In the 1990s Thomas met Trey Many through mutual friends and began playing shows with Velour 100. They recorded one EP together in 1999 and played a few short tours, during which time she met Damien Jurado and Pedro the Lion. She then moved to Seattle to attend Cornish College briefly before deciding to focus on a solo recording career. Her appearance on the song "Parking Lot", from Damien Jurado's album Ghost of David, brought her to the attention of famed record label Sub Pop who signed her in 2000.
Her debut album When We Were Small was released on 22 January 2001. The album featured Eric Fisher (who Thomas met at performance art school in Seattle) on guitar and keyboards and Andy Myers on drums.
Fisher and Myers returned for 2003's follow-up Only With Laughter Can You Win.
Thomas released her third album, If Songs Could Be Held, in 2005.
Her fourth album These Friends of Mine, was recorded in collaboration with Sufjan Stevens who plays guitar and banjo as well as providing some vocals, and Denison Witmer.
She released a holiday album called A Very Rosie Christmas in November 2008 through her own record label.
Her 2012 album is entitled "With Love". The same year she relocated to New York City from Seattle.
www.rosiethomas.com
Say What You Want
Rosie Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Play this game your way
It's over anyway
You didn't give it up for love
Take what you want to take
Take back the words you'll say
They never mattered anyway
No you didn't give, give it up for love
When I look through the photographs
And I see the smile on your face
I remember how you used to feel
And I see how much has changed
Say what you want to say
I'll carry on the same
Maybe you'll look back someday
You didn't give it up for love
No you didn't give, give it up for love
When I look through the photographs
And I see the smile on your face
I remember how you used to feel
And I see how much has changed
When I look through the photographs
And I see the smile on your face
I remember how you used to feel
And I see how much has changed
Say what you want to say
Play this game your way
You will know someday
You didn't give it up for love
No you didn't give, give it up for love
No you didn't give, give it up for love
The song "Say What You Want" by Rosie Thomas is a melancholy reflection on a failed relationship. The lyrics suggest that the singer's significant other did not prioritize love in their relationship, but instead chose to play games and take what they wanted without considering the consequences. The chorus repeats the phrase "You didn't give it up for love," implying that the relationship ultimately fell apart because of a lack of commitment and emotional investment.
The second verse references photographs, indicating that the singer is looking back on their relationship with nostalgia and sadness, longing for the passion and connection they once shared. The overall tone of the song is wistful and regretful, and it seems that the singer is trying to come to terms with the end of their romance and move forward, despite the pain they feel.
The repetition of the chorus throughout the song serves to emphasize the central idea that the relationship failed because one or both partners did not prioritize love and emotional connection. The final line, "You will know someday," suggests that the singer expects their ex to eventually realize the mistake they made and regret not valuing their love. However, this realization comes too late, as the relationship is already over.
Overall, the lyrics of "Say What You Want" convey a sense of disappointment and loss, as the singer grapples with the aftermath of a failed relationship and wonders what could have been.
Line by Line Meaning
Say what you want to say
Express yourself freely, without hesitation
Play this game your way
Do things according to your rules, regardless of what others may think
It's over anyway
The situation has come to an end, regardless of the outcome
You didn't give it up for love
You didn't compromise your values or beliefs for the sake of love
Take what you want to take
Take what you feel you deserve, without any guilt or shame
Take back the words you'll say
Retract the words you've spoken, as they no longer hold true
They never mattered anyway
The words were insignificant and held no real value
When I look through the photographs
As I browse through pictures from the past
And I see the smile on your face
When I see the expression of joy on your countenance
I remember how you used to feel
I recollect how you felt during that time
And I see how much has changed
I recognize how much has transformed since then
I'll carry on the same
I'll keep going as I always have
Maybe you'll look back someday
Perhaps one day, you'll reflect on what has transpired
You will know someday
You will comprehend the situation later on
No you didn't give, give it up for love
You didn't surrender or forfeit your beliefs or morals for love
Contributed by Hudson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.