Growing up, her parents played songs by the Eagles and Lynyrd Skynyrd, so her country rock roots started early, and she was already taking piano lesson before she turned seven. At age 11, she won a talent contest in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee (home of Dolly Parton's resort "Dollywood"), singing "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart." She subsequently found steady work performing in a theater in Pigeon Forge. A couple year later, her father gave Monroe her first guitar, and she began writing her own songs. But tragedy struck when her father died from cancer in 2000. While still grieving over their loss, Monroe and her mother continued on with their lives and moved to Nashville so she could pursue her career in music.
After a year in Nashville, she gained a publishing deal as a songwriter, which led to a record contract with Columbia Records' Nashville division. Working with producer Mark Wright, she recorded her debut album, Satisfied. In 2006, the title track to the album was released as the first single to country radio, but failed to crack the top 40 on the Hot Country Songs chart. A second single, "I Don't Want To" featuring Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn, followed shortly after. Initially it did well on the charts, charting to #37, but following the merger of Columbia and Sony, the label decided not to release the album until Monroe charted a top 20 single. No follow-up singles were ever released. iTunes briefly made the album available for download in July 2006 but it was removed from the online store by mid-August.
In late 2007, Monroe and Columbia Records parted ways, and Satisfied was shelved (it was eventually released digitally in May of 2009). In addition to her own material, she co-wrote Katrina Elam's 2007 single "Flat on the Floor" (which was also recorded by Carrie Underwood on her 2007 album Carnival Ride), as well as Jason Aldean's 2009 single, "The Truth", and Miranda Lambert's 2011 single, "Heart Like Mine."
Monroe continued collaborating with Lambert, forming Pistol Annies with Lambert and Angaleena Presley in 2011. They released the single "Hell on Heels" in May of that year, following up with an album of the same name in August. Hell on Heels debuted at number 1 on Billboard's Country Album Chart and reached number 5 on the Billboard 200 Chart.
Monroe next teamed up with producer Vince Gill, and on March 5, 2013, Warner Nashville released Monroe's second studio album, Like A Rose.
Like a Rose
Ashley Monroe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mama started drinking, and my brother just quit trying
I'm still bouncing back, Heaven only knows
How I came out like a rose
Ran off with what's his name when I turned eighteen
He got me out of North Dakota, but it did not change a thing
I left it in the yard all covered up with snow
Sitting in this diner with a coffee in my hand
Waiting on a bus to some promised land
I got a one way ticket as far as it goes
And I came out like a rose
So I'm headed south to anywhere that ain't so damn cold
Where I can warm my heart and shake the chill from my bones
It took awhile to get here, it's been a long, hard road
And I came out like a rose
Sitting in this diner with a coffee in my hand
Waiting on a bus to some promised land
I got a one way ticket as far as it goes
And I came out like a rose
It took awhile to get here, it's been a long, hard road
And I came out like a rose
The song "Like a Rose" by Ashley Monroe portrays the struggles of a young girl who has faced numerous hardships and challenges in her life. The opening lines of the song, "I was only thirteen when Daddy died, Mama started drinking, and my brother just quit trying," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer's father has passed away, leaving a void in her life, and her mother's coping mechanism is alcohol. Her brother, on the other hand, seems to have given up on life, leaving her to face these challenges alone. Despite these challenges, the singer is determined to persevere, and she compares herself to a rose that has come out of a difficult situation and thrived.
The second verse talks about how the singer left home with her boyfriend, hoping to escape her problems, but the move didn't change anything. She abandoned her life in North Dakota, leaving it behind like snow covering up something she no longer wanted in her life. The chorus emphasizes the theme of resilience as the singer sings about waiting for a bus to start a new life that's not as cold and bitter as the one she's leaving behind. Again, she compares herself to a rose that has come out of a difficult situation and managed to thrive.
In the final verse, she's still waiting for that bus, but she's come a long, hard road to get to where she is. She's hopeful, though, that she's moving towards something bright and warm, where she can heal her heart and leave the cold and bitter past behind. The song ends with the repeated chorus to emphasize the theme of resilience.
Overall, Ashley Monroe's "Like a Rose" is a powerful song that portrays the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I was only thirteen when Daddy died
My father passed away when I was just thirteen years old.
Mama started drinking, and my brother just quit trying
My mother began drinking heavily and my brother gave up trying to help our family.
I'm still bouncing back, Heaven only knows
I'm still recovering from the hardships I've faced, and only God knows how I've managed to survive.
How I came out like a rose
It's a wonder how I've managed to succeed despite the struggles I've faced.
Ran off with what's his name when I turned eighteen
I left home with a man whose name I can't remember when I turned eighteen.
He got me out of North Dakota, but it did not change a thing
Leaving North Dakota with him did not improve my life situation in any way.
I left it in the yard all covered up with snow
I abandoned my old life in North Dakota and never looked back.
Sitting in this diner with a coffee in my hand
I'm currently in a diner, holding a cup of coffee.
Waiting on a bus to some promised land
I'm waiting for a bus to take me to a place where I hope my life will be better.
I got a one way ticket as far as it goes
I have a one-way ticket as far as it will take me in search of a better life.
So I'm headed south to anywhere that ain't so damn cold
I'm heading south in search of a warmer climate, away from the cold that reminds me of my difficult past.
Where I can warm my heart and shake the chill from my bones
I'm looking for a place where I can find comfort and escape the emotional and physical coldness of my past.
It took awhile to get here, it's been a long, hard road
Reaching this point in my journey took a lot of time and effort, and it was a difficult road to travel.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Anthem Entertainment
Written by: GUY CLARK, ASHLEY MONROE, JON RANDALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheSpringishere
One of the best country female singers to come along in years. I love her voice.
@somethingdifferent33
seriously this girl doesnt get enough recognition, her voice is country music. so amazing.
@luciac.419
What a sweet voice! Please don't change your sound Ashley there are still plenty of us that love the old country music sound.
@jaycannon2099
some of the best country vocals . not sure why she is not recognized as is. incredible talent.
@rjwintl
thought it was Emmy Lou Harris first time I heard it...rare, sweet sound of Ashley Monroe is the real voice of Country music !!!
@iainthegrouch
Stunning. Beautiful singing superb guitar playing really top drawer
@antiquebird
I can't get enough of this song and her beautiful voice,I've listened to it 7 times today alone!.This deserves to be #1 and she's so pretty too,I love to see her just as much as I love to hear her.
@christopherbradley953
I love you ashley monroe, prettiest voice I ever heard.
@patriciamocon1447
Now this is what i call real country music
@kalabab33
I love her style! She's like a young dolly parton all over again. ♡