They additionally have had several other dance-inspired tunes throughout the 80s and early 90s that gained underground popularity. Other examples of their songs include 1986's "You Make Me Feel So Good" and "Modigliani (Lost in Your Eyes)" as well as 1991's "Alice Everyday" and 1992's "Flower in My Hand". The group's new wave sound has showed a debt to eccentric art rock as well as electronic music artists of the early 80s. For example, their remix of Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells (Theme From the Exorcist)" was another number one smash for them.
Book of Love came to an end in 1993, with the group being dormant for some time. A best-of collection titled 'I Touch Roses: The Best of Book Of Love' came out in 2001. Receiving some critical praise, with Allmusic's Michael Gallucci labeling it as having "spare synth-pop and sunny melodies", a new Peter Rauhofer remix of "Boy" successfully hit the dance charts and brought the group back into the spotlight. They're toured occasionally since then. Ted and Lauren have also released music recently with a new project called The Myrmidons. Ted has done production work for NYC-based duo Dangerous Muse as well.
I Touch Roses
Book Of Love Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause roses bloom with my touch
That's mathematical
I think you think too much
I touch roses
If you try to talk with me
If you try to copy my
Pocket full of poses
You still can't touch my roses
I touch roses
I touch roses
I touch roses
I touch roses
If you think I'm magical
'Cause roses bloom with my touch
But magic's just not practical
I think you think too much
I touch roses
I touch roses
I touch roses
I touch roses
The lyrics to Book of Love's song "I Touch Roses" can be interpreted in a few different ways, but one possible way to understand them is as a rejection of the idea that the singer has some kind of special power to make roses bloom with their touch. They dismiss this notion as "mathematical" rather than magical. In other words, they are suggesting that the idea of their touch causing roses to bloom is simply a predictable, almost mechanical process, rather than something mystical or extraordinary.
The second verse introduces the idea of someone trying to talk to the singer or emulate their behavior, but still being unable to touch their roses. It's unclear exactly what "roses" represents in this context -- it could be a metaphor for something intangible or valuable that the singer possesses, or it could be a literal reference to flowers. Regardless, the idea seems to be that no matter how hard others might try to imitate the singer or connect with them, they will never be able to truly understand or replicate what makes them unique.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Touch Roses" suggest a kind of skepticism or even cynicism about romantic notions of magic or specialness. The singer seems to be pushing back against the idea that they are inherently special or gifted in some way, instead emphasizing the importance of practicality and a grounded sense of reality.
Line by Line Meaning
If you think I'm magical
If you believe that I possess some kind of inexplicable power
'Cause roses bloom with my touch
Because flowers blossom when I come in contact with them
That's mathematical
That's a logical, scientific fact
I think you think too much
I believe you're overthinking this
If you try to talk with me
If you attempt to have a conversation with me
If you try to copy my
If you try to imitate my
Pocket full of poses
My collection of different poses
You still can't touch my roses
You still can't affect the outcome of my interactions with flowers
I touch roses
I have the ability to cause flowers to bloom
I touch roses
I am able to make flowers blossom
I touch roses
I possess the gift of making flowers flourish
I touch roses
I can touch flowers that will then bloom
If you think I'm magical
If you still believe in my supposed magic
'Cause roses bloom with my touch
Because I supposedly have the power to make flowers grow
But magic's just not practical
But magic isn't a useful explanation
I think you think too much
I believe you're overthinking this idea of magic
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Theodore Joseph Ottaviano
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind