces this idea that people likely have what they want or need in their lives, but they just need to recognize and appreciate it.
The second verse features lines like "You can store your innocence away, study who you are and who you're not, but you don't know how to feel today, it's been so long that you forgot what you want." These lyrics indicate that individuals may be trying to hide or change parts of themselves to fit into certain ideals or expectations, but in doing so, they lose sight of their true desires and goals. The bridge of the song reiterates that searching endlessly for something may not lead to finding it and instead suggests that focusing on what one already has could bring more fulfillment and happiness.
Overall, Bess Rogers's "What We Want" is a song that encourages listeners to take a step back and appreciate the things they have in their lives instead of constantly searching for more. The repeated refrain of "What we want we have already got" serves as both a reminder and a challenge to embrace the present and find joy in what one already possesses.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe all this time we've been held down
Perhaps we have been constrained all this time.
By the heavy weight of our own thoughts
Our own thoughts might be the reason for our limitations and struggles.
Maybe all this time we've searched around
We might have been looking for something undefined throughout this time.
It's been so long, it's been so long that we forgot
The search has lasted so long that we might have forgotten what we were looking for.
What we want, what we want, what we want, what we want, we have already got
The things we have been looking for might already be a part of us.
You can store your innocence away
It is possible to suppress our innocence and true selves.
Study who you are and who you're not
We can learn about our identity and what doesn't define us.
But you don't know how to feel today
Despite understanding ourselves, we might still struggle with our emotions in the present moment.
No, you won't find it if you're looking
Sometimes, what we're searching for cannot be found by actively seeking it out.
Too busy with your endless searching
Our constant search can become all-consuming and prevent us from experiencing what is already present in our lives.
What we want we have already got
The things we desire might already be within us or our surroundings.
Contributed by Olivia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
NamineMella
I can't believe this hasn't got more views :O This song is so cute!
Rida naveed
pll always has the best underrated songs!!!
Ibrahim Naveed
Rida naveed so true!!!
destroysilence
This is what goes through my head when I think too hard and too long.
Wesley Bradshaw
I heard this song for the first time today at Carraba's Italian Grill and i can't stop listening to it!!
Barry Michael
Great song Bess. lovely Melody, harmonies and production. keep up then good work. all the best. BM
Rachael Burgess
This song has inspired me SO much more than you will ever know. Thank you Bess.
Julie Merat
Beautiful song *-*
Don Ender
Happiness is Bess Roger's new CD. Not only is it a great investment, it will give you hours of enjoyment as well. Wish I could get tickets for your sold out show in Minneapolis. If I did I'd play hookie from work again. bye!
djm
"Wah wee wah"? What the heck is " wah wee wah"? Nice song, though!