Califone is the musical project of former Red Red Meat frontman Tim Rutili. Its regular and rotating contributors include many former members of Red Red Meat and some members of other Chicago bands, such as Tortoise. Their music is less rooted in blues-rock than Red Red Meat and is more directly inspired by experimental music and early American folk music as can be found on Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music.
Califone's current lineup includes Joe Adamik (drums), Jim Becker (banjo, violin), Ben Massarella (percussion), and Tim Rutili (vocals, guitar, keyboards). Each member is a multi-instrumentalist.
Tim Rutili has collaborated with a number of other artists as well. He joined up with Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock and others in 2002 to release the album Sharpen Your Teeth under the band name Ugly Casanova. Some members also toured with Freakwater and served as a backing band to record the album Thinking of You in 2005. In 2006, Tim Rutili teamed up with Wil Hendricks and Michael Krassner under the name The Unseen Hand to record the soundtrack for Rank, a documentary about bullriding. In the same year Califone worked with animator/musician Brent Green on a series of performance art pieces featuring animation, live music, and spoken word. They are also featured on the soundtrack for the movie Stranger than Fiction.
Rose Petal Ear
Califone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a head asleep upon a lap
animal dream
animal tongue
animal medicine
rose petal ear
between my fingers
water dissolving into water
The lyrics of Califone's song Rose Petal Ear are relatively abstract, but they conjure up striking imagery and convey a sense of peace and interconnectedness. The opening line "water dissolving into water" suggests a sense of unity and fluidity, as if all things are connected and ultimately dissolve into each other. The subsequent lines about a head sleeping on a lap and an animal dreaming reinforce this sense of interconnectedness, as if all living things are part of a larger whole and share a common consciousness.
The reference to "animal medicine" adds an intriguing layer of meaning to the lyrics. It suggests that there is a healing power in nature, and that perhaps by tapping into this power we can find a sense of peace and connectedness. The line "rose petal ear between my fingers" is particularly evocative, conjuring up the image of a delicate, fragrant flower nestled in the palm of a hand.
Line by Line Meaning
water dissolving into water
The seamless nature of change and transformation, like water dissolving and becoming part of a large body of water.
a head asleep upon a lap
The sense of comfort and safety derived from resting one's head on the lap of another person, signifying trust and affection.
animal dream
An instinctual, primal dream that may be hard to interpret or understand. It relates to our animal nature, the unspoken wisdom within us, and our raw emotions.
animal tongue
An instinctual, sensory and communicative organ that enables us to express and perceive a range of emotions, needs, desires beyond the spoken word. It also represents a form of connection with nature and other living beings.
animal medicine
A form of healing that involves our natural equilibrium, instincts, habits and patterns. It acknowledges the interconnectedness between human, animal and plant life, and relies on the use of natural remedies and practices.
rose petal ear
A beautiful and delicate part of the human body that enables us to listen and appreciate sounds, music and language. It represents the beauty and fragility of life and our capacity to be moved and touched by it.
between my fingers
The sense of holding something, perhaps something intangible, but still precious and meaningful. It represents the fragility and temporary nature of life, and the importance of valuing and cherishing what we have while we have it.
water dissolving into water
Reiterating the idea of transformation and fluidity. Life is not static, but constantly changing, and we should learn to embrace this impermanence.
a head asleep upon a lap
Reiterating the idea of trust, safety and comfort. We should strive to create and maintain close and intimate relationships that allow us to be vulnerable and open with others.
Contributed by Peyton R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.