While the song seems to be a reference to the annual Portland Rose Festival, Elliott explained in a Jim Jr. Interview that “Rose Parade” is about parading a fake personality.
"Rose Parade is a parade that happens in Portland every year. But, ‘Rose Parade’ wasn’t really supposed to be about that parade. It was just supposed to be about parades in general, like the way people parade around and expect you to join in on their peacock march. You know? Someone does, ‘We’re looking good,’ that kind of attitude. It’s like, people get fucked over a lot by sorta trying to parade around as something that they’re not really, but they can be for a little while, but then it all goes wrong."
Interviewer: “Tell us about Rose Parade.”
Elliott: “The Rose Parade is in Portland and I was supposed to describe it accurately but the point of it wasn’t to describe the Parade. It was supposed to be an allegory for any pompous parade or self-congratulatory venture, sort of like…”
“The Oscars.”
“Yeah, for example.”
Rose Parade
Elliott Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To march down the street like the Duracell bunny
With a wink and a wave from the cavalcade
Throwing out candy that looks like money
To people passing by
That all seem to be goin' the other way
Said, "Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?"
Tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
People were shouting and pushing and saying
And traded a smoke for a food-stamp dollar
Ridiculous marching band started playing
Got me singing along
With some half-hearted victory song
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
The trumpeter's obviously been drinking
'Cause he's fucking up even the simplest lines
I'd say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing
It's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine
When they clean the street
I'll be the only shit that's left behind
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
The opening verse of Elliott Smith's "Rose Parade" paints an imagery of a parade - a grand spectacle where people gather to celebrate. The singer is asked to come down and watch the event, to march down the street like the Duracell bunny. However, despite the grandiosity of the parade, the singer feels disconnected from the crowd, as if he is the only one going against the flow. The candy thrown out like money to people passing by seems misplaced, and everyone seems to be going the other way. Despite this, the singer invites the listener to follow him down to the Rose Parade, probably out of a desire to be with someone and not feel alone.
As the song progresses, the singer encounters more issues at the parade. He trips over a dog in a choke-chain collar, and people are shouting and pushing, making him feel even more disconnected from the crowd. A ridiculous marching band starts playing, and he sings along but with a half-hearted victory song. The trumpet player, who is clearly drunk, messes up even the simplest lines of the music. The singer is losing interest in the event, but everyone else seems fascinated, and he feels like the only one who's left behind when they clean the streets the next day.
Although "Rose Parade" seems to be about parades and celebrations, it is actually an exploration of Smith's feelings of disconnection and isolation. The singer's experiences convey a sense of boredom and being out of place in a crowd, which many people can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
You asked me to come down and watch the parade
You requested my presence to see the parade
To march down the street like the Duracell bunny
To walk the walk with a never-ending battery
But we get away from the cavalcade
Let's move away from the procession
Throwing out candy that looks like money
Distributing candy that resembles cash
To people passing by
To those who are walking past
They'd all seem to be going the other way
Everyone seems to be walking in the opposite direction
So won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Come with me to the parade of roses
Tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
Stumbled on a canine with a tight collar
People were shouting and pushing and saying
Crowd was yelling, pushing, and speaking loudly
They'd traded a smoke for a food stamp dollar
They exchanged a cigarette for a government-issued food voucher
Ridiculous marching band started playing
An absurd brass band began to perform
Got me singing along
I began to sing with them too
With some half-hearted victory song
But the song barely had any enthusiasm
The trumpet has obviously been drinking
The trumpet player is visibly intoxicated
Cause he's fucking up even the simplest lines
Since he's making mistakes even on the easiest tunes
You say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing
You believe it's a spectacle worth witnessing
It's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine
It's just that everyone else is more invested in it than I am
When they clean the street, I'll be the only shit that's left behind
When they sweep the road, I'll be the only refuse left behind
So won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Come with me to the parade of roses
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrRayinsf
D A E G5
They asked me to come down and watch the parade
D A E G5
And to march down the street like the duracell bunny
D A E G5
With a wink and a wave from the cavalcade
D A E G5
Throwing out candy that looks like money
F#7 Bm A E/G# G5 F#7*
To people passing by that all seem to be going the other way
