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Child Bride
CocoRosie Lyrics


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Its hard to tell
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

Overall Meaning

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.
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