Holter, a Los Angeles native, grew up in a musical family. Her father plays guitar and once performed with Pete Seeger. Her mother, Carole Shammas, is a prominent academic and currently holds the John R. Hubbard Chair in History at the University of Southern California. Besides playing and recording music, Holter tutors students and works with a nonprofit organization for teenagers in South Central Los Angeles. After graduating from CalArts, where she studied composition, Holter contributed songs to multiple compilation albums in 2008. She performed in the LA Road Concert with the Open Academy Youth Orchestra on Washington Boulevard in 2009. The following year she began playing with Linda Perhacs' band. In 2010, she released a CD-R titled Celebration and a collection of live recordings.
Her debut studio album, Tragedy, was released in August 2011 on Leaving Records. Inspired by Euripides' Greek play Hippolytus, the album received generally favorable reviews and was named one of NPR's "Best Outer Sound Albums Of 2011".
Holter released a second album, Ekstasis, in March 2012 on the RVNG label. The album drew comparisons to works by such artists as Laurie Anderson, Julianna Barwick, Kate Bush, Joanna Newsom, Grouper, and Stereolab, and received many positive reviews. Holter spent three years making the album, whose title comes from the Greek word meaning "outside of oneself." The music video for album track "Moni Mon Amie", directed by Yelena Zhelezov, was also released in March.
In addition to collaborating with other California-based musicians like Nite Jewel (Ramona Gonzalez), Holter recently released her third album, Loud City Song. Unlike her first two albums, which were recorded mostly alone in her bedroom, Holter recorded Loud City Song with an ensemble of musicians
Betsy on the Roof
Julia Holter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't send the rain down, baby
I can't send the rain down anymore
"Uh oh!" she said
"Uh oh!" she said, "Uh oh"
"Uh oh!" she said
"Uh oh!" she said, "Uh oh"
What of this cloud?
What of this cloud?
What of this cloud?
What of this cloud?
Moon and emotion
Elsewhere is my name now
We don't dim the lights down anymore
"Uh oh!" she said
"Uh oh!" she said, "Uh oh"
"Uh oh!" she said
"Uh oh!" she said, "Uh oh"
Oh, ooh, I can't remember the words to say to you
I don't remember the words to say to you
I'm standing here on the ground, Betsy
My arms stretched out, looking up
Won't you please tell me the answer?
You know the answer, Betsy
I'm standing here on the ground, Betsy
My arms stretched out, looking up
Won't you please tell me the answer?
You know the answer, Betsy
I'm standing here on the ground, Betsy
My arms stretched out, looking up
Won't you please tell me the answer?
You know the answer, Betsy
The song "Betsy on the Roof" by Julia Holter is a surrealistic depiction of the singer, who is represented by the "moon" and "emotion," struggling to understand the meaning of a cloud. The cloud is a metaphor for a situation or a feeling that the singer cannot grasp or comprehend. The repetition of "Uh oh!" is used to evoke a sense of confusion and frustration that the singer is experiencing.
As the song progresses, the singer addresses Betsy, asking her for answers. Betsy could be someone the singer looks up to or a higher power. The final lines of the song show the singer standing on the ground, looking up at Betsy, asking for guidance. It's a beautiful metaphor for a person searching for answers in life and hoping for guidance from someone wiser.
Overall, the song is a poetic and abstract representation of the human experience, where we all struggle to make sense of our emotions and the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Betsy on the roof
Someone named Betsy is on the roof
I can't send the rain down, baby
The singer is unable to make it rain
I can't send the rain down anymore
The singer was once able to make it rain, but no longer can
"Uh oh!" she said
Betsy says "uh oh"
"Uh oh!" she said, "Uh oh"
Betsy repeats "uh oh"
What of this cloud?
The singer is questioning the status of a single cloud
"Moon and emotion"
The singer mentions both the moon and emotion
Elsewhere is my name now
The artist's name is now somewhere else
We don't dim the lights down anymore
The lights used to be dimmed, but now they are not
"Oh, ooh, I can't remember the words to say to you"
The artist cannot recall what they want to say to someone
I'm standing here on the ground, Betsy
The singer is on the ground calling out to Betsy on the roof
My arms stretched out, looking up
The artist is physically reaching and seeking an answer from Betsy
Won't you please tell me the answer?
The singer is asking Betsy to provide an answer
You know the answer, Betsy
The singer believes that Betsy holds the solution
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: JULIA HOLTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeremy Auz
Lyrics:
Betsy on the roof
I can't send the rain down, baby
I can't send the rain down anymore
Oh oh, she said
Oh oh, she said oh oh ooh
Oh oh, she said
Oh oh, she said oh oh ooh
What of this cloud?
What of this cloud?
What of this cloud?
What of this cloud?
Moon and emotion
Elsewhere is my name
We don't dim the lights down anymore
Oh oh, she said
Oh oh, she said oh oh ooh
Oh oh, she said
Oh oh, she said oh oh ooh
I can't remember the words to say
I don't remember the words to say to you
I'm standing here on the ground, Betsy, my arms stretched out
Looking up, won't you please tell me the answer
You know the answer, Betsy
I'm standing here on the ground, Betsy, my arms stretched out
Looking up, won't you please tell me the answer
You know the answer, Betsy
Domino Recording Co.
Julia Holter’s new album ‘Aviary’ is out now on Domino Record Co. Listen & buy: http://smarturl.it/Aviary
More from Julia Holter on YouTube: http://smarturl.it/BestOfJuliaHolter
HolographiCat
I try not to listen to it too often because I want the magic to keep hitting me...
Tabasco cat
Hard though isn't it
Richard James Clemo
HolographiCat First time in over a year right now
Justin Simmons
Easily her best song and one of the best written songs of the last decade I think that's unquestionable.
David Rowe
This song is epically beautiful, a lot of great crescendos and build ups and the melodies she uses are wonderful
Thomas Rainbow
This song is a masterpiece.
Stefarooh
Absolutely fantastic song. That last sad little note gets me everytime
Mateusz
AMAZING! Julia Holter is unstoppable!
MingusTale
Omg this song has me in its grasp. It really kills me.