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
Grey Oceans
CocoRosie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They flutter by with rosaries
Dangling from their necks
German shepherds guide by nightfall
Little kinder
Little kinder dressed in starlight
Inside I feel like
Like I'm crying besides a tree
I'm watching myself like an old movie on color TV
When people whisper in Portuguese
Its just as mysterious
And the stubble on his face
It hurt me when
When we fell onto each other's faces
Dawn retraces heart ached patterns across grey oceans
Windows brighten up the room
And one could cast a smooth worn lover's stone
Worn smooth from days of fertile deliberation
The lyrics of Grey Oceans by CocoRosie evoke a dream-like, surrealistic atmosphere through their use of cryptic, seemingly disconnected images and metaphors. The first lines depict a heaven inhabited by warm souls carrying rosaries, while German shepherds guide little children dressed in starlight. The singer then describes an inner turmoil, a feeling of crying beside a tree, and of watching themselves on an old TV or a color movie. The lyrics then switch to Portuguese whispers and stubbled faces that hurt when they fell onto each other. Finally, dawn retraces heart ached patterns across grey oceans, and windows brighten up the room while one contemplates a smooth, worn lover's stone.
While there isn't a clear storyline or a linear narrative to follow, the lyrics of Grey Oceans seem to convey a sense of introspection and yearning for meaning and connection. The images of heaven, shepherds, and rosaries suggest a spiritual dimension, while the personal struggles and Portuguese whispers hint at a search for identity and emotional catharsis. The reference to lover's stone and fertile deliberation in the final lines suggests a quest for love and intimacy, but it remains unclear whether the singer finds solace or continues to be lost in their own thoughts and memories.
Line by Line Meaning
In heaven warm souls flutter
Deceased souls are at peace in heaven, feeling warmth and lightness.
They flutter by with rosaries
The souls are seen wearing rosaries, a symbol of devotion and faith.
Dangling from their necks
The rosaries can be seen hanging from their necks, signifying their eternal connection to God.
German shepherds guide by nightfall
German shepherd dogs are guiding the souls through the darkness of the night, offering protection and loyalty.
Little kinder
Children, pure and innocent.
Little kinder dressed in starlight
The children are enlightened and shining, dressed in the light of the stars.
Inside I feel like
My inner thoughts and feelings make me feel as though...
Like I'm crying besides a tree
I feel deeply emotional and vulnerable, like I am weeping alone near a tree.
I'm watching myself like an old TV
I am feeling detached from myself and observing my own life pass by, like an old TV screen.
I'm watching myself like an old movie on color TV
The experience of watching my life go by feels surreal and distant, like observing an old movie on a colorful TV screen.
When people whisper in Portuguese
The sound of Portuguese whispers has a certain magic and intrigue...
Its just as mysterious
...and holds the same sense of mystery and wonder regardless of the language being spoken.
And the stubble on his face
The rough hair on his face...
It hurt me when
...caused me emotional pain when...
When we fell onto each other's faces
...our faces collided in a moment of passionate and intense interaction.
Dawn retraces heart ached patterns across grey oceans
The start of a new day brings back painful memories and experiences, like the patterns etched across the vast grey oceans.
Windows brighten up the room
The natural light coming in through the windows illuminates the room and creates a brighter ambience.
And one could cast a smooth worn lover's stone
A metaphorical reference to the idea of finding and holding onto a love that has been tested and weathered over time.
Worn smooth from days of fertile deliberation
The stone symbolizes the process of deliberation and patience that goes into building a solid foundation for a relationship, worn smooth from the efforts put in over time.
Contributed by Grayson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.