Pink Roses
Glassjaw Lyrics


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You like to carry my heart in a bag that's broken.
You're asking when do I stop?
When the bottle's empty.

Blacker than my father's soul. Drunk enough to raise us all.

Pink (x2)
Roses (x2)

Nomad, Drowning Rat. Black, black, so black you can't even grasp the fact.
Blacker than a begger's soul. Rich enough to raise us all.

Lead with your need as god decends

Pink (x2)
Roses (x2)

Cold to the ground, what gets me this down?
The smell of magnesium, the smile of a clown.

I want to drink you. Scare you. Fuck you and Film you





Pink (x2)
Roses (x2)

Overall Meaning

The song Pink Roses by Glassjaw is about a toxic relationship where the singer is aware that their partner keeps their heart in a broken bag but they continue to stay with them despite being aware of this. The partner in the relationship is portrayed as an alcoholic who will not stop drinking until the bottle is empty. The singer describes the partner’s soul as being darker than their father’s which indicates that their father may have also had a dark soul. The repetition of ‘black, black, so black you can't even grasp the fact’ emphasizes the darkness of their partner’s soul.


The chorus of the song consists of the words ‘Pink Roses’ which is repeated multiple times. Pink roses symbolize grace, admiration, and joy which could be the singer’s way of verbally expressing that despite the negative aspects of the relationship, they still have love for their partner. The line ‘lead with your need as god descends’ could be interpreted as the partner consistently needing attention and support which leads to a co-dependent relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

You like to carry my heart in a bag that's broken.
You take pleasure in causing me pain and carrying around the remnants of my shattered heart.


You're asking when do I stop?
You want to know when I will finally free myself from this toxic cycle of pain and abuse.


When the bottle's empty.
When the temporary escape provided by alcohol can no longer numb the pain and I am forced to confront reality.


Blacker than my father's soul.
You are consumed by your own darkness and your soul is as black as that of my abusive father's.


Drunk enough to raise us all.
You are so consumed by your addiction that it affects all those around you, not just yourself.


Pink (x2)
A symbol of femininity and vulnerability that is juxtaposed against the darkness and aggression of the rest of the song.


Roses (x2)
A symbol of love and beauty that is also contrasted against the darkness and aggression of the song.


Nomad, Drowning Rat.
The all-consuming nature of addiction and despair is like being lost at sea or drowning, aimlessly wandering with no direction or hope of escape.


Black, black, so black you can't even grasp the fact.
The depth of darkness and hopelessness is so profound that it is nearly impossible to comprehend or escape from.


Blacker than a begger's soul.
Your soul is darker than even the most destitute and desperate among us.


Rich enough to raise us all.
Your wealth and power allow you to not only sustain your own addiction, but to also ensnare others and pull them down with you.


Lead with your need as god decends
You are so consumed by your cravings and addiction that it is as if a higher power is taking control of your every action and decision.


Cold to the ground, what gets me this down?
The crushing weight of despair and hopelessness is so profound that it feels like being buried alive.


The smell of magnesium, the smile of a clown.
The juxtaposition of positive and negative images (a clown's smile and the harsh scent of magnesium) adds to the surreal and eerie atmosphere of the song.


I want to drink you. Scare you. Fuck you and Film you
Your twisted desires and lust for power and control over others are laid bare, adding another layer of darkness to an already bleak track.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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