After the Pharrell video went viral, several different record labels tried to sign Rogers. She ended up negotiating a contract with Capitol Records where "she licenses her music to them through her own imprint, Debay Sounds." As a result, she has more control over her sound and image than many artists at a similar place in their music careers.
Rogers's EP, Now That the Light Is Fading, was released on February 17, 2017. She released her major-label debut album, Heard It In a Past Life, in January 2019. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200.
She made her television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on February 15, 2017, Saturday Night Live debut on November 3, 2018 and Today Show debut on July 12, 2019.
She cites Carrie Brownstein, Patti Smith, Kim Gordon, and Björk as her musical inspirations, while prominent singers Brandi Carlile and Sharon Van Etten - who she calls her "musical big sisters" - have become mentors. She also mentioned in her initial conversation with Williams that she has synesthesia, a benign condition where one or more senses is perceived at once. In her case, she is able to perceive colours as a response to hearing music.
Retrograde
Maggie Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lyin' by the sycamore
And I know
We've both been here before
You said, "Fuck, let's leave the blame"
But heartache always feels the same
And I know
Oh, here I am, settled in at your house
Broken blinds keep the light comin' out
And I am just the shape I'm in
Ooh, here I am, settled in, crying out
Finding all the things that I can't do without
Oh, I am giving in
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Retrograde
Standing, staring straight ahead
Listening when Stevie says
Mm, "Come out of the darkness"
Feeling all I've ever known
Fall away and letting go
Oh, come out of the darkness
Oh, here I am, settled in on your floor
Quietly, all the world outside your door
And I am reckoning
Oh, here I am, settled in, freaking out
You bring me in to help me, let me get me out
Oh I, I, I
I'm in retrograde
I'm in retrograde
Oh, if only I could give in, if I could get out
Only I could break in, if you could let me out
Only I could let go, if I could sit out
If only I could get back, if I could let me out
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Yeah, mm
I'm in retrograde, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
The lyrics of Maggie Rogers's song Retrograde are about a relationship that seems to be going through a rough patch. The tone of the song is sad and melancholic, as the singer appears to be resigned to the fact that the relationship is not going to work out. The opening lines of the song are "You said, 'I can't take no more', Lyin' by the sycamore, And I know We've both been here before." These lines suggest that the relationship has hit a breaking point, and there is a sense of familiarity to the situation.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more introspective. The singer seems to be struggling with their emotions and trying to come to terms with what is happening in the relationship. In the chorus, the lyrics "Oh, here I am, settled in, crying out, Finding all the things that I can't do without" capture the sense of desperation and longing that comes with a failing relationship. The repeated phrase "I'm in retrograde" suggests that the singer feels as if they are moving backward, and that they are powerless to change the situation.
One interpretation of the song is that it is about the feeling of being stuck in a relationship that is no longer working. The lyrics seem to suggest that the singer has tried everything to save the relationship, but to no avail. The repeated refrain "come out of the darkness" could be interpreted as a plea for the other person to see the light and try to work things out. Ultimately, however, the song seems to acknowledge that sometimes relationships just don't work, and that it's okay to let go and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
You said, "I can't take no more"
Your words "I can't take no more" are still ringing in my ears
Lyin' by the sycamore
You were resting under the sycamore tree
And I know
And I know that
We've both been here before
We've both been in this situation before
You said, "Fuck, let's leave the blame"
You suggested we stop blaming each other
But heartache always feels the same
But the pain of heartbreak hasn't changed
Oh, here I am, settled in at your house
Here I am, comfortably sitting in your house
Broken blinds keep the light comin' out
The broken blinds are letting light in
And I am just the shape I'm in
I am the way that I am
Ooh, here I am, settled in, crying out
Here I am, settled in and shedding tears
Finding all the things that I can't do without
Discovering all the things that I can't live without
Oh, I am giving in
I am submitting to my emotions
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Oh, I'm moving backwards
Retrograde
Retrograde
Standing, staring straight ahead
Standing still and looking straight ahead
Listening when Stevie says
Listening to Stevie's words
Mm, "Come out of the darkness"
"Come out of the darkness", she says
Feeling all I've ever known
Remembering everything I have ever known
Fall away and letting go
Letting go of everything that is slipping away
Oh, come out of the darkness
Come out into the light
Oh, here I am, settled in on your floor
Here I am, sitting comfortably on your floor
Quietly, all the world outside your door
The world outside your door is silent
And I am reckoning
