Her overnight success might not come as a surprise to all, as Rosinkranz has been writing songs since she was 8. Filling notebooks and iPads with lyrics, turns of phrase, and poems, the homeschooled artist would spend hours writing lyrics to songs that didn’t exist yet. Sometimes, she’d help her musician father, Ragnar, with melodies and lyrics for songs he’d been tasked to compose for TV shows and ad jingles.
Claire describes her style as alternative blues-pop, equally as inspired by early influences (like The Beatles’ Help!, Frank Ocean, and the Jack Johnson songs the family would listen to around the house) as it is by the singer-songwriter’s contemporaries, like Benee, Bruno Major, and Still Woozy.
Claire traffics in lo-fi songs with intricate yet totally relatable lyrics about friendship, crushes, family, and feelings. They plumb the depths of the human condition in very short bursts, exposing the songwriter’s remarkable emotional maturity and strong, singular grasp on her sound. Narratively, tracks like “Tough Guy” and “Seriouslaaay” follow Claire’s stories from start to finish while Ragnar’s clean, crisp production buoys his daughter’s crystal-clear vocals. “He totally captures my vision and if I don’t like something, I’m not afraid to say it,” Claire says of her dad. “Because we’re able to communicate so well, the process happens so quickly.”
The “star of the show,” Claire says of her catalogue, is “Backyard Boy,” the final song she wrote for the EP and one that grew legs of its own shortly after release, achieving massive viral success all on its own. “I was getting DMs from people telling me that ‘Backyard Boy’ was doing really well on TikTok,” she remembers. “Then, friends started texting me. Then more people were texting me. So I opened TikTok and I had 300,000 videos under the song and realized, “Oh, this is a thing!”
Signing to slowplay/Republic Records in 2020, Claire realized the work and dedication she’d been putting into music for half her life was coming to fruition. In August, she shot the “Backyard Boy” music video but kept things close to the family, as she’s done for years (it’s directed by her uncle, the first AD is her cousin, and close family friends star alongside her onscreen). “I think people are connecting to that song because it’s about a feeling you long for, especially during this time,” she says. “Everyone wants to have this experience but it’s something we can’t have right now because of COVID. But ‘Backyard Boy’ makes you feel like you can.”
Claire has spent a few years drilling down on her craft by refining her songwriting and learning to play instruments like the ukulele, the piano, and the jazz electric guitar (“that’s the one I absolutely enjoy the most,” she says), which have helped her turn her lyrics into fully imagined soundscapes. “I consider myself a writer first and foremost,” she’s quick to note. “I’m super fortunate to be able to sing all my songs, and I want to sing them, but writing is my favorite part of the entire process.”
123
Claire Rosinkranz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To break something already broken
Guess you won't get the chance
'Cause we finished this dance
I'm wasting your time
And by the way, you're a shitty dancer
I don't wanna say I love you
Eye to eye, got me high, trippin' over my shoes
On the concrete, got me sick like the flu
Down for the count like one, two, three
Everybody's fallin' in it, it everybody but me
(Wait a minute) wait a minute, I got somewhere to be
On the concrete running 'cause I'm outta your league
I, I just want to mess up what we have
I, maybe you should listen to my dad
I, stop holding onto things you know won't last
Leave the past in the past
It's the past, bitch
Don't call me, we've already spoken
Think you can fix me, are you joking?
Down for the count like one, two, three
That's a little, that's a lot, too much for me
Kind of thought to myself like you plus me
On the sidewalk, oh that'd be something to see
I was looking at my phone, are you on your way?
If you wanna book me, boy, call CAA
I move on fast, I don't really wanna play
Get outta my way, get outta my way
I, I just want to mess up what we have
I, maybe you should listen to my dad
I, stop holding onto things you know won't last
Leave the past in the past
It's the past
Na na na na, na na na na
Na na na na, na na na na na
I, stop holding onto things you know won't last
Leave the past in the past
It's the past, bitch
The lyrics of Claire Rosinkranz's song "123" depict a breakup and the singer's determination to move on from a toxic relationship. The opening lines express the singer's acknowledgment that the other person had hoped to break something that was already broken. This suggests that the relationship was already damaged and beyond repair. The singer dismisses the other person's attempts by mentioning that they won't get the chance because the "dance" is finished. The mention of the other person being a "shitty dancer" could be both literal and metaphorical, indicating that they were not skilled at navigating the relationship.
