She was r… Read Full Bio ↴Catie Curtis (born 1965) is an American singer-songwriter.
She was raised in the small city of Saco, Maine, and played her first performances there. She was originally a drummer, but later changed instruments to acoustic guitar.
After leaving Saco, she went to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. While at college, she became involved in the local coffeehouse circuit. At the same time, Curtis worked as a waitress and social worker while continuing to write and perform.
She moved to Boston, Massachusetts in the early 1990s, after deciding to make a career out of music. She and her partner are married and have two adopted daughters.
Curtis has toured extensively in North America in support of her albums, including playing at several festivals, such as the Newport Folk Festival. She has also supported, among others, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dar Williams, Girlyman and Bonnie Raitt. She also played on the final Lilith Fair tour.
Her songs have featured in Alias, Dawson's Creek, Felicity and Chicago Hope, as well as in several independent films. She won the Best Album Award from the Gay and Lesbian American Music Awards for her self-titled 1997 album. In 2006, she and Mark Erelli won the Grand Prize in the International Songwriting Competition for their song People Look Around, a song written in response to the hurricane Katrina disaster.
A film documentary on Curtis, entitled Tangled Stories, has been directed by Robert Millis. An interview with her is also featured on his current affairs program, American Microphone.
Roses
Catie Curtis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing on this lonesome railroad track
That's what I told you on the way to America
I swore by our God I'd be coming back
When the roses are blooming
You can call me home
And I will stay there forever
I wanted to see you that Christmas
But I got a letter I was being sent to war
I packed up the Bible that you gave me
And I prayed for the protection
Beneath the watch of the Lord
When the roses are blooming
You can call me home
And I will stay forever
My flesh and bone
There is a garden
I can see it from my bed
Reminds me of Ireland
Flowering yellow and red
I've been trying to write you but I keep stopping
All I've got to say is war is hell
I keep thinking about the soldiers coming at me
Not the ones that shot me
But the ones that I brought down myself
And I don't think Jesus ever heard my prayer
If there's a heaven, I ain't going there
When the roses are blooming
You can call me home
And I will stay there forever
My flesh and bone
The song "Roses" by Catie Curtis is a poignant narrative about a soldier’s promise to return home to his family. The song describes how he has to leave his home after making a solemn pledge to his sibling to come back; however, he is sent to fight in a war instead. He carries the Bible given to him by his sibling with him as he prays for protection. He then reminisces about the garden in Ireland that he can see from his hospital bed, and the blossoming yellow and red flowers remind him of home.
The lyrics are packed with emotion and symbolism. The roses in the song are a metaphor for the soldier’s return, and they represent hope. The promise of roses blooming is reminiscent of the great promises made by people throughout history. The song describes how the soldier is willing to die for his country, but ultimately refuses to accept the promises of the afterlife, as he realizes that war has taken too much from him. The soldier seems to have lost faith, as he questions whether or not his prayers were answered.
The song affirms the bond between siblings and family. The soldier promises to come back to his brother when the roses bloom by their home. This line shows how family bonds can stand the test of distance and time. The song is beautiful and moving, and it delves deeper into themes of faith, perseverance, and family.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I the kind of brother who would leave you Standing on this lonesome railroad track
I'm asking you if you see me as the kind of brother who would abandon you when you need me the most and leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere.
That's what I told you on the way to America I swore by our God I'd be coming back
When we were on our way to America, I promised you that I would never leave your side and that I'd always come back to you.
When the roses are blooming You can call me home And I will stay there forever My flesh and bone
Whenever you see the roses bloom, know that you can call me and I'll come home to you. I'll always be there for you, as we share the same blood and are connected as family.
I wanted to see you that Christmas But I got a letter I was being sent to war I packed up the Bible that you gave me And I prayed for the protection Beneath the watch of the Lord
I really wanted to see you during Christmas, but I received a letter saying that I was being sent to war. I took the Bible you gave me and prayed for God's protection, asking him to keep me safe during the battle.
There is a garden I can see it from my bed Reminds me of Ireland Flowering yellow and red
From my hospital bed, I can see a garden that reminds me of Ireland. The vibrant colors of the flowers, blooming in yellow and red, bring me comfort and solace in this difficult time.
I've been trying to write you but I keep stopping All I've got to say is war is hell I keep thinking about the soldiers coming at me Not the ones that shot me But the ones that I brought down myself And I don't think Jesus ever heard my prayer If there's a heaven, I ain't going there
I've been struggling to write to you because war has taken a huge mental toll on me. I keep having flashbacks of the soldiers I had to fight, and I'm haunted by the lives I've taken. I don't think I'll ever be able to find peace with God, and if there's a heaven, I don't think I deserve to go there.
When the roses are blooming You can call me home And I will stay there forever My flesh and bone
Once again, I promise you that whenever you see the roses blooming, you can call me and I'll be there for you. No matter what happens, I'll always be there to support and care for you.
Contributed by Ava S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.