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
Tender is the Man
Rose Cousins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tender is your heart
Tender in your plight for love
Tender lives the hope
Time carries along
Tender to be left alone
Tender is the man
Tender is the man
Tender holds the words
We're tending not to say
Tenderly you smile in light of day
And tender bows your head
Tender grows desire
To chop the tallest tree and share the fire
Tender is the man
Tender is the man
Tender is the man
In "Tender is the Man," Rose Cousins sings of tenderness and vulnerability in the context of love and relationships. The repeated refrain of "tender is the man" emphasizes the gentle nature of the person she is addressing, likely a romantic partner. The opening lines speak to the fragility of love and how easily it can be broken, with the image of night suggesting darkness and uncertainty. Yet despite this, the hope for love remains tender, delicate, and alive.
As the song continues, Cousins describes the tenderness and care that the man shows in his actions and words. He holds back from saying certain things, but his smile shows his feelings. He also grows a desire to build something meaningful with his partner, using the image of chopping a tree to suggest hard work and sacrifice. The tenderness throughout the song creates a sense of intimacy and emotional depth, but there is also a sense of hesitancy and fear in how easily love can be lost.
Overall, "Tender is the Man" is a beautiful and introspective song about love and the importance of vulnerability and tenderness in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Tender is the night
The night is soft and gentle, possibly representing a time of vulnerability and openness.
Tender is your heart
Your heart is sensitive and caring, capable of feeling deeply for others.
Tender in your plight for love
You are vulnerable and delicate in your search for love and affection.
Tender lives the hope
Hope remains gentle and fragile, requiring care and attention to thrive.
Time carries along
Life moves forward, regardless of how gentle or rough the journey may be.
Tender to be left alone
Sometimes, even in solitude, we desire gentleness and comfort.
Tender is the man
The man is kind and compassionate, capable of empathy and understanding.
Tender holds the words
The words we choose to speak to others require gentle and careful consideration.
We're tending not to say
There may be things we keep to ourselves, but it is important to be mindful of how we express ourselves to others.
Tenderly you smile in light of day
Even in happy times, there is a need for tenderness and emotional connection.
And tender bows your head
Showing humility and respect is a gentle and vulnerable act.
Tender grows desire
The more we care for something or someone, the more gentle and protective we become of it/them.
To chop the tallest tree and share the fire
There is strength in gentleness and caring; we can accomplish great things while also being kind and compassionate.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Rose Cousins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Micheal allen
heard this song for the first time 2 weeks before her first live performance. The emotion she puts into this song made me an instant fan of hers and this an instant favorite track! Great work Rose!
Jeff Strack
What a well kept Canadian secret. Awesome talent
Paul Martin
OMG I love this song......I cried
Kevin Malone
...from this man, thank you Rose.
CBC Music
Yes, thank you Rose! Have you seen her perform Corey Hart's Never Surrender? It's amazing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90jBgL0SzJc
Kari Loyst
Love, love, love.