In 1999, Rocky Votolato branched out from his work with Waxwing, having written a handful of songs which did not really fit in with their more aggressive, fast tempo syle. Along the way he has toured with the likes of Damien Jurado, Small Brown Bike, The Get Up Kids, The New Amsterdams, Owen and The Casket Lottery, members of the latter having provided assistance as backing musicians on occasion. His studio albums have also been littered with appearances from some of Seattle's finest musicians (including players in the bands Red Stars Theory, Sharks Keep Moving, The Blood Brothers, Death Cab for Cutie, Pedro the Lion and Sub Pop solo artist Rosie Thomas). On the production side, Votolato has worked with Matt Bayles (Pearl Jam, Botch, Murder City Devils, Hayden), along with Chris Walla (of Death Cab for Cutie). It is a creative input which has helped see Rocky progress sylistically with every release, from his low key self-titled album released in 1999 - all pretty much recorded live, right through to his recent, alt-country, folk-esque offering, 'Makers'. A video was shot for the first track of Makers, "White Daisy Passing", a song which also appears on the soundtrack of the forthcoming Seattle indie feature film Cthulu.
Rocky also starred in the film 'The Edge of Quarrel', which he worked on with Dave Larson from Excursion Records. It also includes members of the Murder City Devils and Botch, and is about a gang war between straightedgers and punk rockers.
He is married with two children, and lives in Seattle.
The Night's Disguise
Rocky Votolato Lyrics
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They're stilts or crutches
I can't tell which one
To keep the short days looking longer
Or to keep the sunlight from falling on broken legs
But the
Night's disguise is wearing thin
Caught me looking through
No I'm not doing alright
I'm just as stupid and
Desperate as I've always been
All the uselessness I write
Just come at me with a knife
Come cut this sickness from my
Mind
Help me forget about a shattered lie
Bleed my failure
Into something right
The boss man said there's no more work
This winter
So go on home now and check back in the spring
Some dreams turned out to be a nightmare that you can't afford
So it's coming in on a credit card
Get yourself all prettied up
My love
Come here close let me tie that ironed ribbon
On the
Dress I bought you it's the perfect one
For the perfect night
With the perfect woman
But the night's disguise is wearing thin
In The Night's Disguise, Rocky Votolato uses vivid imagery to describe the conflicting emotions he is feeling. He talks about the clouds holding up the dawn, unsure if they are stilts or crutches. This imagery seems to represent how he is trying to hold on to the night, to keep it from giving way to the day, which will require him to confront reality. He wonders if he is trying to keep the short days looking longer, or if he is trying to keep the sunlight from falling on broken legs. The latter image could represent his own emotional wounds that he is trying to protect.
However, he confesses that the night's disguise is wearing thin and he has been caught looking through someone else's eyes. He denies being alright and admits his own stupidity and desperation. He acknowledges the futility of his writing and invites someone to come cut the sickness from his mind. He wants to forget about a shattered lie and turn his failure into something right.
It seems that Votolato is struggling to come to terms with some kind of trauma or disappointment. He is wrestling with his inner demons and trying to find a way to move forward. The combination of the surreal imagery and raw emotion makes for a powerful and evocative song that is sure to resonate with anyone who has experienced feelings of pain and hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
The clouds are holding up the dawn
The clouds are delaying the sunrise.
They're stilts or crutches
It's unknown whether the clouds are helpful or damaging.
I can't tell which one
The singer is unable to differentiate the effect of the clouds on the dawn.
To keep the short days looking longer
The clouds might make the sun appear to rise later, prolonging the day.
Or to keep the sunlight from falling on broken legs
The clouds might be masking an injury caused by the sunlight.
But the Night's disguise is wearing thin
The darkness of nighttime is fading away.
Caught me looking through Your eyes
The singer saw things from someone else's perspective.
No I'm not doing alright
The artist is not fine.
I'm just as stupid and Desperate as I've always been
The artist is no smarter or less hopeless than before.
All the uselessness I write Just come at me with a knife
The artist's writing is pointless and harmful to them.
Come cut this sickness from my Mind
The singer wants someone to eradicate their harmful thoughts.
Help me forget about a shattered lie
The artist wants to move on from a falsehood.
Bleed my failure Into something right
The singer wants to turn their mistakes into something positive.
The boss man said there's no more work This winter
There are no job opportunities for the singer this season.
So go on home now and check back in the spring
The singer should return for job opportunities in the future.
Some dreams turned out to be a nightmare that you can't afford
The artist's aspirations are too costly for them to achieve.
So it's coming in on a credit card
The artist is financing something beyond their means.
Get yourself all prettied up My love
The singer wants their partner to prepare themselves.
Come here close let me tie that ironed ribbon
The singer wants to fix their partner's clothing.
On the Dress I bought you it's the perfect one For the perfect night With the perfect woman
The artist's partner looks perfect for the ideal night.
But the night's disguise is wearing thin
The artist is aware that nighttime is ending.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Rocky Votolato
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind