Anyone could tell you Dessa knows serious—but anyone who’s seen her live, or listened carefully to her lyrics, or read her poetry, knows how funny she can also be. Her lyrics, writings, and casual remarks are dense with a unique, clever, and somewhat melancholy brand of wit.

“I do like the idea of incorporating humor into deep material,” Dessa told Common Good Books. “I think we get affected by hyper-delicate treatments of the profound subjects of our lives, and I’m interested in knowing if deep poetry can be hilarious—actually hilarious, not smirking-while-drinking-martinis hilarious.”

On December 19, Dessa will be joining actor and comedian Jason Ritter on Wits. “We'll be performing originals, a new cover and I'll be panicking on the inside about my battle of the minds with Jason Ritter,” Dessa posted on Facebook.

Here are a select few snippets of Dessa’s wit.

“Without me, how would my headache get around?”

("My New Purpose," Spiral Bound)

“Eat prey, love.”

(Twitter)

“How long were you actually away from your gear?”

“How long does it take to order mozzarella sticks?”

(Local Current interview)

“What happens in Vegas stays in the back of your mind as a looming artifact of your true character.”

(Twitter)

“Life is also, incidentally, the only good distraction from my impending death.”

("A Little Note on All of It," Spiral Bound)

"Christians say abstinence, the only sure way/ but I have to wonder what Mary would say"

(unreleased song)

“I’m not a writer, I just drink a lot about it.”

("Mineshaft," False Hopes)

“Even alone, consensus can be hard to reach.”

(Twitter)

“I’m out of love, luck, money, my league and ideas, and I’m in debt, doubt, trouble, a case of light beers.”

("A Soft Place to Fall," False Hopes: Warped Tour)

“Pray for rain but brace for whiskey.”

("Warsaw," Parts of Speech)

Luke Muyskens attends St. John’s University. He previously wrote for aboveGround Magazine and UGSMAG.