Good Year For The Roses
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Lyrics


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I can hardly bear the sight of lipstick on the cigarettes there in the ashtray
Lyin' cold the way you left 'em, but at least your lips caressed them while
You packed
Or the lip-print on a half-filled cup of coffee that you poured and didn't drink
But at least you thought you wanted it, that's so much more than I can say
For me

What a good year for the roses
Many blooms still linger there
The lawn could stand another mowin'
Funny I don't even care
As you turn to walk away
As the door behind you closes
The only thing I have to say
It's been a good year for the roses

After three full years of marriage, it's the first time that you haven't
Made the bed
I guess the reason we're not talkin', there's so little left to say we
Haven't said
While a million thoughts go racin' through my mind, I find I haven't said a word
From the bedroom the familiar sound of a baby's cryin' goes unheard

What a good year for the roses
Many blooms still linger there
The lawn could stand another mowin'
Funny I don't even care
As you turn to walk away
As the door behind you closes




The only thing I have to say
It's been a good year for the roses

Overall Meaning

Good Year for the Roses by Elvis Costello and The Attractions is a song about a husband and wife whose marriage has fallen apart. The song depicts a scene of the aftermath of a fight between the couple. The lyrics are full of details that emphasize the absence of the wife- her lipstick on the cigarette in the ashtray, her lip print on the half-filled coffee cup, and her unmade bed. These details show that she has left in a hurry and that the husband is left to deal with the aftermath of their disagreement. He contemplates their situation and thinks of how much they have left unsaid.


The chorus of the song, "What a good year for the roses, Many blooms still linger there," is a metaphor for their relationship. The good year for the roses represents the good times that they had in their marriage. The blooms that still linger represent the memories and love that they still have for each other. The husband feels like there may still be hope for their marriage as he contemplates the good times they shared. But he recognizes that it will take a lot of work to get back to that good place in their relationship.


This song paints a vivid picture of a relationship that is on the brink of collapse. The details in the lyrics emphasize the sadness and emptiness that the husband feels as he contemplates his situation. The metaphor of the roses represents the hope that he still has for his marriage, but he knows that it will take effort to get back to where they were before.


Line by Line Meaning

I can hardly bear the sight of lipstick on the cigarettes there in the ashtray
It pains me to see the evidence of your presence, with lipstick marks on the discarded cigarettes lying in the ashtray


Lyin' cold the way you left 'em, but at least your lips caressed them while You packed
The cigarettes are abandoned and cold, but at least they were touched by your lips while you were leaving


Or the lip-print on a half-filled cup of coffee that you poured and didn't drink
I notice the mark of your lips on the rim of a cup of coffee that you poured but never drank


But at least you thought you wanted it, that's so much more than I can say For me
You had the intention of wanting that cup of coffee, which is more than I can say for myself, as I am consumed by emotional numbness


After three full years of marriage, it's the first time that you haven't Made the bed
It's notable that for the first time in three years of marriage, you haven't made the bed


I guess the reason we're not talkin', there's so little left to say we Haven't said
We are not speaking to each other because there is nothing left unsaid that we have not already spoken


While a million thoughts go racin' through my mind, I find I haven't said a word From the bedroom the familiar sound of a baby's cryin' goes unheard
Although countless thoughts are rushing through my head, I realize that I haven't actually spoken a word. From the bedroom, the sound of our crying baby is unnoticed, symbolizing our emotional distance from each other.


What a good year for the roses Many blooms still linger there The lawn could stand another mowin' Funny I don't even care As you turn to walk away As the door behind you closes The only thing I have to say It's been a good year for the roses
In spite of the hardships of our relationship and the pain of our separation, the roses in the garden are still thriving. Although the lawn could use another mowing, I find that I no longer care about such trivial matters. As you leave and close the door behind you, the only thing left to say is that, all things considered, this has been a good year for the roses.




Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY CHESNUT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@steffanhoffmann8937

Cheers Tim. I saw him live in Cardiff Wales twice. Around or about that time.
I couldn't get tickets in London. Simple trip down the M4 mway from Kensington and Chelsea.
Don't live in London anymore though.
I'm in Alanya Turkey and a great Med Sea climate. Recommended by my mate from Sydney, Sammie.
I left after BREXIT vote. Could sort of see a bleak future.
Haven't regretted it on Sammie's advice.
Rent for mod apt overlooking the Med Sea is ๐Ÿ’ถ 300 a month. (That's how it has to be paid)
Last electric bill for May was $20 USD; and water bill for $6. No gas, it's never cold; hardly rains.
Ciggies here are $2 USD for twenty. Don't smoke but it's a good yardstick.
Everything is fresh in street markets and even marts are well developed and cheap.
Lamb here I paid $10 USD for 1.5kg. Sammie says way cheaper than Oz.
Gets 324 ๐ŸŒž days annually. Yesterdays temp was 33c hasn't rained since March 10.
After all those lockdown agonies in Oz?
Sammie's had enough and is moving here in August.
Fair dinkum.



All comments from YouTube:

@Einstein852

I'm listening in 2024. One of his best โค

@okrajoe

Still a great sound for a new year!

@noleenpowseys8272

Whoโ€™s listening to and loving this in 2022!! Fabulous song๐Ÿ’•

@TheAndyollerenshaw

Awesome song by an awesome performer.

@ansjansen223

Me!
It brings back memories ; love the song

@amandajames5068

Me

@siobhankavanagh5759

I am pet, xx

@siobhankavanagh5759

Siobhรกn kavanagh, x

52 More Replies...

@jillfoley6389

What a beautiful recording by the adorable Elvis Costello. Do hope he is in good health now and happy. Now 78 and I have recovered from ovarian cancer in 2010 so grateful to be here thanks to the wonderful Brighton NHS and Peter the wonderful handsome consultant who made the whole thing bearable. Looking forward to seeing my lovely three grandchildren when the lockdown is eased - I will wait awhile to return to normal and am thinking all the time of the NHS workers slaving away no way will I return to normal while they are working so hard on saving lives. So stay in Jillian - no pubs or trips in the country - but hope all those NHS workers know how much they are appreciated.

@georgedeathe4683

stay safe xxx

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