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
Child Bride
CocoRosie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is my wedding night
I'm dressed and ready,
despite my innocence
Its hard to tell
who's little girl am I
The man with the black hat
Will take me home tonight
I wash my body,
five years grown
He promised father
leave me alone
Hope not too lonely
We pull away
down a dusty road,
family waving
Hope not too lonely
I watch the grass blow
through the window
I'm a grass widow,
I'm a grass widow
News from the sparrow,
my friendly fellow
They get along
just fine without me,
They're never lonely
They're never lonely
I watch the flowers grow
outside my window
I'm a good grass widow,
I'm a grass widow
The lyrics of CocoRosie's song "Child Bride" presents a disturbing and heartbreaking story of a young girl who is forced to marry an older man. It is apparent from the beginning that the girl does not want this marriage, but she has no choice in the matter. She is dressed and ready despite her innocence, implying that this is not something she wants or is ready for. The line "who's little girl am I" shows that she has been taken away from her family and given to someone else to be married to. She has no sense of ownership of herself in this situation.
The man with the black hat is the groom, and he is taking her home. The line "hope not too lonely" is significant because she is leaving the only life she's ever known behind. The fact that the groom made the promise to her father to "leave her alone" hints at her young age and her lack of readiness for sexual relations.
The chorus of "I'm a grass widow" is a powerful statement of the alienation and loneliness the girl feels in her new life. She watches from the window as life goes on without her. The "news from the sparrow" implies a disconnect with the natural world as well. The final line "I'm a good grass widow" is almost a plea for recognition; she wants to be a good wife, but she is in an impossible situation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Child Bride" are a haunting depiction of the forced marriage of a young girl. The juxtaposition of innocence and sexuality is jarring, and the lyrics force the listener to confront the reality of many child marriages around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Its hard to tell
It is difficult to determine
This is my wedding night
This is the night of my marriage
I'm dressed and ready,
I am clothed and prepared
despite my innocence
although I am naive
Its hard to tell
It is difficult to determine
who's little girl am I
whose young daughter am I
The man with the black hat
The man wearing the black hat
Will take me home tonight
Will bring me to his home tonight
I wash my body,
I cleanse my body
five years grown
having lived for five years
He promised father
He made a promise to my father
leave me alone
to let me be
Hope not too lonely
I hope to not be too lonely
We pull away
We depart
down a dusty road,
along an unpaved road
family waving
my family is bidding farewell
Hope not too lonely
I hope to not be too lonely
I watch the grass blow
I observe the swaying of the grass
through the window
from the confines of a window
I'm a grass widow,
I am a neglected wife
I'm a grass widow
I am a forgotten spouse
News from the sparrow,
Information from the bird
my friendly fellow
My amicable companion
They get along
They coexist peacefully
just fine without me,
adequately functioning without my presence
They're never lonely
They never endure the feeling of solitude
I watch the flowers grow
I observe the development of the blossoms
outside my window
outside my enclosed space
I'm a good grass widow,
I am an admirable wife left alone
I'm a grass widow
I am a spouse who has been abandoned
Contributed by Makayla R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.