Eyes Full of Rose
Horse Feathers Lyrics
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They love to sing, only to be seen.
They are cross 'cause they are clean.
They are grave 'cause they are green.
By tongue, by teeth.
By fist or feet.
There's two on the nose,
It's bloodied and broke.
I hid to see.
Eyes full of rose.
She tips on her toes,
Her father's ears,
They are keen.
Late in a dream,
It remains to be seen
If his grave is in flames.
They move, they touch. Perhaps too much.
They love to sing, only to be seen.
They are cross 'cause they are clean.
They are grave 'cause they are green.
The lyrics to Horse Feathers's song "Eyes Full of Rose" are cryptic and require some interpretation. The first and second stanza describe a group of people or maybe a family, who are characterized as being very physical and passionate (“move, touch, love to sing”). At the same time, they seem to be confined by societal rules and norms, indicated by their cleanliness and the fact that they only want to be seen. The contradiction of their physicality and their need for societal conformity gives a sense of dissatisfaction that could lead to frustration or even violence (“by fist or feet”). The following lines mention two people fighting (“two on the nose”) and the singer hiding to see the bloody aftermath.
The chorus talks about a woman with “Eyes full of rose,” a metaphor that usually indicates looking at the world through rose-colored glasses, that is, seeing things in an overly positive way. The woman is described as tipping on her toes and her father is mentioned as being attentive or watchful (“keen”). The last line is particularly enigmatic - "It remains to be seen / If his grave is in flames" - suggesting some unresolved mystery or tension. The final stanza is a repetition of the first, emphasizing the physicality and the need for visibility of the group described.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a group of people who are grappling with their desires and their limitations, implying some tension or frustration that bubbles beneath the surface.
Line by Line Meaning
They move, they touch. Perhaps too much.
They are physically affectionate with each other, possibly excessively so.
They love to sing, only to be seen.
They enjoy performing music, but it's primarily for the attention they receive from others.
They are cross 'cause they are clean.
They are annoyed or irritable due to maintaining a high level of hygiene or cleanliness.
They are grave 'cause they are green.
They take things seriously because they are inexperienced or naive.
By tongue, by teeth.
Violence may be perpetrated through language or physical force.
By fist or feet.
Violence may be perpetrated through physical force, specifically punches or kicks.
There's two on the nose, It's bloodied and broke.
Two people were involved in a physical altercation that resulted in a broken, bloody nose.
I hid to see.
The artist was watching the altercation in secret, out of sight.
Eyes full of rose.
The person being referenced has been influenced by romanticized or idealistic thinking.
She tips on her toes, Her father's ears, They are keen.
The person being referenced stands on their toes, and their father is highly attentive or watchful.
Late in a dream, It remains to be seen If his grave is in flames.
Later in the dream, it's not yet known whether the person being referenced will experience a tragic or fiery death.
Contributed by Aiden V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.