Rose Cousins is a Canadian bluegrass/folk singer-songwriter. Born and raise… Read Full Bio ↴Rose Cousins is a Canadian bluegrass/folk singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Prince Edward Island, she is currently based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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

The Darkness
Rose Cousins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

To take the light into the dark is to know the dark
To know the dark, go into the dark

You can lock the door, yeah you know how
You can stay alone, you're so proud but
You can't keep the darkness out

You're probably the strongest one I know

You've got the thickest skin
You've got weight to throw but
You can't keep the darkness out

Whatever hurt you, what keeps you mad
Wants you to let it go, let it pass
When memories turn to doubt
You can't keep the darkness out

The dark is a river
Though it may divide
If you wade into it, with your arms open wide
Let it take you with it, you don't have to fight
It will provide

There's nothing wrong with the heart in your chest

It might be heavy but it's innocent
It can't keep the darkness out

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Rose Cousins's song The Darkness speak to the idea that darkness exists within all of us, no matter how strong or tough we may seem. The first two lines suggest that to truly understand darkness, one must embrace it and not try to keep it at bay. The following lines are a warning against trying to shut out the darkness with physical barriers or emotional defenses, as it will inevitably seep through. The lyrics continue to speak directly to a person, emphasizing their strength and seemingly impenetrable exterior, but reminding them that they cannot hide from their dark side forever.

The chorus offers a different perspective on darkness, comparing it to a river that can guide and provide if one chooses to let go and allow it to take them. The final lines juxtapose the heaviness of the heart with its inherent innocence, suggesting that acknowledging and accepting our darkness is a natural part of being human.

The song offers a powerful message of self-reflection and acceptance, reminding us that the darkness we harbor within us is not something to be feared or suppressed, but rather something to embrace and ultimately find peace with.

Line by Line Meaning

To take the light into the dark is to know the dark
One can understand darkness only if they take some light into it as opposed to simply avoiding it.

To know the dark, go into the dark
In order to truly comprehend darkness one must face it directly, rather than being ignorant or running away from it.

You can lock the door, yeah you know how
Sometimes people try to avoid the darkness in life by simply shutting it out, but this is not a permanent solution.

You can stay alone, you're so proud but
Pride can lead individuals to believe that they can handle the darkness by themselves, but this is often not the case.

You can't keep the darkness out
No matter how much one tries to avoid or ignore it, darkness has a way of seeping in.

You're probably the strongest one I know
The person being described is likely a strong individual who can handle a lot of hardship.

You've got the thickest skin
The individual being described has a great deal of resilience and can withstand difficult circumstances.

You've got weight to throw but
The person being described has the ability to have an impact on the world, but they still have their own darkness to grapple with.

Whatever hurt you, what keeps you mad
The darkness in one's life can stem from past traumas or persistent frustrations.

Wants you to let it go, let it pass
In order to move past darkness, it is necessary to let go of the pain and grudges that keep one tied to it.

When memories turn to doubt
Past memories can often be a source of doubt and pain, especially when they are tied to darkness.

You can't keep the darkness out
Despite one's best efforts to avoid or ignore it, darkness always finds a way to seep into our lives.

The dark is a river
Darkness is like a river that flows through life, and it cannot be avoided.

Though it may divide
Darkness can sometimes create divisions and separation between individuals.

If you wade into it, with your arms open wide
The best approach to darkness is to directly face it, with an open heart and mind.

Let it take you with it, you don't have to fight
Rather than struggling against darkness, the best approach is to be open to it and let it guide you.

It will provide
By facing darkness with an open heart and mind, one can learn and grow.

There's nothing wrong with the heart in your chest
Even when experiencing darkness, it is important to have hope and remember that our hearts are still pure and good.

It might be heavy but it's innocent
The heart may feel weighed down by darkness, but this does not take away from its inherent goodness and purity.

It can't keep the darkness out
Although our hearts may be pure, they cannot shield us from the darkness in life.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Anna Grace Egge, Rose Cousins

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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TRACKS