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
White Flag
Rose Cousins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They no longer hear the music
Just silence and walls
No footsteps in the halls
Take my hands
They are grieving
Nothing to hold on to or believe in
No loving embrace
I belong
I belong
To you
Take my heart it's beating
It fought hard and was defeated
I didn't give up
Just wasn't enough
I belong
I belong
To you
I belong
I belong
I belong
To you
In Rose Cousins's song White Flag, the singer is expressing a sense of defeat and surrender. The first two lines, "Take my ears, I won't use them / They no longer hear the music" suggest a loss of interest and passion for the things that used to matter. The line "Just silence and walls / No footsteps in the halls" implies a sense of loneliness or isolation, as if the singer is trapped in a space with no one else around.
As the lyrics continue, the singer offers up other parts of themselves that are mourning and struggling. The line "Take my hands / They are grieving / Nothing to hold on to or believe in" speaks to a feeling of loss and despair. The following line "No loving embrace / Just big empty space" suggests a longing for connection and comfort.
Towards the end of the song, the singer seems to find solace in the idea of belonging to someone else. The repetition of "I belong / To you" suggests a desire to let go of their pain and be taken care of by another. Overall, the song explores themes of loneliness, grief, and the search for connection and belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Take my ears, I won't use them
I'm tired of listening to music that brings no joy, so I'm willing to give up even my sense of hearing.
They no longer hear the music
I can't remember the last time I felt moved by a melody.
Just silence and walls
My life feels muted and confined, without any real connections to the world around me.
No footsteps in the halls
I'm so alone that I don't even have the comfort of knowing someone else is nearby, living their life.
Take my hands
My hands seem to do more harm than good these days, so I'm willing to part with them.
They are grieving
With nothing to do and no one to hold onto, my hands are as lost and aimless as my mind.
Nothing to hold on to or believe in
Every day feels like a struggle with no end in sight - nothing to look forward to, nothing to work towards.
No loving embrace
I'm starved for affection, but no one seems to want me or care about me.
Just big empty space
I'm surrounded by emptiness, both inside of me and in the world at large.
I belong
Despite everything, I know that I have a place in the world - maybe just not the one I was hoping for.
To you
My hope is that someone, anyone, can fill the void in my life and help me find my way again.
Take my heart it's beating
My heart may be keeping me alive, but it's also burdened by constant pain and sadness.
It fought hard and was defeated
I've been through so much, but it feels like no matter how hard I try, I can't overcome the obstacles in my way.
I didn't give up
Despite all the setbacks and heartache, I'm still here - fighting and hoping for a better future.
Just wasn't enough
Maybe my best just isn't good enough to make a difference in this harsh, unforgiving world.
I belong
Even though I feel lost and alone, I know that ultimately I have a place where I belong.
I belong
I belong not only to myself, but also to those who care for me and want to see me thrive.
I belong
And even though life may be hard, I'll keep fighting for my place in this world - wherever it may be.
To you
My hope is that someday, somehow, I'll find the person who can make me feel like I truly belong.
Writer(s): KEVIN RHOADS, ROSE COUSINS
Contributed by Mason Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
blaccademia
Take my ears, I won't use them
They no longer hear the music
Just silence and walls
No footsteps in the halls
Take my hands, they are grieving
Nothing to hold on to or believe in
No loving embrace
Just big empty space
I belong
I belong to you
Take my heart, it's beaten
It fought hard and was defeated
I didn't give up
It just wasn't enough
I belong
I belong to you
I belong
I belong
I belong to you
John Wilcox
Beautiful song. Well chosen for that scene in Reign. I'd almost want this played at my own funeral
None of Your Business
what happens after we die is the business of the living
P Brooks
Just did, last night. Only 50 people in the audience in Seattle. She opened with this, then on to Farmerās Wife. At that point I could have gone home a happy man, but was blessed with another 90 minutes of her.
Temari M
Let's take a moment of silence for those who have not yet found this amazing masterpiece šš
blaccademia
Take my ears, I won't use them
They no longer hear the music
Just silence and walls
No footsteps in the halls
Take my hands, they are grieving
Nothing to hold on to or believe in
No loving embrace
Just big empty space
I belong
I belong to you
Take my heart, it's beaten
It fought hard and was defeated
I didn't give up
It just wasn't enough
I belong
I belong to you
I belong
I belong
I belong to you
At His Feet..
Very few songs destroy me and understand how my soul feels at a particular time. This is one of them. I am wrecked. Imagine feeling this way over and over and over and over again for the same person. Yes I still keep getting up. Itās what Iām supposed to do.. love him. My heart just keeps loving. I didnāt give up. I wonāt give up. But yet I can feel so depleted and defeated sometimes. So empty. Everytime I feel like Iām dying, this supernatural strength that isnāt my own kicks in and gets me up.. hoping, trusting, enduring. Held by someone greater and a purpose that is greater than my own. Itās the only explanation.
Sully Jelly
A friend of mine put this in a playlist titled "My Funeral" right before she took her own life.
Rest in peace, Carley.
Zuhair Ahmed
I am so sorry..... My condolences I was a bit spooked before replying to your comment because I didn't want to remind you.... But I wanted to show my support... My condolences.
Ms. Crystal Feyh
š
K C
This is easily one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Thank you with all my heart.šš