CocoRosie began as a duo, with Sierra singing, playing the guitar, piano and harp, and Bianca singing and manipulating various children's toys, electronic and percussion instruments, as well as other exotic noisemakers. They subsequently added various backing musicians, usually a bassist, keyboardist, and beatboxer. They have been a very active touring group, playing across Europe, the United States, and elsewhere.
They have released seven full-length albums: La maison de mon rêve (2004), Noah's Ark (2005), The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn (2007), Grey Oceans (2010), Tales of a GrassWidow (2013), Heartache City (2015) and Put the Shine On (2020).
In 2003, Bianca was growing restless and decided it was time for a change. Leaving her apartment in Brooklyn to travel the world, she ended up at Sierra's apartment in Paris. Over the course of the next two months, the women spent nearly every waking hour in Sierra's bathroom, chosen as the most acoustic and isolated room in the apartment. Soon, they had completed both a hip-hop recording (never released) called "word to the crow" and their proper debut album La Maison de Mon Rêve.
Originally, La Maison de Mon Rêve was only intended to be distributed within a close circle of friends. However, by 2004 the lo-fi album had been released on independent label Touch and Go Records, who had obtained a copy of the CD and had uncharacteristically pursued signing the artists. Since the creation of their first album, the Casady sisters have been virtually inseparable.
Stylistically they may be assigned to the indie rock, psychedelic folk, folktronica genres, and are sometimes associated with the New Weird America movement. Sierra, who studied operatic vocal techniques, takes the lead vocals and also plays guitar, harp and flute. Bianca is a percussionist and also beatboxes. The group also uses various objects such as toys to construct their unique sound. Popular indie bands such as The xx name them as a major influence.
They were actively touring during most of 2004, playing across the U.S. and throughout Europe with artists such as TV on the Radio, Bright Eyes, Battles, Devendra Banhart, and Busdriver among others.
Official website: http://www.cocorosiemusic.com
Bed Bugs
CocoRosie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Above the canyon
They'd called us the restless river
That follows the scent of sublime hay
Their hand [?] had trance
Among the slippery rocks
Of sudden wood
We get one chance
Of abandoned force
Where soon we'll grow a frosty town
But I remember
The sparkle of roosters
I break apart the dark
We cuddled in white/whale silk
Of two wee sleeping rats
We felt
We felt
The song "Bed Bugs" by CocoRosie is a haunting and ethereal portrayal of a dreamy, surreal environment. The lyrics reveal the existence of bed bugs sleeping above a canyon, while the singer reminisces about their restless past, following the scent of sublime hay. There is a sense of trance and abandon as the singer describes slipping among slippery rocks and sudden wood, and the imagery is both enchanting and slightly foreboding. The line "We get one chance / Of abandoned force" suggests a fleeting moment of raw energy and opportunity that is soon gone. Despite the approaching frosty town, the singer remembers the sparkle of roosters and seems to break apart the darkness, perhaps seeking some kind of clarity or meaning in the dream.
One interesting fact about the song is that it features a sample of Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo, whose mournful vocals add to the otherworldly atmosphere of the track. The song also features CocoRosie's signature use of unconventional instruments, including a toy piano and a bicycle wheel. The duo has cited the influence of children's music, fairy tales, and environmentalism on their music, and this song is no exception - the mention of white/whale silk and sleeping rats adds to the whimsical but eerie tone. Another interesting fact is that the song was released on CocoRosie's album The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn, which explores themes of death and rebirth.
Line by Line Meaning
The bed bugs sleep on the ledge
The bed bugs are resting on top of the cliff
Above the canyon
The bed bugs are located above the deep valley or gorge
They'd called us the restless river
The insects had labeled us as the constantly moving water body
That follows the scent of sublime hay
We are drawn to the aroma of the finest grass
Their hand [?] had trance
Their power had cast a spell on us
Among the slippery rocks
It was amidst the slick stones where their control was strongest
Of sudden wood
There were trees that appeared out of nowhere
Of sudden wood
We were surrounded by unpredictable forests
We get one chance
We have a single opportunity
Of abandoned force
To exert all of our discarded energy
Where soon we'll grow a frosty town
We will create a freezing city very soon
But I remember
Nonetheless, I can still recall
The sparkle of roosters
The shine of the chickens in the morning sun
I break apart the dark
I shatter the darkness by bringing forth light
We cuddled in white/whale silk
We held each other tightly in the luxurious material that resembles that of a whale
Of two wee sleeping rats
We were two small, slumbering rodents
We felt
We experienced
Writer(s): BIANCA CASADY, SIERRA CASADY
Contributed by Michael H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.