Dear Landlord are a punk rock band from Carbondale, Illinois. Bordering on … Read Full Bio ↴Dear Landlord are a punk rock band from Carbondale, Illinois. Bordering on super-group status with members of Illinois power-pop masterminds the Copyrights- Adam (bass/vocals) and Brett (guitar/vocals), and Minneapolis Weasel-worshippers Rivethead- Brad (drums/lyrics) and Zack (guitar/vocals) they carry the torch high, burning brightest when they step to the mic together for anthemic choruses cut by snotty leads and broken wrists flying at breakneck speeds.
In 2007, Dear Landlord released split singles with both Chinese Telephones and Off With Their Heads. Their 2009 No Idea Records release "Dream Homes" is reminiscent of holding a conch shell up to your ear to hear the ocean, if that conch shell was an empty 40 oz. bottle found surveying the remnants of last nights' blackout.

Rosa
Dear Landlord Lyrics

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She talks loud as hell, drinks like she might as well
Smokes my cigarette just like it's her last
All kinds of out of key, she sings a lot like me
And it echoes back under the overpass downtown

She likes to watch the sun come up but looks like she don't care if it ever does
Says it almost always looks the same
Screwing up her face, she laughs like her left eye ain't still black or anything

I think that's why I like her anyway

One more night to kill, days that leave us still
Waiting on little more, pocket change and liquor stores
She shakes like anyone, strung out, she's almost done
Hoping for something else less like this living

All I got is what you see, a beat up face and a world full of enemies
Tying off her arm, she jokes, I'd trade this all for one more hit of dope
It's easy when you're high as this and drunk as shit to make it another day
I think that's why I'm still here anyway

One more night to kill, days that leave us still
Waiting on little more, pocket change and liquor stores
She shakes like anyone, strung out, she's almost done
Hoping for something else less like this living hell

It sure gets fucking lonely living
Like the only way to go is out

It sure gets fucking lonely living
Like the only way to go is out

Overall Meaning

The song "Rosa" by Dear Landlord is a poignant and introspective portrayal of a troubled young woman struggling with addiction and the harsh realities of life. The singer speaks about Rosa with a mix of empathy, admiration, and despair, as he watches her struggle to survive in a difficult world. He describes her as loud, self-destructive, and out of tune, but also notes her beauty and resilience in the face of her struggles.

The singer recognizes that he and Rosa share a lot of similarities, such as their love for music and the fact that they are both marginalized and struggling with addiction. Despite Rosa's flaws and her apparent disinterest in the world around her, the singer feels drawn to her and admires her in some ways. He sees her as a kindred spirit, someone who understands his struggles and who shares his worldview.

Throughout the song, the singer expresses a sense of hopelessness and despair, as he struggles to find meaning and purpose in his life. He talks about how difficult it can be to keep going in the face of adversity, and how tempting it can be to give up and succumb to the lure of drugs and alcohol. Ultimately, however, he seems to find a sense of solace in his connection to Rosa, and in the music that they share.

Line by Line Meaning

She talks loud as hell, drinks like she might as well Smokes my cigarette just like it's her last All kinds of out of key, she sings a lot like me And it echoes back under the overpass downtown
The woman described is loud, careless, and out of tune while singing. They drink, smoke, and the surroundings only reinforce that way of living.

She likes to watch the sun come up but looks like she don't care if it ever does Says it almost always looks the same Screwing up her face, she laughs like her left eye ain't still black or anything I think that's why I like her anyway
She likes watching the sunrise, despite knowing it's always the same. She laughs carelessly and is unashamed of her bruises. The singer is drawn to her carefree attitude even in difficult situations.

One more night to kill, days that leave us still Waiting on little more, pocket change and liquor stores She shakes like anyone, strung out, she's almost done Hoping for something else less like this living
Days are long and unfulfilling, and they rely on liquor stores to scrape by financially. The woman is addicted and struggles with physical symptoms. She hopes for change, yearning for a better life.

All I got is what you see, a beat up face and a world full of enemies Tying off her arm, she jokes, I'd trade this all for one more hit of dope It's easy when you're high as this and drunk as shit to make it another day I think that's why I'm still here anyway
The singer has a rough appearance and feels like the world is against them. The woman jokes about her addiction, wishing for a way out. While it's hard to keep going, it's easier under the influence. The singer keeps going, despite everything they've endured.

It sure gets fucking lonely living Like the only way to go is out It sure gets fucking lonely living Like the only way to go is out
The lyrics repeat to emphasize the overwhelming feelings of loneliness and the belief that the only way out is to die. Living in such difficult circumstances makes it hard to keep going, and hope seems scarce.

Contributed by Olivia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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