The chorus of the song expresses the singer's reluctance to express their love for the other person since it is deemed cliché and taboo. The mention of tripping over their own shoes and feeling sick like the flu when around the other person showcases the negative emotions associated with their presence. The line "Down for the count like one, two, three" implies that the singer feels defeated and tired of the relationship, while everyone else seems to be falling into similar situations except for them. They emphasize their superiority by stating that they are out of the other person's league.
In the second verse, the singer continues to express their desire to disrupt the current state of the relationship. They suggest that the other person should listen to their dad and let go of the things that won't last. The singer asserts that the past should be left behind and addresses the other person using an expletive, showcasing their frustration and resolve to move forward.
The third verse reiterates the singer's unwillingness to have further contact with the other person. They mock the idea that the other person can "fix" them and express their need to focus on their own life instead. The repetition of the desire to "mess up" what they have indicates a desire for change and the need to break free from the toxic dynamics of the relationship.
Overall, the lyrics of "123" can be interpreted as an empowering anthem about recognizing the need for self-growth, leaving toxic relationships behind, and embracing personal freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sorry, I know that you were hopin'
Apologies, I am aware of your expectations
To break something already broken
To dismantle what is already damaged
Guess you won't get the chance
Unfortunately, you will not have the opportunity
'Cause we finished this dance
Because our interaction has come to an end
I'm wasting your time
I am utilizing your time ineffectively
And by the way, you're a shitty dancer
By the way, your dancing skills are subpar
I don't wanna say I love you
I have reservations about expressing affection
'Cause that's a little, that's a lotta cliché taboo
Because it is both slightly and significantly overused and frowned upon
Eye to eye, got me high, trippin' over my shoes
Directly facing each other, it exhilarates me, causing clumsiness
On the concrete, got me sick like the flu
Being on solid ground brings me emotional discomfort akin to being ill
Down for the count like one, two, three
Defeated and incapacitated, just like a boxing match countdown
Everybody's fallin' in it, it everybody but me
Everyone is succumbing to something, except for me
(Wait a minute) wait a minute, I got somewhere to be
Hold on for a moment, I have obligations elsewhere
On the concrete running 'cause I'm outta your league
Running on solid ground because I am of superior status compared to you
I, I just want to mess up what we have
I simply desire to disrupt our current state
I, maybe you should listen to my dad
Perhaps you should heed the advice of my father
I, stop holding onto things you know won't last
Cease grasping at things that are known to be temporary
Leave the past in the past
Let go of previous experiences
It's the past, bitch
That is history, my dear
Don't call me, we've already spoken
Do not contact me, our communication has already taken place
Think you can fix me, are you joking?
Believe you have the ability to mend me? Are you jesting?
That's a little, that's a lot, too much for me
That is somewhat, and actually, an excessive amount for me
Kind of thought to myself like you plus me
Perchance considered the idea of you and me together
On the sidewalk, oh that'd be something to see
On a pedestrian pathway, oh that would be quite a spectacle
I was looking at my phone, are you on your way?
I was inspecting my mobile device, are you en route?
If you wanna book me, boy, call CAA
If you desire to engage my services, young man, contact CAA
I move on fast, I don't really wanna play
I progress swiftly, I am not keen on engaging in games
Get outta my way, get outta my way
Please vacate my path, step aside
Na na na na, na na na na
Syllables used for melodic effect, no specific meaning
I, stop holding onto things you know won't last
Cease grasping at things that are known to be temporary
Leave the past in the past
Let go of previous experiences
It's the past, bitch
That is history, my dear
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andrew Wessen, Ben Berger, Claire Rosinkranz, Hayley Gene Penner, Ryan Rabin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
XAlphaWølfFlareX🔥 (Skaya Siberian’s BIGGEST Fan)
“And by the way, you’re a shitty dancer”
Best line in the song. Periodt.
ᴺⁱᵗᵉⁿ ᵍᵒʰᵃⁱⁿ
I have to admit that her songs are perfectly perfect and soothing.
mars ☆☆
@Tanbir Nr whats with the "..."
Lilith Max
You summed it up pretty well, I agree.
Juni Viera
Yes Ik!!!!!
Tanbir Nr
Absolutely...
Sam Moore
Bro ikr!
Cade Bowman
I feel like this is the kind of song that you wanna relate to until you actually relate to it lol
Lynno_.
she literally cannot make one bad song
slay gorlieeeee 🤟😍💖💖
Lynno_.
@Sohaibtaher yeah it means ''no''