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.”
Seriouslaaay
Claire Rosinkranz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leaning on a lot of luck
Getting in my head again
And now I'm being rude to my mom
What the hell is going on?
I'm saying things that I'm gonna regret
And now I'm being self-obsessed
Why am I depressed? Well, duh
Are you being serious?
Are you really oblivious?
Are you being serious?
You've gotta let time take the lead and ride
You've gotta let time...
I've got my mood on attitude
Don't ya tell me what to do
Chasing my tail like a dog
And now I'm breaking down by myself
Kinda worried for my health
But honestly, I'm not surprised right now
'Cause I know some things that I said
Are the reason that I'm fed up
With everyone, including myself
And I don't like to say you're right
So I choose to pick a fight
Instead of simply saying sorry instead
Are you being serious?
Are you really oblivious?
Are you being serious?
You've gotta let time take the lead and ride
You've gotta let time...
Time, time, time, time, time, time
Da-da-da-da-da
Time, time, time, time
Time, time, time, time, time, time
Da-da-da-da-da
Time, time, time, time
Time, time (Lost in my head)
Time, time, time (Lost in my head)
Living in my daydreams, lost in my head
Time, time (Lost in my head)
Time (Lost in my head again)
Time, time (Lost in my head)
Time, time, time (Lost in my head)
Cotton candy clouds float around in my brain, wow
Time, time (Lost in my head)
(Lost in my head again)
(Again, again, again, again, again, ba-da-da-da, bow, wow)
Time, time (Lost in my head)
Time, time, time (Lost in my head)
(Again, again, again, again, again)
Time, time, time, time
Time, time, time, time, time, time
Da-da-da-da-da
Time, time, time, time
Are you being serious?
Are you really oblivious?
Are you being serious?
You've gotta let time take the lead and ride
In "Seriouslaaay," Claire Rosinkranz explores the struggles of dealing with negative thoughts and emotions that can lead to lashing out at loved ones. The opening lines suggest being stuck in a rut, relying on luck to move forward. She then realizes that she is becoming rude to her mom and saying things she will regret later. The chorus asks if the listener is serious, and if they are oblivious to the fact that time is key to overcoming these internal struggles. Rosinkranz touches on feeling self-absorbed and stressed, questioning why she feels depressed, then answers her own question with a "duh." The second verse elaborates on the self-destructive behavior and the negative impact it has on her relationships. She chooses to fight instead of apologizing, leading her to feel lost in her head. Throughout the song, she urges her listener to let time take the lead and ride it out.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm being stuck up in the muck
I feel trapped in a difficult situation
Leaning on a lot of luck
I am relying on chance to get me through
Getting in my head again
My thoughts and emotions are overwhelming me
And now I'm being rude to my mom
I am taking out my frustrations on those closest to me
What the hell is going on?
I am confused and frustrated with myself
I'm saying things that I'm gonna regret
I am not thinking before I speak and will likely feel remorseful later
And now I'm being self-obsessed
I am focusing only on my own problems and thoughts
I'm falling into stress, yes
I am overwhelmed and anxious
Why am I depressed? Well, duh
I am feeling sad and down, and it's not a surprise to me
Are you being serious?
I can't believe what I'm hearing, is this really happening?
Are you really oblivious?
Do you not see what's going on around you?
You've gotta let time take the lead and ride
I need to stop trying to control things and let time pass
I've got my mood on attitude
I am in a bad mood and don't want to listen to anyone
Don't ya tell me what to do
I am resistant to others trying to help or give advice
Chasing my tail like a dog
I am going in circles and getting nowhere
And now I'm breaking down by myself
I am starting to feel overcome with emotions and can't handle it alone
Kinda worried for my health
I am concerned about the toll this is taking on me
But honestly, I'm not surprised right now
I saw this coming and knew it would happen eventually
Cause I know some things that I said
I am aware that my words and actions have contributed to this situation
Are the reason that I'm fed up
I am frustrated because I am at fault for my own problems
With everyone, including myself
My problems are affecting my relationships with others and also myself
And I don't like to say you're right
I have a hard time admitting when others are correct
So I choose to pick a fight
Instead of acknowledging my mistakes, I become argumentative
Instead of simply saying sorry instead
I have difficulty apologizing and taking responsibility for my actions
You've gotta let time take the lead and ride
I need to be patient and let things happen in their own time
Time, time, time, time, time, time
Time is passing and I need to allow myself to move forward
Da-da-da-da-da
Instrumental
Time, time, time, time
Time is a constant force in my life
Time, time, time, time, time, time
Time moves on despite my struggles
Time, time, time, time
Time keeps moving forward
Time, time (Lost in my head)
I am preoccupied with my own thoughts
Time, time, time (Lost in my head)
I am consumed by my own emotions
Living in my daydreams, lost in my head
I am not present and am instead caught up in my own thoughts
Cotton candy clouds float around in my brain, wow
My thoughts are fluffy and insubstantial, not grounded in reality
Time (Lost in my head again)
I am once again caught up in my own thoughts
Time, time (Lost in my head)
I am still consumed by my own emotions
(Again, again, again, again, again, ba-da-da-da, bow, wow)
Repetitive instrumental section
Are you being serious?
I am still struggling to believe what is happening
Are you really oblivious?
I am still frustrated with others not seeing what I am going through
You've gotta let time take the lead and ride
I need to trust that things will work out in their own time
Writer(s): Claire Rosinkranz
Contributed by Annabelle F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hahaha-mb1mo
I'm being stuck up in the muck
Leaning on a lot of luck
Getting in my head again
And now I'm being rude
To my mom what the hell is going on
I'm saying things that I'm gonna regret
And now I'm being self obsessed
I'm falling into stress, yes
Why am I depressed
Well duh
Are you being serious
Are you really are oblivious
Are you being serious
You gotta let time take the lead and ride
You gotta let time
I've got my mood on, attitude
Don't ya tell me what to do
Chasing my tail like a dog
And now I'm braking down by myself
Kinda worried for my health
But honestly I'm not surprised
Right now
Cause I know somethings that I said
Are the reason that I'm fed up
With everyone including myself
And I don't like to say you're right
So I choose to pick a fight
Instead of simply saying sorry instead
Are you being serious
Are you really are oblivious
Are you being serious
You gotta let time take the lead and ride
You gotta let time
Time time time
Time time time da da da da da
Time time time time
Time time time
Time time time da da da da da
Time time time time
Lost in my head
Lost in my head
Living in my day dreams
Lost in my head
Lost in my head
Lost in my head again
Time time time
Time time time time
Lost in my head
Lost in my head
Cotton candy clouds float around in my brain wow
Lost in my head
Lost in my head again
(Again again again again again ba ba da ba bow wow)
@cadebowman4582
The aesthetic is incomparable
@pinterestgirl4
@olivia what did she do?
@yui607
This song makes me feel like crying and dancing at the same time in my room all alone.
@leovaldez7997
why?
@urnan8596
Imagine being this pretty
@sophiemiller729
I now right
@lilsebers8156
I'm prettier
@shirae_
Ikr 😭
@sevs_
She doesnt have to imagine
@a.soph1a
@@lilsebers8156 ok