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
Tearz For Animals
CocoRosie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Poison heart oh I tried to swallow
Pistols, night shade, ghost and gallows
Oh you fell as you climbed me like a staircase
Wore me down
Smooth from fruitful
Wore me down
Solemn seething my old man
Left me breathing black and blue and tan
Hide the feeling you’ll be dealing
When the day turns forever into night
Hope for healing if you’re willing
Do you have love for human-kind? (x4)
Orphan girl
Child sing along
Stop the slaughter of our daughters
Poison in the water
Heart strings broken
Wearily tuned to the moon
Bastard widows bourne the wound
Nameless, faceless black-eyed soul
Slave to sorrow, find your way home
Hope for healing if you’re willing (x3)
Do you have love for human-kind?
Hope for healing if you’re willing
Do you have love for human-kind?
Hope for healing if you’re willing
The lyrics of CocoRosie feat. Antony Hegarty's song "Tearz For Animals" revolve around the themes of pain, suffering, love, and hope. The opening line, "Do you have love for human-kind?" serves as a rhetorical question and sets the tone for the song. The poet asks the listener if they have love for humanity despite all the suffering and pain inflicted by the world.
The verse, "Poison heart oh I tried to swallow, Pistols, night shade, ghost and gallows, Oh you fell as you climbed me like a staircase, Wore me down, Smooth from fruitful, Wore me down, Wore me down," seems to depict a toxic relationship in which the singer is struggling to free themselves from their lover's grip. The sequence of words, "ghost and gallows," creates a haunting image and emphasizes the feelings of despair and powerlessness.
The chorus, "Hope for healing if you’re willing, Do you have love for human-kind?" urges the listener to have hope in the face of adversity and to continue to love humanity despite its flaws. The poet believes that healing is possible if one is willing to love, forgive and work towards a better tomorrow. The final verse, "Orphan girl, Child sing along, Stop the slaughter of our daughters, Poison in the water," highlights the issue of gender-based violence and the need to stop the oppression of vulnerable individuals.
Overall, "Tearz For Animals" is a compelling piece of poetry that invokes emotions of sadness, pain, and hope. It urges the listener to seek healing and have love for humanity despite its imperfections.
Line by Line Meaning
Poison heart oh I tried to swallow
My heart was filled with poison and I tried to bury the pain
Pistols, night shade, ghost and gallows
I was surrounded by danger, despair, and death
Oh you fell as you climbed me like a staircase
You brought me down as you pretended to lift me up
Wore me down
You exhausted me with your constant abuse
Smooth from fruitful
You took advantage of me and left me with nothing
Solemn seething my old man
My father is full of anger and sadness
Left me breathing black and blue and tan
He hurt me physically and emotionally, leaving me bruised inside and out
Hide the feeling you’ll be dealing
I learned to hide my emotions to avoid being hurt more
When the day turns forever into night
When everything seems hopeless and dark
Hope for healing if you’re willing
There is a chance for recovery if you have the desire to heal
Orphan girl
A girl without parents
Child sing along
A call for children to unite and be heard
Stop the slaughter of our daughters
An appeal to end the violence against young girls
Poison in the water
A warning that even what sustains us can be dangerous
Heart strings broken
Emotional pain that feels physical
Wearily tuned to the moon
Feeling tired and hopeless
Bastard widows bourne the wound
Women who lost their husbands without any support or recognition
Nameless, faceless black-eyed soul
Someone who is invisible and forgotten
Slave to sorrow, find your way home
A plea to escape the sadness and find a better life
Do you have love for human-kind?
Questioning whether people care for each other
Hope for healing if you’re willing
A reminder that the key to overcoming pain is the desire to heal
Do you have love for human-kind?
Asking again if there is compassion in the world
Hope for healing if you’re willing
Stressing that there is always hope for recovery
Contributed by Kaitlyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Terence Smith
"Tears For Animals"
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Heart so hollow I tried to swallow
Pistols, nightshade, ghosts and gallow
All you fellows climbed me like a staircase, wore me down
Smooth from footfall, wore me down
(Wore me down)
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
So long sweet thing, my old man,
Left me grieving, black and blue and tan
I've the feeling you'll be kneeling
When the day turns forever into night
(Hope for healing if you're willing)
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Orphan girl, child, sing along
Stop the slaughter of our daughters
Poisoning the water
(Do you have love for humankind?)
Heart strings broken, wearily tuned to the moon
Bastard widows born marooned
(Do you have love for humankind?)
Nameless, faceless black-eyed soul
Slave to sorrow, find your way home
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
(Hope for healing if you're willing)
Do you have love for humankind?
(Hope for healing if you're willing)
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
William Clyde McConnell
This song has a very strong emotional effect on me - almost overwhelming! I love it so much! What a great live version and so different from the b-side or album - both of which I find exquisite! The "wore me down" line destroys me every time! THANK YOU CocoRosie and all these wonderful musicians!
Jefer Pacheco Antonio
Me too
Danielle Endsley
I love both versions of this song... they speak to two sides of me. The line that is repeated in both of the songs "Do you have love for human kind?" is the primary focus, but has a slightly different feeling with each of the vocalist in my opinion. I feel like, in this version, that phrase is tapping into my unconditional love for all people, undoubtedly... while the other version says that and the part of me that wants say "yes" but is afraid speaks louder. I'm not sure why that is.
Terence Smith
"Tears For Animals"
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Heart so hollow I tried to swallow
Pistols, nightshade, ghosts and gallow
All you fellows climbed me like a staircase, wore me down
Smooth from footfall, wore me down
(Wore me down)
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
So long sweet thing, my old man,
Left me grieving, black and blue and tan
I've the feeling you'll be kneeling
When the day turns forever into night
(Hope for healing if you're willing)
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Orphan girl, child, sing along
Stop the slaughter of our daughters
Poisoning the water
(Do you have love for humankind?)
Heart strings broken, wearily tuned to the moon
Bastard widows born marooned
(Do you have love for humankind?)
Nameless, faceless black-eyed soul
Slave to sorrow, find your way home
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
(Hope for healing if you're willing)
Do you have love for humankind?
(Hope for healing if you're willing)
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
Do you have love for humankind?
feveraysfetus
You know you're a dedicated cocorosie fan when you're able to tell that the automated voice thingy is saying the lyrics for "far away"
Lucie Pgc
8 years later, still full of emotions and tearz of joy
Nara
Tiene mucha esencia!! Me encanta, son asombrosas!!
elizethe gama
Que bom ouvir um som irreverente, assim , sem compromisso com açúcar ...
Pas Lie
You know the feeling when you hear or see something and you realise if you haven't seen this, you would miss it?
Ina González
I want this live version, please!!!