Waxahatchee, named after Waxahatchee Creek in Alabama where Crutchfield grew up, began in 2010 during the breakup of P.S. Eliot. Crutchfield released her first music as Waxahatchee as a split cassette with Chris Clavin on Plan-It-X Records. Her bedroom-recorded debut album, American Weekend, was released on Don Giovanni Records in 2012.
On June 11, 2012 "Be Good" was the song of the day on NPR as well as one of the best 50 songs of 2012. Her debut album, "American Weekend," was named a top album of 2012 by Dusted magazine.
Subsequent albums include Cerulean Salt (2013), Ivy Tripp (2015), Out in the Storm (2017), Saint Cloud (2020), and the upcoming Tigers Blood (out March 22, 2024)
Rose 1956
Waxahatchee Lyrics
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It fades and evaporates
Passing the trains and lakes and trees
Your breaths are short and urgent and it is unsettling
You got married when you were 15
Now I hide out from telephone wires at Waxahatchee Creek
You got married when you were 15
No miscalculation, each other's only living means
Your arms wane thinner
Your legs surrender
Sunlight probing, it is christmas eve
No stitch of shade, we pass by lakes and big mimosa trees
Your breaths are short and urgent and it is unsettling
You got married when you were 15
The lyrics of Waxahatchee's song "Rose 1956" depict a melancholic and unsettling moment on Christmas Eve. The singer refers to a sharp hangover that eventually fades away, but not the sense of discomfort that permeates the atmosphere. As they pass by trains, lakes, and mimosa trees, they describe their companion's short and urgent breaths, which contribute to the unsettling feeling of the situation. The listener can perceive a sense of physical weakness and surrender from the other person's body, affected by years of smoke, tar, and disease. The repetition of the line "You got married when you were 15" reinforces the idea that the circumstances of their lives were determined early on, and they didn't have much control over things.
The song's title refers to the name of the street where the singer and her twin sister grew up in Alabama, and where they started playing music together. The lyrics of "Rose 1956" seem to allude to personal experiences or family history, but the precise meaning is open to interpretation. Some listeners have speculated that the song might be about the singer's grandmother or a woman from her family who got married at an early age and faced hardship. The poetic language and fragmented imagery create a mood of estrangement and loss, inviting the listener to share in the singer's emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Sharp hangover, it is Christmas Eve
The singer wakes up on Christmas Eve with a strong hangover.
It fades and evaporates
The hangover slowly disappears.
Passing the trains and lakes and trees
The singer is traveling and sees different scenery out the window.
Your breaths are short and urgent and it is unsettling
The artist is with someone who is breathing quickly and it makes the artist feel nervous.
You got married when you were 15
The person the artist is with got married at a young age.
Now I hide out from telephone wires at Waxahatchee Creek
The singer is now hiding by Waxahatchee Creek to avoid something related to a phone call.
Your body, weak from smoke and tar and subsequent disease
The person the singer is with is physically weak due to smoking and a disease that followed.
You got married when you were 15
Repetition of the fact that the person the artist is with got married at a young age.
No miscalculation, each other's only living means
The artist and the person they are with rely on each other for survival.
Your arms wane thinner
The person the artist is with is losing muscle mass in their arms.
Your legs surrender
The person the singer is with is physically losing the ability to stand or walk.
Sunlight probing, it is christmas eve
The sun is shining and it's still Christmas Eve.
No stitch of shade, we pass by lakes and big mimosa trees
The singer and the person they are with are passing by lakes and trees with no shade from the sun.
Your breaths are short and urgent and it is unsettling
Repetition of the earlier line describing the person the singer is with breathing quickly and making the singer feel anxious.
You got married when you were 15
Final repetition of the fact that the person the singer is with got married at a young age.
Contributed by Grayson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chris Moseley
I keep coming back to this song. I get the same feeling I used to get listening to Andy from Manchester Orchestra live. It's that same energy Kurt had on Unplugged. It's hauntingly beautiful like something from the Cure or Bright Eyes. Goddam this song.
Lara Marshall-Ducker
i like this comment, I found both bright eyes and waxahatchee though the TV show the walking dead and both bands have been massively influential in my life, especially bright eyes who I am seeing live in august, his lyrics are beautiful
LAG3
That's just beautiful, heart breaking, and sad.
LAG3
STILL so sadly beautiful. ❤