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

Undertaker
CocoRosie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

u ne la nv i u me tsi
i go ga gv he i
hna quo tso sv wi yu lo se
i ga gu yv ho nv

Under what spell the guiding light
Betook the undertaker
Under whose gaze did fall such evil blunder

Characters of flaming eyes
Eager to burn the wooden castle
Eager to wet the paper heart of children birds
The aching starlet
The singing sinew
The whining ghost
Brutal wind of snowy harlot
Chafing mine eyes
A sandpaper kiss
Bloody rosen my cheek
Purple kiss of stardust
Pink balloon of time
Candied on the inside

Baby pit bull butterfly
Do da do da do dah do dah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Undertaker by CocoRosie have a sense of ambiguity attached to them, making them open to interpretation. The lyrics can be interpreted as an exploration of themes such as death and the afterlife, with the undertaker serving as a metaphor for death. The song's opening verse, "u ne la nv i u me tsi i go ga gv he i hna quo tso sv wi yu lo se i ga gu yv ho nv" can be interpreted as a Native American chant, used to guide the spirits of the departed.

The following verses, "Under what spell the guiding light/Betook the undertaker/Under whose gaze did fall such evil blunder/Characters of flaming eyes/Eager to burn the wooden castle/Eager to wet the paper heart of children birds" can be interpreted as a commentary on death being an inevitable part of life, and how it can tear families apart. The song's lyrics paint a picture of a world that is both beautiful and frightening, where life and death coexist in perfect harmony.

Line by Line Meaning

u ne la nv i u me tsi
Under what spell the guiding light

i go ga gv he i
Betook the undertaker

hna quo tso sv wi yu lo se
Under whose gaze did fall such evil blunder

i ga gu yv ho nv
Characters of flaming eyes

Eager to burn the wooden castle
Wanting to destroy what is innocent and vulnerable

Eager to wet the paper heart of children birds
Wanting to destroy the innocence and purity of children

The aching starlet
The famous person who is in pain and suffering

The singing sinew
The part of the body that creates sound, expressing pain and pleasure

The whining ghost
The spirit that complains and laments

Brutal wind of snowy harlot
The harsh and cruel weather of the woman who is promiscuous

Chafing mine eyes
Causing discomfort and irritation to my eyes