Hey Rosetta! was a Canadian seven-piece indie rock band from the northeaste… Read Full Bio ↴Hey Rosetta! was a Canadian seven-piece indie rock band from the northeastern province of Newfoundland and led by singer and songwriter Tim Baker. The band announced in October 2017 that they would be taking an indefinite hiatus

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.

Young Glass
Hey Rosetta! Lyrics

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Long we were searching
These serpentine streets for the signs of a spark
Fucking around in the dark
Then long we were held
In the thrum and the desperate heat of the clubs
Drinking deep from that cup

We'd drink it up

Each step was something
The beat in the blood and the heat in our hands
Of twelve regular men
So when we come down cathedral street
Hollow and beaten, to the room that I rent
I'm going back up again

I'm going up

But while everything is blooming
You know the wilting always waits
To steal away your body, to steal away your brains

Oh man I hate this part,
When the car sails off the bridge
Am I the knuckles white inside? or am I the water rushing in?

Am I rising up?

Silent night, holy night
Take my eyes, take my mind and lay me down!
Oh! sweet winter kiss on these heavy lids!
Sweet winter gift of dreamless sleep, lay me down! draw me out!
No!

Doctor unbandage my eyes
I feel the light and I'm ready to be out in it
Doctor uncover my ears
I hear the chorus weeping, I see the people singing:
Doctor unbandage my eyes
I feel the light and I'm ready to be rising!
Doctor uncover my ears!
I hear the chorus weeping! I see the people singing:

Let the loser up.
Let's get him up.

Overall Meaning

The song "Young Glass" by Hey Rosetta! explores the themes of youth, recklessness, and the uncertainty that comes with growing up. The opening lines depict a group of young people wandering through the city streets, searching for meaning and excitement. They find themselves lost in the thrum of the clubs, indulging in the pleasures that the night has to offer. The lyrics then shift to a more introspective note, as the singer questions the fleeting nature of youth and the inevitability of decay and loss. The haunting lines "while everything is blooming, you know the wilting always waits" perfectly capture this sense of despair and helplessness.

The song then takes a dramatic turn as the singer envisions a car sailing off a bridge, contemplating the possibility of death and the unknown. This moment of crisis is soon followed by a call for redemption, a plea for a new beginning. The lyrics "doctor unbandage my eyes" and "doctor uncover my ears" suggest an eagerness to confront reality, to face the challenges of life head-on. Ultimately, the song ends on a hopeful note, with the chorus declaring "let the loser up, let's get him up," suggesting that despite the hardships that come with growing up, there is always the possibility of redemption and growth.

Line by Line Meaning

Long we were searching These serpentine streets for the signs of a spark Fucking around in the dark
We spent a long time wandering these twisting streets, looking for a sign that something exciting was going to happen. We were stumbling around in the darkness, hoping to find something worth our time.

Then long we were held In the thrum and the desperate heat of the clubs Drinking deep from that cup We'd drink it up
We spent a long time partying in clubs, surrounded by pulsating music and people who were equally energized. We drank heavily and enjoyed every moment of it.

Each step was something The beat in the blood and the heat in our hands Of twelve regular men So when we come down cathedral street Hollow and beaten, to the room that I rent I'm going back up again I'm going up
Every step we took was significant, filled with the energy from the music and the heat coming from our bodies. So when we finally left the club and walked down the more traditional Cathedral Street, we felt empty and defeated. But this wouldn't stop us from going back up to the club to experience it all over again.

But while everything is blooming You know the wilting always waits To steal away your body, to steal away your brains
Even though things may look good from the outside, there is always something sinister lurking beneath the surface. It could slowly consume your physical self or take over your mind.

Oh man I hate this part, When the car sails off the bridge Am I the knuckles white inside? or am I the water rushing in? Am I rising up?
There are moments in life when everything seems to be falling apart, and we are left to question our own survival. It's not a pleasant feeling, and we're not sure if we're holding on for dear life or letting ourselves fall off the edge.

Silent night, holy night Take my eyes, take my mind and lay me down! Oh! sweet winter kiss on these heavy lids! Sweet winter gift of dreamless sleep, lay me down! draw me out! No!
At the end of the day, all we want is a moment of peace and rest. We don't want to think or feel anything anymore; we just want to be left alone.

Doctor unbandage my eyes I feel the light and I'm ready to be out in it Doctor uncover my ears I hear the chorus weeping, I see the people singing: Doctor unbandage my eyes I feel the light and I'm ready to be rising! Doctor uncover my ears! I hear the chorus weeping! I see the people singing:
But eventually, we find ourselves ready to face the world again. We want to see what's out there and hear what's going on around us. We're ready for anything.

Let the loser up. Let's get him up.
No matter how hard we fall or how much we're struggling, we want to be lifted up and given a chance to try again. We want to belong, and we want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Adam Hogan, Timothy John Baker

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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