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.
When the Lights Went Dim
The Rosebuds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A sound like water, banging, and front-door jams.
We carried all we loved to the upper floor,
I left one arm empty waiting for your voice.
Well, I'm certain that it's true...
Though I'd hate to think my lover never made it through.
Locked up in our attic, old books, Christmas lights.
We all wondered why no one came at all.
It was awful dark, but I saw what I saw...
Well, I'm certain it's true...
I wish you were with me when they broke out through our roof.
I was in a hurry when the lights went dim.
I was in a hurry when the lights went dim.
I was in a hurry when the lights went dim.
I was in a hurry when the lights went dim.
The Rosebuds's song When the Lights Went Dim is a haunting tale of a speaker's experience during a catastrophic event, likely a natural disaster or perhaps a war. The opening lines describe the suddenness of the event, with the singer in a hurry as the lights go out. The imagery of "a sound like water, banging, and front-door jams" creates a sense of chaos and urgency. The singer then describes carrying loved ones to safety on the upper floor, but leaving an arm empty, presumably for a missing loved one.
The chorus repeats the singer's uncertainty about the fate of their loved one, with the poignant line "Though I'd hate to think my lover never made it through." The second verse paints a picture of the aftermath of the event, with a pervasive silence and the group locked in the attic surrounded by old books and Christmas lights. The singer wonders why no help came and reflects on the tragedy they witnessed, wishing their missing loved one had been with them when they broke out through the roof.
Overall, the lyrics evoke feelings of loss, desperation, and uncertainty in the face of a catastrophic event. The repetition of the opening line highlights the suddenness and urgency of the situation, and the haunting chorus captures the singer's desperate hope that their loved one survived the disaster.
Line by Line Meaning
I was in a hurry when the lights went dim.
I was in a rush when the power went out.
A sound like water, banging, and front-door jams.
We heard loud noises that sounded like water, banging, and doors slamming.
We carried all we loved to the upper floor,
We brought everything we cared about to the top level of the building.
I left one arm empty waiting for your voice.
I saved a spot for my loved one, hoping they would arrive safely.
Well, I'm certain that it's true...
I'm convinced that what happened really occurred.
Though I'd hate to think my lover never made it through.
Even though it's hard to face the possibility that my partner didn't survive.
You could smell the silence all around for 20 miles.
The quietness was so intense that it felt like you could smell it for miles.
Locked up in our attic, old books, Christmas lights.
We were trapped in the attic and surrounded by old books and holiday lights.
We all wondered why no one came at all.
We were confused and scared that no one had come to help us.
It was awful dark, but I saw what I saw...
Even though it was very dark, I witnessed what happened and can't forget it.
I wish you were with me when they broke out through our roof.
I wish my loved one had been by my side when we were rescued from the roof.
Writer(s): Ivan Howard, Kelly Crisp Copyright: 4track Love Songs
Contributed by Makayla R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.