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
Carolina
Josh Rouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sits a girl alone
She sings along with her favorite songs on the radio
Only friends she sees
Are on TV
Magazine and movie stars are her only family
Yeah they're all she needs
Carolina's so
Happy on the outside
She keeps frowning inside
In the Nashville sky
Shines a diamond bright
Carolina says it's for the boys after midnight
She drifts off to sleep
And in her dreams
She lives in California in a mansion by the sea
Yeah that's who she could be
Carolina's so
Happy on the outside
She keeps frowning inside
Carolina's so
Happy on the outside
She keeps frowning inside
And then she wakes to find out
Her dream is real (It's real)
It's real (It's real)
It's real (It's real)
It's real
Carolina's so
Happy on the outside
And now she's smiling inside
Smiling inside (Inside)
Smiling inside (Inside)
Smiling inside (Inside)
Smiling inside
The lyrics of Josh Rouse's song Carolina tell a story of a lonely girl residing in Tennessee who finds solace in her favorite songs on the radio. She has no real friends, and her only companions are celebrities she sees on TV, magazines, and movies. Carolina appears happy on the outside, but deep down, she is frowning inside. She dreams of living in a luxurious mansion by the sea in California, where she could be anyone she wishes. The diamond shining bright in the Nashville sky gives her hope of a better future, and she drifts off to sleep with a smile on her face.
The second verse depicts how Carolina's deep-seated desires become a reality. She wakes up to find that her dream has come true, and now she is happy both on the outside and inside. The lyrics reveal that music and fantasy can be sources of genuine inspiration for someone who has no real-life connections.
Line by Line Meaning
Down in Tennessee
In the southern state of Tennessee
Sits a girl alone
There is a girl who is by herself
She sings along with her favorite songs on the radio
She sings with the songs she loves on the radio station she listens to
Only friends she sees
The only friends she has
Are on TV
The people she considers friends are on television
Magazine and movie stars are her only family
She recognizes only the movie and magazine stars as her family
Yeah they're all she needs
She believes that is all she requires
Carolina's so
Carolina is an individual who seems to be
Happy on the outside
Appears to be content and happy in public
She keeps frowning inside
However, on the inside, she is grimacing
In the Nashville sky
In the sky of Nashville
Shines a diamond bright
There shines a diamond that shines brightly
Carolina says it's for the boys after midnight
Carolina claims that men gaze at it after midnight
She drifts off to sleep
She falls asleep
And in her dreams
In her dream state
She lives in California in a mansion by the sea
She lives in a beach mansion in California
Yeah that's who she could be
That's who she imagines herself to be
And then she wakes to find out
And then she wakes up to discover
Her dream is real (It's real)
The dream she had is a reality
Carolina's so
Carolina appears to be
Happy on the outside
Seems cheerful and content outwardly
And now she's smiling inside
But now she is also smiling inside
Smiling inside (Inside)
She has a pleasant demeanor on the inside
Smiling inside (Inside)
She has a pleasant demeanor on the inside
Smiling inside (Inside)
She has a pleasant demeanor on the inside
Smiling inside
Her earlier frown has now been replaced with a smile
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHAN KINCHLA, JOHN C. POPPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind