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
Lost girls
CocoRosie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brighten the eyes of petty thieves who crawl at night
Who feign to use a knife
Rejoiced to be alive
Broken and depraved
Sullied mop and rusted pail
Centuries of poison to escape this heaven or hell
This earthly cell of dead flowers
It's hard to remember fantasy or horror
Unwanted caresses
Little lolitas who want to be held in large hands
Dear Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Witches confused by their own magic
Witches displeased by their own perfume
Shame-locked women
Shaman women fuming with shame
Love-locked women
Women their own magic women
Shadow body, shadow spirit
Female creature wilted high in the rafters
Orgies of dust and butterfly laughter
Shadows spilling into the babe's milk
Sorry eyes of ghost's memoir
Four blue plus two, that makes six
That's twelve times two
Two brown eyes, one green
Hazel's asleep in the hayloft
Down the road drowning in dry grass
In the sweet maiden's lap poisened with nightshade
Witches last laugh
Stick your thumb out and lift up your skirt
Someone's gonna stop here soon
Take down your hair and wind up your grin
Someone's gonna take you home
Stick out your thumb and lift up your skirt
Someone's gonna stop here soon
Take down your hair and wind up your grin
Someone's gonna take you home
Even though red's not your color
I'll dress you in feathers
And fly you in the windy weather
Like a child bird marooned on an island of cats
Little dewy brawlin' cats
With cross-eyes and hats
They take mercy on you
They take you for walks
The mercy singing dismal hymns
Watery bible rhymes
All jumbled a mess
A mess of bright graves and flowers and balloons
Stick out your thumb
And lift up your skirt
Someone's gonna stop here soon
Take down your hair and wind up your grin
Someone's gonna take you home
Stick out your thumb and lift up your skirt
Someone's gonna stop here soon
Take down your hair and wind up your grin
Someone's gonna take you home
With a knapsack of trinkets
I'm off to seek my fortune again
Chasin' ghosts of dead orphans
Friends, cousin, or kin
We wave to the passer by
Moth wings of a butterfly
Endless tracks where no car pass
Close your eyes and you can fly
I'm off to meet my soulmate
A naked fawny jail bate
Wadin' into ponds
Filly with pollywogs at dawn
Mournin' the light
That slipped from my eyes
A little child with dirty nails
And dirty hair
I had dirty things scrawled upon my mind
Stick out your thumb and lift up your skirt
Someone's gonna stop here soon
Take down your hair, wind up your grin
Someone's gonna take you home
Stick out your thumb and lift up your skirt
Someone's gonna stop here soon
Take down your hair, wind up your grin
Someone's gonna take you home
Stick out your thumb and lift up your skirt
Someone's gonna stop here soon
Take down your hair, wind up your grin
Someone's gonna take you home
Stick out your thumb and lift up your skirt
Someone's gonna stop here soon
Take down your hair and wind up your grin
Someone's gonna take you home
The song "Lost Girls" by CocoRosie is a haunting, atmospheric piece that conveys a sense of sadness and longing. The lyrics describe a world of lost souls, broken and depraved, trying to escape their earthly cell of dead flowers and wounded foes. The imagery is vivid and surreal, with witches confused by their own magic, shame-locked women, and female creatures wilted high in the rafters. The song speaks to themes of isolation, desperation, and the search for meaning and connection.
The chorus of the song, "Stick out your thumb and lift up your skirt, someone's gonna stop here soon, take down your hair and wind up your grin, someone's gonna take you home," is a plea for salvation and rescue. The lost girls are looking for someone to take them away from their bleak existence and give them a new life. The repeated refrain of "someone's gonna take you home" suggests a sense of hope, despite the darkness of the lyrics.
Overall, "Lost Girls" is a haunting and evocative song that speaks to the human desire for connection and salvation in a world that often feels lonely and broken.
