Howard and Crisp met while in college in Wilmington, North Carolina. That fall, they moved to nearby Raleigh to form The Rosebuds. Merge Records discovered their demo in early 2003 and released Make Out as a full-length debut album that October.
The Rosebuds Unwind EP, an EP with six songs, was released in April 2005, followed by Birds Make Good Neighbors in September. Night of the Furies was released in April 2007 and "Life Like" in October 2008.
The Rosebuds will release their next album in the summer of 2011 on Merge Records.
Concordia Military Club
The Rosebuds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brought there for my safety, to hide among the made-up beds
Outside magic filled the carefree eastern streets
I could feel a stomach churn beneath the polished teak
They all dressed as swallows with feathers in their hair
And all that night they laughed and danced
While the walls shook the gas chandeliers
Shoulder blades beneath the water slid closer every year
Men in suits proudly talked of the pointed peak
Pillars of flames built armies who were hungry and had to eat
They all dressed as swallows and songbirds bearing gifts
And I could feel it in my bones
Something out there somewhere had to give
Narrows canals no longer flow, and nothing happens here
And even in the afterlife an elephant can't forget
Skull and bones of a Bengal tiger wash in the sea
A reminder of that August night when the Island disappeared
They all dressed as swallows and songbirds on that eve
Falls of ashes pouring down as the ocean turned into a milk-white sea
The lyrics to The Rosebuds’ song Concordia Military Club are haunting and mysterious, painting a vivid picture of a captive elephant trapped in a room as magic and chaos unfold outside. The elephant, described as “the pride of the circus tent,” is forced to hide among made-up beds for safety. The streets outside are filled with carefree joy and celebration, depicted through the imagery of people dressed as swallows and songbirds, dancing and laughing while the walls shake with the movement.
Despite the joyful atmosphere, the elephant feels a sense of unease and anticipation, as if something is about to give. This feeling intensifies as the lyrics progress, with the mention of the pillars of flames and hungry armies. The elephant trumpets and roars, but no one seems to hear, and the ominous image of shoulder blades beneath the water sliding closer each year adds to the sense of impending doom.
The final verse unveils a sense of loss and tragedy, with the description of narrow canals that no longer flow and the remembrance of a Bengal tiger’s bones washing in the sea. The lines “even in the afterlife an elephant can't forget” and “something out there somewhere had to give” create a sense of hopelessness, as if the elephant knows that its fate has been sealed.
Line by Line Meaning
Trapped up in my keeper's room, the pride of the circus tent
I am confined to a room for my own safety, as I am considered an important part of the circus.
Brought there for my safety, to hide among the made-up beds
I am kept in a room with fake beds to disguise my presence from any potential harm.
Outside magic filled the carefree eastern streets
The outside world is filled with wonder and joy, particularly in the eastern areas of the city.
I could feel a stomach churn beneath the polished teak
Despite being in a safe environment, I feel a sense of unease and discomfort.
They all dressed as swallows with feathers in their hair
People outside of my room are dressed as birds, with feather accessories in their hair.
And all that night they laughed and danced
The people outside my room are having a festive time, laughing and dancing the night away.
While the walls shook the gas chandeliers
The room I am in shakes due to the commotion and celebrations outside, causing the gas chandeliers to move.
I trumpeted and I roared, but no one seemed to hear
I tried to make noise and alert the people outside, but they did not hear me.
Shoulder blades beneath the water slid closer every year
I feel a sense of impending danger as something ominous seems to be getting closer over time.
Men in suits proudly talked of the pointed peak
Businessmen in suits discuss matters related to the circus or the surrounding area's geography.
Pillars of flames built armies who were hungry and had to eat
There is a feeling of aggression and battle brewing, as armies are being built up and are desperate for success.
They all dressed as swallows and songbirds bearing gifts
People outside are dressed as birds, bearing gifts of some kind.
And I could feel it in my bones
I have a strong intuition that something significant is about to happen.
Something out there somewhere had to give
I feel as though something needs to change or happen, and it could happen soon.
Narrows canals no longer flow, and nothing happens here
The area I am in has become stagnant and lifeless, with nothing happening or changing.
And even in the afterlife an elephant can't forget
Even in death, the memory of traumatic events and experiences persists.
Skull and bones of a Bengal tiger wash in the sea
Remnants of danger and peril can still be seen, such as the remains of a tiger washing up on the shore.
A reminder of that August night when the Island disappeared
The sight of the tiger's remains serves as a reminder of a traumatic event that occurred in August when an island disappeared.
They all dressed as swallows and songbirds on that eve
On the night of the traumatic event, people were dressed as birds just like they were before.
Falls of ashes pouring down as the ocean turned into a milk-white sea
With the traumatic event came a visual of ash falling from the sky and the ocean turning white.
Contributed by Bentley B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.