A D A E G5
Said won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
[Verse 2]
D A E G5
Tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
D A E G5
People were shouting and pushing and saying
D A E G5
And when I traded a smoke for a food stamp dollar
D A E G5
A ridiculous marching band started playing
F#7 Bm A E/G# G5 F#7*
And got me singing 'long with some half-hearted victory song
[Chorus]
A D A E G5
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
D A E G5
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
F#7 E A E G5
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
[Verse 3]
D A E G5
The trumpet has obviously been drinking
D A E G5
'Cos he's fucking up even the simplest lines
D A E G5
I'd say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing
D A E G5
It's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine
F#7 Bm A E/G#
And when they clean the street I'll be the only shit
G5 F#7*
that's left behind
[Chorus]
A D A E G5
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
D A E G5
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
F#7 E A E G5
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
@roiybenkel682
They asked me to come down and watch the parade
And to march down the street like the Duracell bunny
With a wink and a wave from the cavalcade
Throwing out candy that looks like money
To people passing by that all seem to be going the other way
Said won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
Tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
People were shouting and pushing and saying
And when I traded a smoke for a food stamp dollar
A ridiculous marching band started playing
And got me singing along with some half-hearted victory song
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
The trumpet has obviously been drinking
Because he's fucking up even the simplest lines
I'd say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing
It's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine
And when they clean the street I'll be the only shit that's left behind
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
@user-ip9yu7lp1q
"Rose Parade"
They asked me to come down and watch the parade
To march down the street like the Duracell bunny
With a wink and a wave from the cavalcade
Throwing out candy that looks like money
To people passing by that all seem to be going the other way
Said won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
People were shouting and pushing and saying
Traded a smoke for a food stamp dollar
Ridiculous marching band started playing
Got me singing along with some half-hearted victory song
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
The trumpet has obviously been drinking
'Cos he's fucking up even the simplest lines
They say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing
It's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine
When the clean the streets I'll be the only shit that's left behind
@Blooze-rr2ve
You asked me to come down and watch the parade
To march down the street like the Duracell bunny
But we get away from the cavalcade
Throwing out candy that looks like money
To people passing by
They'd all seem to be going the other way
So won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
People were shouting and pushing and saying
They'd traded a smoke for a food stamp dollar
Ridiculous marching band started playing
Got me singing along
With some half-hearted victory song
So won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
The trumpet has obviously been drinking
Cause he's fucking up even the simplest lines
You say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing
It's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine
When they clean the street, I'll be the only shit that's left behind
So won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
@mateosamora
Who else is here on 1/1 for their fix of this song? Only Elliott could make a parade sound like a beautiful bummer...
they asked me to come down and watch the parade
and to march down the street like the duracell bunny
with a wink and a wave from the cavalcade
throwing out candy that looks like money
to people passing by that all seem to be going the other way
said won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
people were shouting and pushing and saying
and when i traded a smoke for a food stamp dollar
a ridiculous marching band started playing
and got me singing along with some half-hearted victory song
won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
the trumpet has obviously been drinking
because he's fucking up even the simplest lines
i'd say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing
it's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine
and when they clean the street i'll be the only shit that's left behind
won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
@killrockstars
Check out this rare live footage of Elliott's 1999 New Year's Eve performance at The Knitting Factory: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6KwzgIePF4Dy7347Om6Ijcsr4vh6JJjP
@clarkecalm2982
Thanks for putting all these songs on youtube.
@eriklewis1671
I care about Elliot Smiths' work
@WachaDrop
"When they clean the street, I'll be the only shit that's left behind."
@jorgek92
I love this song, Elliott and all the people who are listening to this at the moment. Hugs!
@emmanuelokonkwo7303
yep ; )
@Wimpywoo16
AAAAAWWWWW!
@lauralalonde1705
Much love to you, too!
@jwichmann1306
hold me
@liamnolan98
J. A. Antón i need a fucking hug right now. help plesde