I am coming to terms with things
Oh, here I am, settled in, freaking out
Here I am, comfortably settled in but anxious
You bring me in to help me, let me get me out
You brought me in to help me, please let me go
Oh I, I, I
Oh, I
I'm in retrograde
I'm moving backwards
I'm in retrograde
I'm moving backwards
Oh, if only I could give in, if I could get out
If only I could surrender and leave
Only I could break in, if you could let me out
If only I could overcome this, if you could allow me to leave
Only I could let go, if I could sit out
If only I could let go, if I could take a break
If only I could get back, if I could let me out
If only I could return to my normal self, and be allowed to leave
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Oh, I'm moving backwards
Yeah, mm
Yeah, uh-huh
I'm in retrograde, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
I'm moving backwards
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Greg Kurstin, Maggie Rogers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Joyce
[Verse 1]
You said, "I can't take no more"
Lying by the sycamore
And I know we've both been here before
You said, "Fuck, let's leave the blame"
But heartache always feels the same
And I know we've both been here before
[Chorus]
Oh, here I am, settled in at your house
Broken blinds keep the light coming out
And I am just the shape I'm in
Ooh, here I am, settled in, crying out
Finding all the things that I can't do without
Oh, I am giving in
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Retrograde
[Verse 2]
Standing staring straight ahead
Listening when Stevie says, mmm
"Come out of the darkness"
Feeling all I've ever known
Fall away and letting go
Oh, come out of the darkness
[Chorus]
Ooh, here I am, settled in on your floor
Quieting all the world outside your door
And I am reckoning
Oh, here I am, settled in, freaking out
You bring me in to help me, let me get me out
Oh I, I, I, I'm in retrograde
I'm in retrograde
[Outro]
Oh, if only I could give in
If I could get out
If only I could break in
If you could let me out
If only I could let go
If I could sit out
If only I could get back
If I could let me out
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Yeah, mmm
I'm in retrograde
Ooh, ooh, ooh
Nadia Andaam
You said I can't take no more
Lyin' by the sycamore
And I know
We've both been me before
You said, "Fuck, let's leave them blank"
Heartache always feels the same
And I know
We've both been me before
Oh, here I am, settling at your house
Broken blinds keep the light comin' out
And I am just the shape I'm in
Oh, here I am, settling, crying out
Finding all the things that I can't do without
Oh, now I am giving in
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Retrograde
Standing, staring straight ahead
Listening when Stevie says
Mm, "Come out of the darkness"
Feeling all I've ever known
Fall away and letting go
Oh, come out of the darkness
Oh, here I am, settling on your floor
Quietly, all the world outside your door
And I am reckoning
Oh, here I am, settling, freaking out
You bring me in to help me, let me get me out
Oh now,
I'm in retrograde
I'm in retrograde
Oh, if only I could give in, if I could get out
Only I could break in, if you could let me out
Only I could let go, if I could sit out
If only I could get back, if I could let me out
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Yeah, mm
Now I'm in retrograde
Haley Carroll
They played this at forever 21 when I was working about once a day or less. I didn’t have my phone to Shazam it or anything and it took me weeks of trying to memorize the lyrics to look during my break or after my 6 hour shift. Definitely worth it
Maggie Rogers
Thanks for all the love and support. Seriously blown away by the love from all of you ❤ Thank you all ❤️❤
Nesee Tea
I would hear it while putting new stuff out on the floor lol
Nesee Tea
GIRL SAMEEEEEE
Ali Abbas
This is the hidden gem of the new album
Ty Steger
Agreed I think it took a while to grow on me but now it's one of my favorites.
John Joyce
[Verse 1]
You said, "I can't take no more"
Lying by the sycamore
And I know we've both been here before
You said, "Fuck, let's leave the blame"
But heartache always feels the same
And I know we've both been here before
[Chorus]
Oh, here I am, settled in at your house
Broken blinds keep the light coming out
And I am just the shape I'm in
Ooh, here I am, settled in, crying out
Finding all the things that I can't do without
Oh, I am giving in
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Retrograde
[Verse 2]
Standing staring straight ahead
Listening when Stevie says, mmm
"Come out of the darkness"
Feeling all I've ever known
Fall away and letting go
Oh, come out of the darkness
[Chorus]
Ooh, here I am, settled in on your floor
Quieting all the world outside your door
And I am reckoning
Oh, here I am, settled in, freaking out
You bring me in to help me, let me get me out
Oh I, I, I, I'm in retrograde
I'm in retrograde
[Outro]
Oh, if only I could give in
If I could get out
If only I could break in
If you could let me out
If only I could let go
If I could sit out
If only I could get back
If I could let me out
Oh, I'm in retrograde
Yeah, mmm
I'm in retrograde
Ooh, ooh, ooh
manynukes11
She didn't have to go this hard, but she did it for us
Alessandro Boicel-Maldonado
Besides Mags, you can thank the amazing, talented, Beautiful, smart, clever, insightful Mr. Greg Kurstin
Adam Hulscher
Perfectly captures the angst/melodrama/uncertainty/awful lessons that you learn about yourself and others while in your twenties.
We’ve decided to Stan. 😌