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
Camping In Copenhagen
Josh Rouse Lyrics
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Out the window with an inch of regret
It's a gray world
Sold all the gear that he had in the shed
Gave him a hard time so he up and quit
It's a gray world
It wouldn't go
Down at the quarry to have a swim
I took off my shirt but you won't go in
It's a gray world
Later at the fire with a marshmallow stick
You ware embarrassed cause she was so thin
It's a gray world
And the old van is tired and slow
It wouldn't go
It wouldn't go
It wouldn't go
It wouldn't go
The song "Camping In Copenhagen" by Josh Rouse is an introspective look at the mundanity of life and the disappointment that comes with it. The lyrics describe a scene of quiet despair as the singer sits in the kitchen, smoking an asthma cigarette and staring out the window with regret. The world around him is gray and bleak, lacking any spark of joy or excitement.
The second verse of the song describes the sale of the singer's camping gear and his subsequent decision to quit camping altogether. This decision is guided by the criticism of others who gave him a hard time, leaving him feeling judged and ashamed. The old van that once served as his transportation for camping trips is now tired and slow, refusing to start and taking away any hope of escape.
The third verse of the song alludes to lost opportunities for joy and connection. The singer visits a quarry but is unable to persuade his companion to join him for a swim, and later around the campfire, he feels embarrassed about the appearance of a thin woman who is present. The repetition of the line "It's a gray world" throughout the song serves as a reminder of the mundanity and hopelessness that surrounds the singer, creating a sense of emptiness and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Sat in the kitchen with an asthma cigarette
Josh Rouse is sitting in the kitchen, smoking a cigarette and wheezing because of his asthma
Out the window with an inch of regret
He looks out the window with some regret, maybe about the past or something he wishes he could change
It's a gray world
Josh feels like the world around him is dull and uninspiring
Sold all the gear that he had in the shed
He sold all of his camping equipment that he had kept in the shed
Gave him a hard time so he up and quit
Someone gave Josh a hard time, causing him to quit camping
And the old van is tired and slow
Josh's van is old and not running very well
It wouldn't go
His van won't start or move
Down at the quarry to have a swim
Josh went to a quarry to go swimming
I took off my shirt but you won't go in
Josh took his shirt off to go swimming, but someone he was with refused to join him
Later at the fire with a marshmallow stick
Josh was sitting around a campfire, toasting marshmallows
You ware embarrassed cause she was so thin
Someone with Josh was ashamed or uncomfortable because they were thin
It's a gray world
Josh reiterates that the world around him is dull and uninspiring
And the old van is tired and slow
Josh's van is still not running well
It wouldn't go
His van is still not moving, indicating that he may be stuck in his current situation
It wouldn't go
His van is still not moving, emphasizing his feeling of being stuck
It wouldn't go
His van is still not moving, underscoring the hopelessness of his situation
Contributed by Eliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.