Josh Rouse (born 1972 in Paxton, Nebraska) is an American roots/melodic fol… Read Full Bio ↴Josh Rouse (born 1972 in Paxton, Nebraska) is an American roots/melodic folk singer. From his first album, Dressed Up Like Nebraska, in 1998, he has won critical acclaim.

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

temptation
Josh Rouse Lyrics

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(words by Tom Waits)

Rusted brandy in a diamond glass
Everything is made from dreams
Time makes honey slow and sweet
Only the fools know what it means
Temptation, temptation, temptation
I just can't resist

I just know that she is made of smoke
I lost my way
She knows that I am broke
But that I must pay
Temptation, temptation, temptation
I just can't resist

Temptation, temptation, temptation
I just can't resist
Dutch pink and Italian blue
She's there waiting for you
My will has disappeared
My confusion is oh so clear
Temptation, temptation, temptation
Temptation yeah
Temptation, temptation, temptation
I just can't resist

Temptation, temptation, temptation
I just can't resist
Rusted brandy in a diamond glass
Everything is made from dreams
Time makes honey slow and sweet
Only the fools know what it means
Temptation, temptation, temptation
Temptation yeah

Temptation, temptation, temptation
I just can't resist

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in "Temptation" by Josh Rouse (written by Tom Waits) paint a picture of a man who is drawn to a woman who he knows is going to lead him down the wrong path. The repeating line of "temptation, temptation, temptation," emphasizes this man’s inner struggle to resist this woman. The imagery of "rusted brandy in a diamond glass" and "Dutch pink and Italian blue" create a dreamlike atmosphere, further building the idea that everything in this situation is made of dreams. The line "she knows that I am broke, but that I must pay" represents the idea that the man will do whatever it takes to be with this woman despite the fact that he cannot afford it. The final stanza repeats the opening lines, bringing the idea of everything being made of dreams full circle.

The use of metaphor and imagery in this song is powerful and conjures up vivid mental images. The song illustrates how temptation can lead people down a path that they know will ultimately be destructive. All of these compelling details make "Temptation" a hauntingly emotional and captivating song.

Line by Line Meaning

Rusted brandy in a diamond glass
The drink may look fancy but everything is temporary and rusted.

Everything is made from dreams
Life is just a dream and everything is just a figment of our imagination.

Time makes honey slow and sweet
Time can make the good things in life taste better.

Only the fools know what it means
Wisdom is gained by making mistakes and learning from them.

Temptation, temptation, temptation
The desire for something that is not necessarily good for you is hard to resist.

I just can't resist
The temptation is too strong to fight against.

I just know that she is made of smoke
The object of temptation is elusive and not real.

I lost my way
I got sidetracked and now I am not sure what I want.

She knows that I am broke
The object of temptation knows that I am vulnerable and weak.

But that I must pay
I know that giving in to temptation will come at a cost.

Dutch pink and Italian blue
The object of temptation is dressed in exotic and alluring colors.