Rouse lived in various places in Midwest America during his childhood due to his father's military career. Following his time at Austin Peay State University, he eventually settled down in Tennessee, where he met some local musicians and began recording. Signing to the Rykodisc subsidiary Slow River, in 1998, Rouse issued his debut album, Dressed Up Like Nebraska, to widespread critical acclaim; upon settling in Nashville, he was befriended by Kurt Wagner, frontman of the endlessly brilliant chamber country group Lambchop, and in the fall of 1999, the two singers/songwriters issued a collaborative EP, Chester.
Rouse's second solo LP, Home, appeared the following spring and was followed by Under the Cold Blue Stars in 2002. For his next record Rouse hooked up with producer Brad Jones and the resulting album in 2003, 1972, was both a homage to the soft rock sounds of Rouse's youth and an opening up and deepening of his sound. Before the release of his next album, Rouse's marriage ended and he moved from Nashville to Spain. This spawned 2004's Nashville, an example of his versatile musical talent, featuring a blend of Rock, Jazz and Ballad. It served as a farewell to both the city and his marriage; it was also his most fully realized record to date. This album was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005 (#80).
Rouse's next album, called Subtitulo, was released March 21, 2006 in which his move to Spain was evident.It marked a further finessing of his sound and a move towards the music of an early Paul Simon.
2007 saw a rather busy year for Rouse. He started off supporting John Mayer on a series of his Winter Tour dates. Not soon after, he released a joint EP with his girlfriend Paz Suay, under the moniker of She's Spanish, I'm American. At the end of July, Rouse released his 7th LP, Country Mouse, Cit y House. The record marked a detour from Subtitulo, offering a fuller, more instrumental sound, which appeared to divide both critics and fans. Rouse toured extensively worldwide to support the album.
He released "El Turista" in February 2010 and "The Happiness Waltz" in 2013.
www.joshrouse.com
1972
Josh Rouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Groovin' to a Carole King tune
Is it too late baby?
It it too late?
That boy was always up to no good
Smokin' pot and playin' pool
In the afternoon
We're goin' through the changes
Hopin' for replacement
Until we find a way out of this hole
Spanish girl with the tatoo
Workin' nights at the drive-through
And she asks herself
Could this be all?
Screwin' in a motel room
Watchin' news on channel two
Victoria tell me
Where is your dream?
We're going through the changes
Hopin' for replacement
Until we find a way out of this
We're going through the changes
Hopin' for replacement
Until we find a way out of this
A way out of this hole
Out of this hole
Out of this hole
Oh
Oh
The lyrics of Josh Rouse's song "1972" describe the disillusionment and stagnation felt by a group of people living in a particular time and place. The song is narrated from an omniscient perspective, observing several characters and their individual struggles. It opens with a girl who is feeling nostalgic for the 1970s and listening to Carole King, which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The next character is a young man who is aimless, smoking pot and playing pool in the middle of the day. The lyrics suggest that he is unemployed and struggling to find direction.
The Spanish girl with the tattoo working nights at the drive-through is another character who is questioning whether her life has more to offer than this mundane job. She is depicted as wondering whether this is all there is to life. The final verses of the song reveal a couple who is trapped in a motel room watching the news, and Victoria is asked where her dream is. All of these characters are yearning for more than their current situations offer.
Overall, the song "1972" presents a snapshot of a particular moment in time when hopelessness and apathy prevailed, and people were searching for something more. The lyrics suggest that these characters are all seeking a way out of their respective holes, hoping for something to replace their feelings of disillusionment.
Line by Line Meaning
She was feelin' 1972
She was reminiscing about the past, specifically the year 1972
Groovin' to a Carole King tune
She was enjoying listening to a song by Carole King
Is it too late baby?
She was questioning if it was too late to make changes in her life
It it too late?
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
That boy was always up to no good
The mentioned boy was always causing trouble
Smokin' pot and playin' pool
He spent his time smoking marijuana and playing pool
In the afternoon
This occurred during the daytime
Unemployed and high
He was jobless and under the influence of drugs
We're goin' through the changes
We are currently experiencing a period of transition or transformation
Hopin' for replacement
We are hoping for something new to come along and replace what we currently have
Until we find a way out of this hole
We will keep searching for a way to escape our current difficult situation
Spanish girl with the tatoo
There is a girl with a tattoo who is of Spanish descent
Workin' nights at the drive-through
She is employed and works the night shift at a fast food drive-through restaurant
And she asks herself
She is having an internal conversation and wondering
Could this be all?
She is questioning if this is all there is to life
Screwin' in a motel room
Two people are engaging in sexual activity in a motel room
Watchin' news on channel two
The TV in the motel room is turned to a news program on channel two
Victoria tell me
Someone named Victoria is being asked a question
Where is your dream?
They are inquiring about Victoria's aspirations and what she wants for her future
A way out of this hole
They desire a solution to their current difficulties
Out of this hole
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Out of this hole
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Out of this hole
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Oh
An exclamation of emotion or emphasis
Oh
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Josh Rouse
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind