In 2005, frontman Baker arrived home from a road trip with a suitcase full of poems and melodies. Hey Rosetta! was formed soon after with the addition of a string section (cellist Romesh Thavanathan and violinist Kinley Dowling) and rhythm section (bassist Josh Ward, drummer Phil Maloney, and guitarist Adam Hogan). Since that time, they blossomed into a powerful group whose explosive live shows earned them a devoted following.
The band's album, Seeds, was produced by Tony Doogan (Belle and Sebastian, Mogwai, Wintersleep) and revealed a maturing lyrical depth and an atmosphere rooted to the band's passion for epic musical experiences.
It was while recording 2008's breakthrough album Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood) that Tim Baker began to fully realize his vocal and lyrical abilities, and the band made a huge creative leap forward. Into Your Lungs garnered a slew of awards and critical accolades, was short-listed for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize, and Hey Rosetta! were named one of Billboard's Top 5 new Canadian acts.
During the three solid years of touring after Into Your Lungs was released the concept of Seeds was born. "The title track, "Seeds", came about while out on the highway a few years ago" muses Baker. "In a way it's about what our lives had become, and how we're like seeds that float around into different fields and cities, bringing something and trying to build something for the people that come to see us."
The group developed the sonic landscapes found on Seeds while maintaining an extensive tour schedule that took them to Australia, China, Europe, the US and on numerous tours of Canada (including a tour of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut). The band then holed up in Newfoundland to finish the songs before traveling to Halifax, NS to record with renowned producer Tony Doogan at The Sonic Temple. "Tony was really incredible at getting all the sounds and tones we'd dreamt up. He's an amazing engineer and for all his Scottish bluster and pop-rock dogma, he is very sensitive, patient, and a gifted producer," says Baker (who wrote all of the songs except "Downstairs", "Young Glass", and "Seeds" which were co-writes with guitarist Adam Hogan).
Thematically, Seeds explores everything from depression to procreation. "Young Glass" was written after reading J.D. Salinger's "Franny and Zooey". Baker explains:
"It's sort of directed at the novel's main character, Franny.. it describes a sleepwalking scene that didn't actually occur in the book, but one that I imagined. We spent a lot of time flying and sleeping on planes and in airports and I was always finding myself in half-waking states, feeling, as one does, all alone somewhere between dream and reality. When I'd wake up, I was always surrounded by people, going about their business. I like that; a sort of evidence that even when we think we are completely alone, we are not. So I wrote Franny, a character who is plagued by such thoughts, a song about it. but it's really about everyone".
First single "Welcome" is a song about Baker's close friends who were expecting a baby:
"I wrote a song for the little soon-to-be, who now is a 18 month old girl named Madeleine; healthy and beautiful, just like her parents" explains Baker, "I was just sitting with them talking to the unborn baby in a sort of cynical, joking way. You know, like "stay in there as long as you can kid. Sorry, but it's a mess out here..." and so on. Later, alone, I was thinking about what it means to bring new life into the world, how it's sort of sad but also so hopeful and kind of religious".
Hey Rosetta! decided to break up at the end of 2017.
Carry Me Home
Hey Rosetta! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the pillows stink
And there's not a single thing
To say it's Christmas Eve
Oh Saint Nicholas
I know I ain't in your list
But if you're listening
I need a bus ticket
I lost a lot of dough
Could find no honest job
So I did some other ones
Got into trouble and
I had to run or suffer
And then a long road
Into a long December
Over the water and
Over the border and
Over the open land
To this Ramada Inn
No overbooking here
No sort of holy birth
No miracles occurring
No nodding creatures stirring
Oh Saint Stephen
Where is your feast when I
When I so sorely need it
When I've been hardly eating
But I'd give my food and drink
To see my home again
To see my mother's hand
Against her apron edge
Oh
Oh
Oh Oh Saint Christopher
Send me a Christian word
Send me a southern wind
Oh send me up to my kin
Hear the boys singing
Through their drunken grinning
Oh Jesus, Joseph, Mary
I hear their voices carry
Carry me home
Home
Home Can any saints hear me?
Is there any angel near me?
If you won't lift me up
Then would you send my love
Back to my home
Back to my only shelter
Where in the awful weather
I will be warm and welcome
Back to my home
Home
Home...
The lyrics to Hey Rosetta!'s song "Carry Me Home" portray a man stranded in a cheap hotel on Christmas Eve, in need of help from any saint or angel who might be listening. The song starts with the singer realizing that he is not included on Saint Nicholas' Christmas list but still reaching out for help. He reveals that he has come through Montreal, lost a lot of money, and couldn't find an honest job, ultimately ending up in trouble and having to run away. He has since been on the road for a long time and is now in a cheap hotel with bad pillows, lamenting that there is no indication of it being Christmas Eve.
The singer goes on to call out Saint Stephen for not providing his feast when he is in dire need, and Saint Christopher to send him a Christian word and a southern wind to take him back home to his kin. He hears drunken boys singing the names of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, and hopes to be carried back to his home, where he will be warm and welcome.
The song is a powerful tale of desperation and longing for home and family, set against the poignant backdrop of Christmas Eve. It highlights the struggles of those who may not be as fortunate to be with their loved ones during the holiday season, and the importance of kindness and compassion towards those who may be in need.
Line by Line Meaning
This hotel is cheap
The hotel is inexpensive and low-quality.
And the pillows stink
The pillows have an unpleasant odor.
And there's not a single thing
There is nothing present.
To say it's Christmas Eve
There are no decorations or indicators that it is Christmas Eve.
Oh Saint Nicholas
The artist is addressing Saint Nicholas, a mythological figure associated with Christmas.
