She received much critical acclaim for her 2005 release, Paradise Hotel, which contains songs that strike a chord with listeners in light of recent events. "Requiem" honors Hurricane Katrina and tsunami victims with hopeful pleas to the Virgin Mary, while "Man of God" is a bitter, unapologetic denouncement of President George W. Bush and his administration.
"The actions of this regime do not follow the teachings of Christ, what I call real Christianity," Gilkyson said in August 2005. "I just don't appreciate the religious right acting like I don't love God and my country just because I'm not in their corner. I'm mad and I want other people to be mad about this too."
In 2008, her album Beautiful World came out, again on Red House Records. The songs vary from pop to folk and points in-between, with songs ranging from intimate ballads to rallying cries against the imperialist machine. She recently collaborated on a new album entitled Red Horse with two of her Red House Records label-mates John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky.
In 2011, she came out with Roses at the End of Time. Recorded at her home with the help of her son and co-producer Cisco Ryder, Gilkyson took a longer time in the studio and came out with a more eclectic and personal album. She continues to tour about 150 dates per year in the United States and overseas.
www.elizagilkyson.com
Bellarosa
Eliza Gilkyson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
English translation:
These are the days of love
My beautiful Bella Rosa
Of a sun filled with warmth
Caressing us all
And your cinnamon skin
Diving into the blue pool
And rising up to drink the air
These are the days of joy
Of precious moments
Of tables piled high
With bread and watermelon
Everything your heart desires there at your fingertips
Swinging as high as the sky
Singing your lullabies
Before the rain
Before the falling sky
Before the days and nights of tears
Of sirens and fear
Before the death of the dreams
Of our beloved country
And the cries of the children all over the world
But I will remember
This precious day
Your innocent smile stained a watermelon red
Your brown arms reaching up to me
In the light of the sun
I will remember it
Bella Rosa
The song Bellarosa by Eliza Gilkyson portrays the beauty and joy of a simpler time, before the world became complicated and harsh. The lyrics describe the blissful moments of love and contentment, surrounded by the warmth of the sun and the lightness of heart. The use of the name "Bella Rosa" further emphasizes the idyllic imagery of a beautiful rose, blooming in all its splendor, untouched by the troubles of the world.
The vivid description of breathing in the sweet fragrance of love, and diving into the blue pool, highlights the purity and innocence of this time. The songwriter reminisces about the days of joy, where simple things like bread and watermelon were enough to bring happiness. The sense of freedom and boundlessness, symbolized by the act of swinging as high as the sky and singing lullabies, underscores the carefree nature of that time.
However, the tone of the song changes towards the end, as the songwriter recognizes the harshness of the world, where rain, tears, and fear exist. The death of dreams and loss of innocence overshadow the idyllic memories. Despite this, the songwriter assures us that they will hold onto the memories of that beautiful day, where Bella Rosa's sweet smile was stained watermelon-red, and her brown arms reached up to the songwriter, bathed in the light of the sun.
Overall, Bellarosa is a song that captures the beauty of the past and highlights the importance of cherishing memories of simpler times, even in the midst of the chaos of our world.
Line by Line Meaning
These are the days of love
The current moment is a time of intense affection and adoration
My beautiful Bella Rosa
My beloved person or circumstance that brings me joy and beauty
Of a sun filled with warmth
Referring to a positive energy and loving environment
Caressing us all
Offering comfort and care to those in the moment
I remember your sweet breath
Memories of an intimate moment from the past that is cherished
And your cinnamon skin
Reminiscing about the unique physical qualities of a particular individual
Diving into the blue pool
A descriptive image of a specific memory
And rising up to drink the air
The sensation of being refreshed and alive after an invigorating experience
These are the days of joy
Experiencing a time of happiness and hope
Of precious moments
Treasured events that evoke strong emotions and memories
Of tables piled high
An abundance of food and resources available in the current situation
With bread and watermelon
Specific examples of the food and drink that are present in this scene
Everything your heart desires there at your fingertips
A sense of fulfillment and satisfaction with what one has in the moment
Swinging as high as the sky
A feeling of freedom and joy, with a focus on the present moment
Singing your lullabies
A comforting and peaceful moment, likely accompanied by rest
Before the rain
The time period prior to a difficult moment
Before the falling sky
Imagery that alludes to disaster or tragedy
Before the days and nights of tears
Referencing a period of sadness or difficulty
Of sirens and fear
A dangerous or frightening situation that is approaching
Before the death of the dreams
An end or failure of something previously imagined or hoped for
Of our beloved country
The country that holds a special place in the heart of the artist
And the cries of the children all over the world
The universal suffering that persists throughout the globe
But I will remember
A promise to recollect and keep in mind a particular moment
This precious day
The importance and value of this specific time and place
Your innocent smile stained a watermelon red
A nuanced and vivid detail describing an image from the past
Your brown arms reaching up to me
Another recollection of a specific moment, describing an intimate gesture
In the light of the sun
The environment in which this memory took place
I will remember it
A reaffirmation of the promise to cherish and remember a particular memory
Bella Rosa
A term of endearment for the person or moment being remembered
Contributed by Josiah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.