Rosa

Grimes' song 'Rosa' delves into the complexities of love, loss, and self-awareness through a series of haunting and poetic lyrics. The song opens with a surreal depiction of time, blending 'midnight afternoon' and 'morning comes but not too soon,' suggesting a disorienting and dreamlike state. Rosa, the titular character, wakes up in the narrator's bed, yet they are described as 'separate,' indicating a sense of emotional or existential distance despite physical proximity. The reference to 'vampires in our nights aware' adds a gothic element, hinting at a nocturnal existence filled with awareness and perhaps a sense of dread or melancholy.

The chorus repeatedly questions, 'Where is my heart?' and 'Where are my arms?' These lines reflect a deep sense of disconnection and loss. The narrator feels incomplete, as if parts of their very being are missing. The mention of Rosa being a 'witch' who is 'sewing up my heart again' introduces a metaphor for healing and love, albeit in a way that feels almost magical or otherworldly. This suggests that while Rosa has a significant impact on the narrator, there is an underlying tension or conflict that prevents true happiness.

The repeated declaration, 'I am not in love,' serves as a poignant refrain, emphasizing the narrator's internal struggle and denial of their feelings. The song concludes with a somber reflection on the passage of time, as 'morning, morning, morning' wakes the narrator up cold and reminds them of aging. This final note adds a layer of existential angst, tying the personal turmoil back to the universal human experience of growing older and facing the inevitable changes that come with it.