Line by Line Meaning
Warming the hearts of tragic hoodlum spirits
Bringing comfort to the troubled souls of those who live in a criminal lifestyle full of sadness and pain
Brighten the eyes of petty thieves who crawl at night
Making the eyes of those small-time criminals who sneak around in the dark shine brighter
Who feign to use a knife
Those who pretend to be tough and carry a knife
Rejoiced to be alive
Happy to still be alive despite their risky behavior
Broken and depraved
Damaged and hopeless
Sullied mop and rusted pail
Dirty and useless tools
Centuries of poison to escape this heaven or hell
A long time spent trying to break free from a life that seems equally heavenly and terrible
This earthly cell of dead flowers
A life that feels like a prison, surrounded by death and sadness
And so many wounded foes
Encountering many enemies who have been hurt before
It's hard to remember fantasy or horror
Life is so difficult that it's hard to distinguish between what is good and what is bad
Unwanted caresses
Unwanted touches that make one feel uncomfortable
Little lolitas who want to be held in large hands
Those who seem young and innocent but are looking for someone to hold them and protect them
Dear Father, who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name
Addressing God in prayer
Witches confused by their own magic
Those who dabble in magic but are unsure of themselves and their abilities
Witches displeased by their own perfume
Those who are unhappy with their own appearance and behavior
Shame-locked women
Women who feel trapped by their own sense of shame and guilt
Shaman women fuming with shame
Female healers who feel angry and ashamed
Love-locked women Women their own magic women
Women who are entranced by their own beauty and power
Shadow body, shadow spirit
A person who feels like their body and soul are not in sync
Female creature wilted high in the rafters
A woman who feels tired and worn out, perched up high away from people
Orgies of dust and butterfly laughter
The remnants of joy and celebration mixed in with sadness and neglect
Shadows spilling into the babe's milk
Darkness and negativity permeating into the life of an innocent child
Sorry eyes of ghost's memoir
The sad and regretful expression of a ghost's memories
Four blue plus two, that makes six That's twelve times two Two brown eyes, one green Hazel's asleep in the hayloft Down the road drowning in dry grass
A stream of disconnected thoughts and images
In the sweet maiden's lap poisened with nightshade Witches last laugh
A reference to an evil prank, where a seemingly kind gesture is actually harmful
Stick your thumb out and lift up your skirt Someone's gonna stop here soon
Looking for a ride or a way out of a difficult situation
Take down your hair and wind up your grin Someone's gonna take you home
Preparing oneself for a change and hoping for a better future
Even though red's not your color I'll dress you in feathers And fly you in the windy weather
Despite one's flaws, they will still be taken care of and cherished
Like a child bird marooned on an island of cats Little dewy brawlin' cats With cross-eyes and hats They take mercy on you They take you for walks The mercy singing dismal hymns Watery bible rhymes All jumbled a mess A mess of bright graves and flowers and balloons
A scene of unlikely kindness and compassion, with a mix of sadness and hope
With a knapsack of trinkets I'm off to seek my fortune again Chasin' ghosts of dead orphans Friends, cousin, or kin
Setting off on a new adventure, haunted by past memories
We wave to the passer by Moth wings of a butterfly Endless tracks where no car pass Close your eyes and you can fly
A sense of freedom and possibility, despite having few resources or opportunities
I'm off to meet my soulmate A naked fawny jail bate Wadin' into ponds Filly with pollywogs at dawn Mournin' the light That slipped from my eyes A little child with dirty nails
Searching for love and companionship, while also feeling lost and broken
I had dirty things scrawled upon my mind
Carrying shameful and impure thoughts
Stick out your thumb and lift up your skirt Someone's gonna stop here soon Take down your hair, wind up your grin Someone's gonna take you home
Repeating the refrain, hoping for a positive change in circumstances
Writer(s): BIANCA CASADY, SIERRA CASADY
Contributed by Bentley B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lilyroberts402
This makes me cry from a place that feels ancient. Mourning for ancestors of oppressed women that came before me.
@rebeccahanson9275
This was a new release when I was homeless. I felt like I was heard, and that was a huge help to know
@hellfeather2011
I wish i could've heard this when i needed it
@mikcha1215
Same
@leafdesi5967
Yup
@KatyGroves
Homeless right now, playing this for some manchild who just sent me the worst imaginable energy cause I was singing Smokey Taboo near where he happened to be. 🖤
@jeremydoe6124
I've hitchhiked for 17 years.... I can relate....
@crazynapsacker
these women have been some of the most influential people in my life, i am so grateful for their art
@RunawayArtistX
SAME HERE
@john-xu9iz
Agreed.