The Trinity Session is perhaps their best known record, recorded live in a single day on a single microphone in a church in Toronto. This album also included a unique cover version of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane". Reed reportedly liked the Junkies' version of the song better than his own, and began performing their version in concert.
None of the band's subsequent albums have been hits outside of Canada, although the band has maintained a dedicated following and have continued to have chart hits in their native country. Following their 1998 album Miles from Our Home, Cowboy Junkies were dropped from their major label contract. They have continued to release albums on their own independent label, Latent Records.
Dead Flowers
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, when you're sitting there in your silk upholstered chair
Talking to some rich folk that you know
Well, I hope you won't see me in my ragged company
'cause you know I could never be alone
Take me down little Susie, take me down
and you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the mail
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
and I won't forget to put roses on your grave
Well, when you're sitting back in your rose pink cadillac
Making bets on Kentucky Derby Day
I'll be in my basement room with a needle and a spoon
and another girl to take my pain away
Take me down little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
and you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the mail
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
and I won't forget to put roses on your grave
Take me down little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
and you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the U.S. mail
Say it with dead flowers in my wedding
and I won't forget to put roses on your grave
No, I won't forget to put roses on your grave
The Cowboy Junkies' cover of the Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers" is a haunting rendition that captures the melancholic nature of the original while adding a layer of emotional depth to the lyrics. In this song, the singer addresses someone who is wealthy and living a life of luxury, imploring them not to judge him for his less-than-flattering situation. The first verse opens with the singer acknowledging the social gap between the two of them, but simultaneously expressing a level of comfort and pride in his own company. The chorus repeats the request to be brought down deeper into this underground world, with the singer acknowledging that they can't afford any luxuries, even in the form of flowers. The second verse describes the singer's addiction and the shame that comes with it, while the chorus remains consistent in its requests.
What's interesting about this song is that it speaks to the economic and social disparities that exist between people, and how that often results in judgement and shame. The singer in this case is seeking empathy and compassion from someone who is able to provide that level of understanding, without passing judgement. Additionally, the many references to flowers in the song are symbolic of the disconnect between the wealthy and the poor, and how the latter is constantly reminded of their economic status. Flowers are often seen as a luxury, something to be admired from afar, and yet the singer is not able to afford even these small pleasures. The Cowboy Junkies' unique interpretation of this song is a testament to the timeless nature of the Rolling Stones' music and the power of storytelling through music.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, when you're sitting there in your silk upholstered chair
When you're surrounded by comfort and wealth.
Talking to some rich folk that you know
Engaging in conversation with wealthy acquaintances.
Well, I hope you won't see me in my ragged company
I don't want you to see me in my poor and unkempt state.
'cause you know I could never be alone
Because I need the companionship of others to cope with my struggles.
Take me down little Susie, take me down
Help me out, Susie.
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
You may think you're superior, but we're still in the same place.
and you can send me dead flowers every morning
You can pretend to care by sending me something worthless.
Send me dead flowers by the mail
Send me those useless flowers through the mail.
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
Even on my wedding day, you'll still pretend to care by sending me those worthless flowers.
and I won't forget to put roses on your grave
I'll make sure to honor your eventual demise with the tradition of placing flowers on your grave.
Well, when you're sitting back in your rose pink cadillac
When you're cruising around in luxury.
Making bets on Kentucky Derby Day
Indulging in frivolous gambling.
I'll be in my basement room with a needle and a spoon
I'll be struggling with addiction in isolation.
and another girl to take my pain away
Trying to find comfort and escape through another person.
Send me dead flowers by the U.S. mail
Once again, send me those worthless flowers through the mail.
Say it with dead flowers in my wedding
Even on my wedding day, send me those useless flowers as a sarcastic gesture.
and I won't forget to put roses on your grave
I'll never forget to honor your eventual death with the tradition of placing flowers on your grave.
No, I won't forget to put roses on your grave
Just in case you thought I was kidding earlier, I'm serious about this tradition of paying respect to your death.
Contributed by Isabella S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Breanna Davis
I love this version of the song and have been looking everywhere on cd. It was played on a radio station in Texas about 12 years or so, ago. I have looked since then to hear it again. This is absolutely great. Thanks so much for posting it!
will middleton
The CB Junkies is my favorite "dark" band of all time. So, so good. Their version of of Gram Parson's Oooh La Vegas is FIRE
w0mbles
I really like how they've tried to do something different with this. It could have just been a straight cover, or a Van Zandt re-do, but why bother? This is something else. Lovely.
kiote903
The song is a jaggers/richards original. Van Zandt (my favorite cover of it) , Guns and Roses and many others have covered it. This group is putting their own style to it. Pretty nice version I say. Music doesn't have to be karaoke.
harrydean bentzel
Domt you know when you do a cover its blasphemy not to do it just like the original ... To lame music fans anyway. Someone's always has to be better. That's their rule
tonyspoetry
Love this band
Rob Lawing
The Cowboy Junkies can play any song and make it great, This is a good example of that...they take an already great song like Dead Flowers...put their own unique spin on it and suddenly you have another fantastic song...
Crystal Iven
not the best cover of this song i've heard but i love cowboy junkies & consider this more of a re-working of this song rather than a cover, they took ALL of the rolling stones out of this song & made it just another great cowboy junkies song. the only reason this works for me is becuz i love both bands.
Wojtek Adamczyk
bardzo dobre, coś innego w przeciwieństwie do całej tej szmiry która obecnie jest nam wbijana ( z małmi wyjątkami)
Andy Capp
very strange and lovely version, whow!