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.
In My Teeth
The Rosebuds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the corners alone we patterned with cold in the quiet life
Cut my throat/Karma throw
A shapeless mess Somebody's kind
Somebody's mess
We were cursed on the Spanish house
We were veins
I want to hold onto me and mine
The minutes are fleeting
We fall out to spell
I'm far behind
This how I feel
And you found a way to see me
I hold you here in my teeth
I want to wear my love with arms
And you found a way to see me
I hold you here in my teeth
I want to wear my love with arms
And you found a way to see me
I hold you here in my teeth
I want to wear my love with arms
And you found a way to see me
With somebody else
In case I felt
Listen and breathe
And I'm makin' sure that I read it right
Quittin' involves whatever was coming to your mind
Half the ground
Let our bodies rest 'Til the hours call
Me back home
And you found a way to see me
I hold you here in my teeth
I want to wrap my love with arms
And you found a way to see me
I hold you here in my teeth
I want to wear my love with arms
And you found a way to see me
I hold you here in my teeth
I want to wear my love with arms
And you found a way to see me
I hold you here in my teeth
I want to wear my love with arms
And you found a way to see me
I hold you here in my teeth
I want to wear my love with arms
And you found a way to see me
I hold you here in my teeth
I want to wear my love with arms
And you found a way to see me
I hold you here in my teeth
I want to work my love with arms
And you found a way to see me
The Rosebuds' song In My Teeth appears to be an exploration of the complexities of relationships and the emotions that come with them. The lyrics depict a sense of urgency throughout the song, with phrases like "the minutes are fleeting" and "listen and breathe," suggesting a desire to hold onto something fleeting. The opening lines set the scene of two people on a roof, possibly trying to escape from something, perhaps a fear or a problem in their relationship. The lines "cut my throat/Karma throw/A shapeless mess/Somebody's kind/Somebody's mess" create a sense of confusion and desperation, as if the singer is trying to make sense of their emotions and reconcile conflicting feelings.
The chorus repeats several times throughout the song, with the lines "and you found a way to see me/I hold you here in my teeth/I want to wear my love with arms" suggesting a longing for closeness and intimacy, even in the face of difficulties. The line "I want to wrap my love with arms" adds to this sense of wanting to hold onto something tightly, possibly as a way of finding comfort and security.
The second half of the song introduces more mysterious imagery, such as being "cursed on the Spanish house" and "fall[ing] out to spell," but the overall feeling remains one of longing and urgency. The repetition of the chorus drives home the desire for connection and the need to hold onto what's important, even in the face of uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
We were smoke on a roof slim knight of a naked fear
We were a fleeting, intangible presence atop a building, fighting off an impending sense of danger.
On the corners alone we patterned with cold in the quiet life
We roamed the deserted streets, shivering in the cold, embracing the tranquility of solitude.
Cut my throat/Karma throw
I feel betrayed and punished for my actions.
A shapeless mess Somebody's kind
I am a mess without form, someone else's responsibility or kindness.
We were cursed on the Spanish house
We were subjected to a spell or hex inside a Spanish building.
We were veins
We were the lifelines that kept things alive and flowing.
I want to know
I crave for knowledge and understanding.
I want to hold onto me and mine
I want to keep hold of what is important to me - myself and my loved ones.
The minutes are fleeting
Time is passing by too quickly.
We fall out to spell
We disintegrate and cast a deteriorating effect over everything around us.
I'm far behind
I have fallen behind and left struggling to catch up.
This how I feel
This accurately depicts what I am experiencing emotionally.
And you found a way to see me
Despite my efforts to hide, you found a way to notice and acknowledge me.
I hold you here in my teeth
You are so precious to me that I hold on to you with gritted teeth, refusing to let go.
I want to wear my love with arms
I want to be able to express my love physically through embracing you tightly.
With somebody else In case I felt
I have sought out another person to fill a potential void that I may feel in the future.
Listen and breathe
Take a moment to focus on your breath and pay attention to your surroundings.
And I'm makin' sure that I read it right
I am taking my time to ensure that I correctly interpret what is happening around me.
Quittin' involves whatever was coming to your mind
Deciding to quit requires a thorough examination of what may be running through your thoughts.
Half the ground
The situation is unstable, as there is uncertainty and doubt present.
Let our bodies rest 'Til the hours call
Let's take a break and allow ourselves to recharge until the demands of life call us back to action.
Me back home
I am returning to a familiar place, likely my place of residence.
I want to wrap my love with arms
I am eager to envelop you in a loving embrace.
I want to work my love with arms
I am ready to put in the effort to physically demonstrate my love for you.
Writer(s): HOWARD PHILLIP IVAN, CRISP KELLY MICHELLE
Contributed by Olivia W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.