Beginning in 2002, she released two EPs prior to her full-length debut, If You Were for Me, in 2006. The album garnered her a nomination for best solo artist at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. She was also a winner in the 2007 Mountain Stage Newsong Contest, as well as winning best folk recording from both the Nova Scotia Music Awards and the PEI Music Awards, and Female Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards in 2008.
She followed up with The Send Off in 2009. The Send Off was produced by Luke Doucet, and features guest musicians including Kathleen Edwards, Melissa McClelland, David Myles, Jenn Grant and Tom Wilson.
In 2012, Rose released We Have Made a Spark. The album has 9 tracks, including 2 bonus tracks. It was produced by Zachariah Hickman and engineered by Matt Malikowski, Sean Cahalin and Roni Pillischer. The album was released on her own label, Old Farm Pony Records, the same label that houses her last two albums The Send Off and Miles to go.
Cousins has also appeared as a guest musician on albums by Grant, Joel Plaskett, In-Flight Safety, Two Hours Traffic, Matt Mays, Catherine MacLellan, Jill Barber, Matt Epp, Old Man Luedecke, Ruth Minnikin, The Olympic Symphonium and Craig Cardiff, and has performed live with Royal Wood, Daniel Ledwell, Rose Polenzani, Anne Heaton and Laura Cortese.
Official website: www.rosecousins.com
Pale Love
Rose Cousins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
it is not because it’s not loud
it’s cause I know the truth remaining
and I’m not proud
i look to you to make me work harder
now you have given up
i think fear, time and pale love have you faded
pale love is loose around the seams
pale love is quiet then it screams
pale love covers over dreams
it pushes and it shoves
it’s the worst thing I can think of
you deserve a heart that’s bright red
a home and an open road
you deserve to live until you’re dead
if this is the only thing you know
if you’re looking for a pretty picture look at her
if you want to live the truth look at me
pretty soon all these big things won’t matter
and you’ll see your ghosts retreating
showing you real love is lighter than air
real love won’t deny that it is there
real love rises above, it’s what you and I are made of
it is the calm within your heart
and it won’t keep us apart
it’s the way it’s supposed to start
real love
cause pale love
is the worst thing I can think of
In "Pale Love" by Rose Cousins, the artist explores the concept of a fading relationship that is plagued by doubt, fear and the absence of true, genuine love. She begins by acknowledging the difficulty in hearing her partner's words, not because they are not loud, but because she already knows the truth. This truth is "remaining" and she is not proud of it. In the chorus, she delves into what she means by "pale love". It is a love that is "loose around the seams", it can be both quiet and screaming, and it covers one's dreams, which it then pushes and shoves. Cousins says that it is the "worst thing" she can think of.
Throughout the song, Cousins provides a comparison of the "pale love" she no longer wants to be a part of, to the "real love" that she believes is a better alternative. She urges her partner to stop searching for a "pretty picture" and confront the truth instead. While "pale love" can fade, "real love" rises above and is a constant, unshakable force. It is what the two of them are made of, and it will not keep them apart. She ends the song with the powerful assertion that "pale love" is the worst thing she can think of, and by implication that it is something one should avoid if possible.
Line by Line Meaning
it is hard to hear what you’re saying
I struggle to understand what you mean
it is not because it’s not loud
It's not because of the volume
it’s cause I know the truth remaining
It's because I know the truth that's left unsaid
and I’m not proud
And I'm not happy about it
i look to you to make me work harder
I depend on you to motivate me
now you have given up
Now you have lost hope
i think fear, time and pale love have you faded
I believe fear, time, and weak love have weakened you
and not sure what you’re sure of
And you don't know what you believe in
pale love is loose around the seams
Weak love is falling apart
pale love is quiet then it screams
Weak love is inconsistent
pale love covers over dreams
Weak love hides aspirations
it pushes and it shoves
It's aggressive and overpowering
it’s the worst thing I can think of
Weak love is the most terrible thing I can imagine
you deserve a heart that’s bright red
You deserve passionate and genuine love
a home and an open road
A comfortable life and freedom
you deserve to live until you’re dead
You deserve a fulfilling life
if this is the only thing you know
Even if you haven't experienced anything else
if you’re looking for a pretty picture look at her
If you want superficial beauty, look elsewhere
if you want to live the truth look at me
If you want to live an authentic life, follow me
pretty soon all these big things won’t matter
Soon, material possessions won't be important
and you’ll see your ghosts retreating
You'll come to terms with your past
showing you real love is lighter than air
Demonstrating genuine love is effortless
real love won’t deny that it is there
Real love accepts and acknowledges its existence
real love rises above, it’s what you and I are made of
True love is powerful and fundamental
it is the calm within your heart
It brings peace to your soul
and it won’t keep us apart
It won't separate us
it’s the way it’s supposed to start
It's the foundation for a healthy relationship
real love
Genuine love
cause pale love
Because weak love is
is the worst thing I can think of
The most terrible thing I can imagine
Contributed by Lucy S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.