I know I ain't in your list
The singer is aware that they are not of the supposed nice children list and does not expect a gift.
But if you're listening
The singer is acknowledging the possibility that Saint Nicholas is listening.
I need a bus ticket
The artist requires a ticket to board transportation.
I came through Montreal
The artist traveled to Ramada Inn from Montreal.
I lost a lot of dough
The artist lost a significant amount of money.
Could find no honest job
The singer couldn't find an ethical job.
So I did some other ones
The artist resorted to doing other, potentially less ethical work in order to earn money.
Got into trouble and
The singer got into trouble doing illicit or immoral work.
I had to run or suffer
The singer had to flee in order to avoid negative consequences.
And then a long road
The singer had a long journey to find a place to stay.
Into a long December
The journey led the artist to a chilly December month.
Over the water and
The artist has passed over water to get to the current location.
Over the border and
The singer has traveled over country borders to arrive at the present location.
Over the open land
The singer has traversed open terrain in order to reach the present location.
To this Ramada Inn
The artist has arrived at the Ramada Inn.
No overbooking here
The artist points out that the hotel has not overbooked its rooms.
No sort of holy birth
There are no religious or significant events taking place in the hotel.
No miracles occurring
There are no supernatural or remarkable occurrences in the hotel.
No nodding creatures stirring
The hotel is completely still and silent.
Oh Saint Stephen
The singer addresses Saint Stephen, one of the original seven deacons of the Christian Church.
Where is your feast when I
The singer questions why a feast associated with Saint Stephen is not taking place during their time of need.
When I so sorely need it
The singer is in desperate need of aid.
When I've been hardly eating
The artist is hungry due to limited food availability.
But I'd give my food and drink
The artist would offer food and drink to see their home again.
To see my home again
The singer deeply desires to return to their residence.
To see my mother's hand
The singer misses their mother and wishes to see her again.
Against her apron edge
The artist remembers the feeling of their mother's clothing.
Oh
An exclamation of strong emotion.
Oh
An exclamation of strong emotion.
Oh Saint Christopher
The singer addresses Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers.
Send me a Christian word
The artist wants to receive encouraging words from someone with Christian beliefs.
Send me a southern wind
The singer wants to be transported to their home environment.
Oh send me up to my kin
The singer seeks to return to their family.
Hear the boys singing
The singer hears the voices of male individuals singing.
Through their drunken grinning
The individuals singing are apparently drunk.
Oh Jesus, Joseph, Mary
The artist invokes three religious figures historically associated with Christmas.
I hear their voices carry
The singing can be heard from afar.
Carry me home
The singer desires to be taken to their place of residence.
Home
The artist emphasizes their desire to return to their home environment.
Home
The artist emphasizes their desire to return to their home environment.
Can any saints hear me?
The artist is asking if there are any saintly figures listening to their words.
Is there any angel near me?
The singer is questioning whether there is a divine being close to them.
If you won't lift me up
The artist is asking for assistance from divine figures.
Then would you send my love
The singer requests for their love to be taken to family members.
Back to my home
The love should be delivered to their residence.
Back to my only shelter
The singer's home is their sole accurate place of shelter.
Where in the awful weather
The artist's home is where they can find refuge from the severe weather.
I will be warm and welcome
The artist's home will offer them warmth and a happy reception.
Back to my home
The singer reiterates their desire to return to their residence.
Home
The singer emphasizes their desire to return to their home environment.
Home...
The song closes by emphasizing the importance of the artist finding their way back home.
Contributed by Sadie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Peach-mb7uo
this hotel is cheap and the pillows stink and there’s not a single thing to say its christmas eve
oh saint nicholas, i know i ain’t in your list, but if you’re listening, i need a bus ticket
i came through montreal, i lost a lot of dough, could'nt find no honest job, so i did some other ones
got into trouble 'nd, i had to run or suffer, and then a long road into a long december
over the water and over the border and over the open land to this ramada inn
but no overbooking here, no sort of holy birth, no miracles occurring, no not a creature stirring
oh saint stephen, where is your feast when i, when i so sorely need it? when i hav'n’t hardly eaten?
but i’d give my food and drink to see my home again, to see my mother’s hand against her apron edge
oh
oh
oh
oh saint christopher, send me a christian word, send me a southern wind, oh send me up to my kin
hear the b’ys singing, through their drunken grinning, of jesus, joseph, mary – i hear their voices carry
carry me home
oh
oh
can any saints hear me? is there any angel near me? if you won’t lift me up then would you send my love?
back to my home? back to my only shelter? where in the awful weather i will be warm and welcome
back to my home
@whitegohst33
Nothing on the planet will make me miss home like Hey Rosetta does.
@michvanderzant9509
Sad to see so little people still here, listening to this. To anyone from the future, may this find you well, life can be beautiful, enjoy every moment
@shadowcashter
I mean the band departed 5 years ago but hey I'm still here.
@michvanderzant9509
@@shadowcashter hi :) glad to see I'm not alone after all
@joangowanlock2285
I am not a newfie, but i am a nova scotian, and proud of it...i fell for everyone who can't spend time with their loved ones during this crises
@BrettCSteinberg
This song is amazing. Hey Rosetta! has been a huge influence to our band, and continues to inspire us. Not many indie bands like them. So unique!!!
@swingonavine
Love this song..becoming a new Christmas classic! Proud of my hometown band...Go St. John's,Nl. Go HEY ROSETTA:-)1
@hippyable
Beautiful song! I have it saved to my favorites
@AndrewCranstonChoral
Love living in St. John's and being able to celebrate this band on a regular basis, only hope the best for them and hope they become even more famous!
@khuzdaar
This song has such a happy feeling affiliated with it. I miss home!