His first project was Beat!Beat!Beat!, an indie teenage band where he was the drummer. Years later the band separated and he became a soloist.
He then released his acclaimed debut EP 'Elliot' in 2013. The lead single 'Elliot' was named as Pitchfork's 'Best New Track'. Roosevelt then released the double-A side 'Night Moves/Hold On' in 2015 on Greco-Roman which continued a warm synth-pop, Balearic-influenced sound.
In April 2016, he announced his self-titled debut album, set for release on August 19, 2016 on Greco-Roman/City Slang, with the video for tracks "Colours" and "Moving On".
He has remixed the likes of Glass Animals, Jax Jones, Truls, Sundara Karma, Luka Vasta and Kakkmaddafakka, and on tour has supported Hot Chip, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Crystal Fighters.
In June 2018, he announced a second album 'Young Romance', it was released on September 28, 2018. The first single from this album 'Under The Sun' was released on June 27, 2018.
In March 2019, he released 'Falling Back' and a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere" on W Records. The next year, 'Everywhere' was featured in We Bare Bears: The Movie.
On 10 June 2020, Roosevelt released the single Sign, which was the first original material since his sophomore album Young Romance. Roosevelt went on to release another four singles (Echoes, Feels Right, Strangers & Lovers) before his third studio album, 'Polydans', which was released on 26 February 2021.
In July 2023, he announced a fourth album, 'Embrace', scheduled to be released on 22 September 2023. Four singles were released beforehand; Ordinary Love, Luna, Paralyzed, Rising.
Wait Up
Roosevelt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If only I could turn back time
Take me back to the dawning
I'm slipping away
Lay me down on your loving
If only I could talk the light
Take me back to the dawning
We're drifting away
So wait up
And reach for the sun
You know I wanted to come
Just wait up
And don't make a sound
She was with me in the day and
It's funny how it all goes bad
Never thought we could fade out
By moving too slow
Left me down in the starlight
Could tell it by the look in your eyes
She is young on her way there
Cause I should've known
So wait up
And reach for the sun
You know I wanted to come
Just wait up
And don't make a sound
Why can't we fall into the sky again
I just don't want it to go
Why can't you fall into my eyes again
You're all that I've ever known
So wait up
And reach for the sun
You know I wanted to come
Just wait up
And don't make a sound
The lyrics to Roosevelt's "Wait Up" are reflective of a bittersweet longing for resolution and connection with a former lover. The song opens up with the singer lamenting the loss of that connection and wishing they had done things differently to keep the relationship alive. They yearn to go back in time to when things were better and try to make amends. However, they also express a sense of being lost or adrift, unable to stay connected with the one they love.
As the song progresses, we get more insight into the past relationship. The singer notes how their time together was once joyful and filled with light but details how it slowly declined into negative territory. It's unclear what caused the deterioration, but the singer feels regret at perhaps not putting in enough effort or taking certain actions to prevent the relationship from ending.
The chorus of the song provides a sense of urgency, imploring the listener to wait up and reach for the sun, possibly in an effort to recapture past happiness or to find a new path forward. However, the singer also acknowledges a sense of futility in this effort, as they question why they can't go back to the sky or see eye-to-eye with their former lover.
Overall, "Wait Up" is a poignant and nostalgic song about love lost and the desire to try again. It speaks to the human experience of wanting to hold onto something that once made us happy but feeling unsure of how to achieve that happiness again.
Line by Line Meaning
She was ready in the morning
She was prepared and willing to face the day
If only I could turn back time
Regret and longing to go back to a previous moment in time
Take me back to the dawning
Wishing to go back to a time of new beginnings
I'm slipping away
Feeling like time is passing by quickly and losing grip on something
Lay me down on your loving
Desiring comfort and affection from a loved one
If only I could talk the light
Longing to communicate with the light, possibly referencing enlightenment or clarity
We're drifting away
Feeling distant or disconnected from someone or something
So wait up
Asking someone to hold on and wait for the artist
And reach for the sun
Encouraging someone to strive for their goals and dreams
You know I wanted to come
Expressing desire to be included or involved
Just wait up
Reiterating the request to hold on and wait
And don't make a sound
Asking for silence or stillness, possibly to prevent alerting someone or something
She was with me in the day and
Someone (possibly the person mentioned earlier) was present during the day
It's funny how it all goes bad
Reflecting on how things can turn sour unexpectedly
Never thought we could fade out
Not anticipating the ending or loss of something
By moving too slow
Possibly referencing the idea of being left behind or not keeping up
Left me down in the starlight
Feeling disappointed or abandoned under the twinkling stars
Could tell it by the look in your eyes
Reflecting on how someone's eyes revealed their true feelings or intentions
She is young on her way there
The young woman from earlier is on her journey towards something
Cause I should've known
Regret for not being aware or informed earlier
Why can't we fall into the sky again
Yearning to experience something magical or unique again
I just don't want it to go
Desire to hold onto something that may be fleeting or temporary
Why can't you fall into my eyes again
Longing to connect with someone deeply and intimately
You're all that I've ever known
Expressing the importance and significance of someone in the artist's life
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Marius Lauber
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@IAmRooseveltMusic
North American / European Live Dates for 2023!
Tickets at iamroosevelt.com
September 21 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory OC
September 22 – Las Vegas, NV – Life is Beautiful Festival
September 23 – Santa Barbara, CA – Soho Theater
September 25 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
September 26 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
September 28 – Los Angeles, CA – The Novo
September 29 – Santa Cruz, CA – Catalyst
September 30 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater
October 3 – Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Trading Post
October 5 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
October 6 – Seattle, WA – Showbox
October 7 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
October 9 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall
October 10 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
October 12 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theater
October 13 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
October 14 – Ft Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre
October 16 – El Paso, TX – Lowbrow Palace
October 17 – Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf
October 19 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
October 20 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
October 21 – Dallas, TX – Studio At The Factory
October 23 – Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall
October 24 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
October 26 – Minneapolis, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall
October 27 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre
October 28 – Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI Annex
October 30 – Nashville, TN - Exit/In
October 31 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
November 2 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
November 3 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
November 4 – Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
November 6 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird
November 7 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl
November 9 – New York, NY – Brooklyn Steel
November 10 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
November 11 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
November 13 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry
November 14 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
November 15 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
November 17 – Mexico City, MX – Corona Capital Festival
December 1 – Hamburg, DE - Fabrik
December 2 – Brussels, BE - Botanique Orangerie
December 3 – Utrecht, NL - TivoliVredenburg
December 4 – Paris, FR - Cabaret Sauvage
December 6 – London, UK - Electric Brixton
December 7 – Manchester, UK - New Century
December 9 – Cologne, DE - Live Music Hall
December 10 – Berlin, DE - Kesselhaus
December 12 – Wiesbaden, DE - Schlachthof
December 13 – Barcelona, ES - Sala Apolo
December 14 – Madrid, ES - Lula Club (Jaguar)
December 16 – Istanbul, TR - Zorlu PSM
@merveakyuz8996
LYRICS💙
She was ready in the morning
If only I could turn back time
Take me back to the dawning
I'm slipping away
Lay me down on your loving
If only I could talk the light
Take me back to the dawning
We're drifting away
So wait up
And reach for the sun
You know I wanted to come
Just wait up
And don't make a sound
She was with me in the day and
It's funny how it all goes bad
Never thought we could fade out
By moving too slow
Left me down in the starlight
Could tell it by the look in your eyes
She is young on her way there
Cause I should've known
So wait up
And reach for the sun
You know I wanted to come
Just wait up
And don't make a sound
Why can't we fall into the sky again
I just don't want it to go
Why can't you fall into my eyes again
You're all that I've ever known
So wait up
And reach for the sun
You know I wanted to come
Just wait up
And don't make a sound
@IAmRooseveltMusic
North American / European Live Dates for 2023!
Tickets at iamroosevelt.com
September 21 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory OC
September 22 – Las Vegas, NV – Life is Beautiful Festival
September 23 – Santa Barbara, CA – Soho Theater
September 25 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
September 26 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
September 28 – Los Angeles, CA – The Novo
September 29 – Santa Cruz, CA – Catalyst
September 30 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater
October 3 – Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Trading Post
October 5 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
October 6 – Seattle, WA – Showbox
October 7 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
October 9 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall
October 10 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
October 12 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theater
October 13 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater
October 14 – Ft Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre
October 16 – El Paso, TX – Lowbrow Palace
October 17 – Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf
October 19 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
October 20 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
October 21 – Dallas, TX – Studio At The Factory
October 23 – Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall
October 24 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
October 26 – Minneapolis, MN – Amsterdam Bar & Hall
October 27 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre
October 28 – Indianapolis, IN – HI-FI Annex
October 30 – Nashville, TN - Exit/In
October 31 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
November 2 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
November 3 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
November 4 – Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
November 6 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird
November 7 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl
November 9 – New York, NY – Brooklyn Steel
November 10 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
November 11 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
November 13 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry
November 14 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
November 15 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
November 17 – Mexico City, MX – Corona Capital Festival
December 1 – Hamburg, DE - Fabrik
December 2 – Brussels, BE - Botanique Orangerie
December 3 – Utrecht, NL - TivoliVredenburg
December 4 – Paris, FR - Cabaret Sauvage
December 6 – London, UK - Electric Brixton
December 7 – Manchester, UK - New Century
December 9 – Cologne, DE - Live Music Hall
December 10 – Berlin, DE - Kesselhaus
December 12 – Wiesbaden, DE - Schlachthof
December 13 – Barcelona, ES - Sala Apolo
December 14 – Madrid, ES - Lula Club (Jaguar)
December 16 – Istanbul, TR - Zorlu PSM
@kalyank3784
unbelievably good. he's so underrated. the sound arrangement is perfect af.
@juliegiulietti1229
This song is an absolute gem. It’s so stunning. Oh my gosh
@3DLL.
rufus du sol they are good too
@jorgeeduardoalatorreenriqu1917
Eres una chica hermosa me encantas :*
@adityasiwach02
This absolute gem of a song gets 600k view while other rap garbage nowadays gets million plus views. Go figure!
@nahueljo
Spotify put this song in my weekly discoveries. I'm glad it did. Great stuff.
@carlaleigh3226
Travelled to see these guys live in Leeds at the brude, one of the best gigs for sound quality I've ever been to. Up there with top 3 gigs I've attended. Absolutely gorgeous sound.
@tinys9880
That's great to know. Looking fwd to seeing them live...just wondering where would be a good venue. I'm Not a fan of the O2 in Brixton.
@merveakyuz8996
LYRICS💙
She was ready in the morning
If only I could turn back time
Take me back to the dawning
I'm slipping away
Lay me down on your loving
If only I could talk the light
Take me back to the dawning
We're drifting away
So wait up
And reach for the sun
You know I wanted to come
Just wait up
And don't make a sound
She was with me in the day and
It's funny how it all goes bad
Never thought we could fade out
By moving too slow
Left me down in the starlight
Could tell it by the look in your eyes
She is young on her way there
Cause I should've known
So wait up
And reach for the sun
You know I wanted to come
Just wait up
And don't make a sound
Why can't we fall into the sky again
I just don't want it to go
Why can't you fall into my eyes again
You're all that I've ever known
So wait up
And reach for the sun
You know I wanted to come
Just wait up
And don't make a sound