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
South
CocoRosie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We don't need no baseball bats
We don't need no silver ghats
But we're gonna fight tonight
Put up your dukes and fight
Big brother's just standing on the side
Watching you flex your pride
Big brother's got your skin
The ice cream truck it sings no more
All the kids from school are keeping score
You swing and you duck and you hit the floor
But you gotta get up at least once more
Mama comes screaming down the stairs
Everybody looks but nobody scared
Mama can't believe that nobody cares
It's her baby boy how do they dare
Mama says bitch come over here
If you're so tough you'll have no fear
But why'd you bring all your friends
And the whole damn school
To watch my baby boy go down like a fool
But brother says mama they're the same damn size
Got to let him grow up and get street wise
But mama says baby go get that bat
And come back down and beat some ass
Somebody's baby boy ain't coming home tonight
One wrong move and it'll be too late
Mama won't be making no birthday cake
It all went down one afternoon
In Brooklyn
The song "South 2nd" by CocoRosie tells the story of a young boy who gets involved in a street fight, and the aftermath of his mother's reaction to the incident. The song begins with the haunting line "Somebody's baby boy ain't coming home tonight," setting up the tension and tragedy of the story. The lyrics go on to describe how the fight is conducted with fists instead of weapons, and how the boy's mother is horrified and angry that nobody helped him.
The imagery is powerful throughout the song, with the ice cream truck serving as a symbol of lost innocence and the kids from school keeping score like it's a game. The boy's mother is a driving force in the story, with her anger and despair palpable in the lyrics. The line "But mama says baby go get that bat and come back down and beat some ass" stands out as a chilling moment in the song, underscoring the futility and desperation of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody's baby boy ain't coming home tonight
A young man has lost his life after becoming involved in violence on the streets.
We don't need no baseball bats
Violence is unnecessary, and no one should need a weapon to solve their problems.
We don't need no silver ghats
Material possessions, such as fancy clothes, are irrelevant in the face of violence and aggression.
But we're gonna fight tonight
Despite the previous two lines, the artist is still going to engage in a physical altercation.
Put up your dukes and fight
While the artist is advocating for nonviolence, they are now encouraging others to fight.
Big brother's just standing on the side
Someone is watching from the sidelines and not doing anything to stop the fight.
Watching you flex your pride
The bystander is observing someone else act tough and flaunt their strength.
But you know if they all jump in
If multiple people join the fight, the situation will likely become more dangerous.
Big brother's got your skin
Despite initially being a bystander, the person on the sidelines will still protect their own if the situation escalates.
The ice cream truck it sings no more
The innocence of childhood has been lost due to the violence on the streets.
All the kids from school are keeping score
The young people in the neighborhood are taking note of who is involved in the violence.
You swing and you duck and you hit the floor
In a physical fight, one must be agile and quick to avoid getting hurt.
But you gotta get up at least once more
Even after getting knocked down, one must keep getting back up and fighting.
Mama comes screaming down the stairs
The singer's mother is intervening in the fight and trying to stop the violence.
Everybody looks but nobody scared
Despite the danger of the situation, no one is afraid to intervene and try to help.
Mama can't believe that nobody cares
The artist's mother is frustrated that others are not taking the situation as seriously as she is.
It's her baby boy how do they dare
The mother is feeling protective of her son and cannot understand why others are not taking his safety seriously.
Mama says bitch come over here
The singer's mother is calling to someone to come and confront her directly.
If you're so tough you'll have no fear
The mother is challenging the other person's toughness and bravery.
But why'd you bring all your friends
The mother is questioning why the other person felt the need to bring backup to a one-on-one fight.
And the whole damn school
The mother is emphasizing the scale of the confrontation, which has grown beyond just two individuals.
To watch my baby boy go down like a fool
The mother is upset that others are enjoying watching her son lose the fight and possibly get hurt.
But brother says mama they're the same damn size
Someone else is trying to rationalize the situation by saying that both parties are of equal strength and should be able to resolve their issues without violence.
Got to let him grow up and get street wise
The other person is advocating for the artist's growth and development, suggesting that he will be better prepared to handle conflict after this experience.
But mama says baby go get that bat
The mother is not satisfied with nonviolence and is now asking her son to use a weapon to defend himself.
And come back down and beat some ass
The mother is encouraging her son to physically harm the other party, rather than seeking a peaceful resolution.
Somebody's baby boy ain't coming home tonight
The song circles back to its tragic opening line, emphasizing the irreversible consequences of violence on the streets.
One wrong move and it'll be too late
This line reinforces the idea that a poor decision in a violent situation could have deadly consequences.
Mama won't be making no birthday cake
The line implies that someone will die before their next birthday, much like the young man from the opening line of the song.
It all went down one afternoon
The violence that ultimately leads to someone's death is not an isolated event, but rather the result of ongoing tensions and conflicts.
In Brooklyn
This final line emphasizes the specific location of the violence, highlighting the specific neighborhood and community where these issues are taking place.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Bianca Leilani Casady, Sierra Rose Casady
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind