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.
Life Like
The Rosebuds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The day so lean, the night time slips in a song
There was a shot way out, down past Varina
I burn my bed and run naked in the Winter
Well oh well, the pines are getting to me, consider my life,
I'm wild but I'm not free
Brown is black by contrast I'm aglow
I hear, "Wait, you! I'm a man, you're the beast!"
But I'm just running so how can that be?
Well oh well, the pines are getting to me, consider my life
I'm wild but I'm not free
Well oh well, the pines are getting to me, believe me my eyes,
There's a thousand left like me
Reconstruct my body, capture me in flight
Glue in resin marbles, give me shiny eyes
Life like
The lyrics to The Rosebuds' song "Life Like" are cryptic and somewhat surreal, leaving room for interpretation. The opening lines refer to a "clean way out" that has been made low by vandals. This may suggest a reference to a path or route that has been damaged or blocked, making it difficult to find one's way. The following lines, "The day so lean, the night time slips in a song," suggest a sense of emptiness or isolation, with the night bringing solace or escape through music.
The next stanza of the song contains more vivid imagery, with a reference to a "shot way out, down past Varina." This may be a reference to a gunshot or some other act of violence that has occurred in a specific location. The following lines, "I burn my bed and run naked in the Winter," suggest a sense of desperation or madness, with the singer willing to do whatever it takes to escape their current situation.
The chorus of the song repeats the line, "Well oh well, the pines are getting to me," emphasizing a sense of being overwhelmed or lost in the woods. The line, "Consider my life, I'm wild but I'm not free," suggests a feeling of being trapped or constrained by circumstance. The final line, "There's a thousand left like me," may suggest that the singer is not alone in their struggles.
Overall, the lyrics of "Life Like" create a sense of disorientation, desperation, and isolation. The imagery is vivid and at times surreal, leaving room for interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
I know a clean way out, the vandals made it low
I have knowledge of a safe exit, but it has been made accessible by malicious individuals.
The day so lean, the night time slips in a song
The daytime was insubstantial, but nighttime is bringing musical experiences.
There was a shot way out, down past Varina
A gunshot rang out, far away from Varina.
I burn my bed and run naked in the Winter
I set fire to my bed and run through the winter undressed.
Well oh well, the pines are getting to me, consider my life, I'm wild but I'm not free
The dense forest is having an effect on me, my life should be taken into account, I may be untamed but I am not liberated.
By all accounts it was a heavy snow, Brown is black by contrast I'm aglow
Records indicate that there was a substantial amount of snow, compared to darkness, I am shining.
I hear, "Wait, you! I'm a man, you're the beast!" But I'm just running so how can that be?
Someone exclaims, "Stop! You are an animal and I am human!" But I am merely running, how can that be true?
Reconstruct my body, capture me in flight, Glue in resin marbles, give me shiny eyes, Life like
Recreate my physical form, capture me mid-movement, embed marbles in resin, bestow upon me glossy eyes, lifelike.
Well oh well, the pines are getting to me, consider my life, I'm wild but I'm not free, Well oh well, the pines are getting to me, believe me my eyes, There's a thousand left like me
The dense forest is impacting me, please take note of my existence, I may be uncivilized but I lack freedom. The forest is affecting many others like me.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ivan Howard, Kelly Crisp
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Simona Petrova
I know a clean way out, the vandals made it low
The day so lean, the night time slips in a song
There was a shot way out, down past Varina
I burn my bed and run naked in the Winter
Well oh well, the pines are getting to me, consider my life,
I'm wild but I'm not free
By all accounts it was a heavy snow
Brown is black by contrast I'm aglow
I hear, "Wait, you! I'm a man, you're the beast!"
But I'm just running so how can that be?
Well oh well, the pines are getting to me, consider my life
I'm wild but I'm not free
Well oh well, the pines are getting to me, believe me my eyes,
There's a thousand left like me
Reconstruct my body, capture me in flight
Glue in resin marbles, give me shiny eyes
Life like
Andrei Petaca
I've stumbled upon them by pure accident and I think it's safe to say their album is among my top 10. Right above pink floyd's "obscured". They are everything that should be going on in the music industry, although, I'm not sure I want them to be. They are marvelous just the way they are.
Isaac Peterson
Beautiful!! Just found them a year ago and already one of my most favorite bands... Music, lyrics, vocals, all all great all-around ❤️❤️❤️
TheDangerdawson
Beautiful! This gives me chills. The art, costuming and music really work together well. Thanks for this!
bobuharu
came out great guys, was a pleasure to work with you all. -JDJ
Frostyanka
Красиво исполняют
cassie raposo
i really love you guys! this is amazing!
Angelina Clark
These guys killed it yesterday evening at DC9!
comicbookkid210
Amazing song. I have hope for music again:)
Simona Petrova
I know a clean way out, the vandals made it low
The day so lean, the night time slips in a song
There was a shot way out, down past Varina
I burn my bed and run naked in the Winter
Well oh well, the pines are getting to me, consider my life,
I'm wild but I'm not free
By all accounts it was a heavy snow
Brown is black by contrast I'm aglow
I hear, "Wait, you! I'm a man, you're the beast!"
But I'm just running so how can that be?
Well oh well, the pines are getting to me, consider my life
I'm wild but I'm not free
Well oh well, the pines are getting to me, believe me my eyes,
There's a thousand left like me
Reconstruct my body, capture me in flight
Glue in resin marbles, give me shiny eyes
Life like
Siti Anomali
Thanks, babe