CocoRosie is an American duo formed in 2003 by sisters Bianca "Coco" and Si… Read Full Bio ↴CocoRosie is an American duo formed in 2003 by sisters Bianca "Coco" and Sierra "Rosie" Casady. The sisters were born and raised in the United States (Sierra, the older of the two, was born in Iowa, and Bianca was born in Hawaii), but formed the band in Paris, France after meeting for the first time in years. Their mother nicknamed them Rosie and Coco, respectively, from which their musical act takes its name. Their music has been called freak folk, and incorporates elements of pop, blues, opera, electronica, and hip hop.
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

Poison
CocoRosie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Voodoo spell
Ocean mouth
Like a whale swallows you whole
Dentless, merciless, dentless
Merciless dictator
She slays the necks of giraffes
Merciless dictator
She sleeps on pillows

Made of zebra skin
Oh squawking talking blasted pigeon
Parrot portuguese black icky tongue
And purple cloud
Dry like painted desert flowers

Poison her tears are poison
Her tears are poison her tears are
Poison her tears are poison
Her tears are poison her tears are

Watch out for the snakes
Watch out for the velvet cross

Watch out for the panthers leaping from
Her spit

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of CocoRosie's song "Poison" featuring Antony Hegarty paint a dark and haunting image of a powerful and merciless dictator who rules over her kingdom. The lyrics begin with the image of a voodoo spell and an ocean mouth that swallows everything whole. The dictator is described as "dentless" and "merciless", able to slay the necks of giraffes without a second thought. She sleeps on pillows made of zebra skin, indicating her wealth and power.

The lyrics then shift to describing the dictator's venomous tears, which are poison to anyone who comes into contact with them. The listener is warned to watch out for snakes, a velvet cross, and panthers that leap from her spit, indicating the danger that comes with being in the dictator's presence.

The overall tone of the song is eerie and foreboding, with the haunting melody and Antony Hegarty's ethereal vocals adding to the ominous atmosphere. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a powerful and dangerous figure, who rules over her kingdom with an iron fist and whose tears can destroy anyone who crosses her path.

Line by Line Meaning

Voodoo spell
A magical ritual used to control or harm someone

Ocean mouth
A large and open mouth, like that of a whale

Like a whale swallows you whole
To consume or envelop someone completely

Dentless, merciless, dentless
A violent and vicious attack that leaves no trace or evidence

Merciless dictator
A ruthless and oppressive ruler

She slays the necks of giraffes
She destroys or conquers even the tallest and most magnificent creatures

Merciless dictator
A ruthless and oppressive ruler

She sleeps on pillows Made of zebra skin
She lives a luxurious lifestyle, even to the extent of using animal skin as bedding

Oh squawking talking blasted pigeon Parrot portuguese black icky tongue And purple cloud Dry like painted desert flowers
A group of annoying and unpleasant things, with harsh and unforgiving speech, and a sense of emptiness and desperation

Poison her tears are poison Her tears are poison her tears are Poison her tears are poison Her tears are poison her tears are
She is so toxic and dangerous that even her tears can harm or kill

Watch out for the snakes Watch out for the velvet cross Watch out for the panthers leaping from Her spit
Be alert and cautious of the hidden threats that come from her, such as snakes, religious symbols, and wild animals emerging from her words

Contributed by Bailey B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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