Roses
Alonzo Holt Lyrics

The song "Roses" by Alonzo Holt is a love song about two young lovers who chose each other despite disapproval from those around them. The first verse is told from the perspective of the singer, who explains that they could have chosen anyone, but they chose the person they are with because they help them feel better and calm their anxieties. The next line reveals that the singer's father does not approve of their relationship, but they do not speak about it. The chorus repeats the phrase "smells like roses to me" and describes the couple as two young lovers at sea who taste both bitter and sweet. They bang together, which could be interpreted as a sexual reference, but also suggests that they are in sync and work well together.

In the second verse, the singer switches to the perspective of their partner. They explain that their partner could have chosen anyone but chose them despite disagreement from those around them. The couple hides in "bedsits," which are small apartments, perhaps because they are young and do not have much money or because they are escaping disapproving families or friends. The singer admits they have been drinking wine since morning and wonders if they should give up their worries and indulge in poison (perhaps a metaphor for their love). The chorus repeats, with the same images of young lovers at sea who are both bitter and sweet.

The bridge of the song reveals the tension in the relationship. The chemicals and alcohol that they consume make their love "volatile," or unstable. The singer admits they never want to lose their partner, but worries that their closeness could tear them apart. The last chorus is repeated, and the song ends on the line, "Bang, bang, bang/Smells like roses to me/Two young lovers at sea/Tastes so bitter, so sweet/You're my bang, together we go bang bang bang."

Overall, "Roses" is a romantic, dreamlike love song that portrays a relationship in which the couple is strong together despite opposition from others. The repeated imagery of roses, the sea, and the feeling of being both bitter and sweet adds to the dreamlike quality of the song.