The rose
Jack Settle Lyrics


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On a stroll through a field full of flowers gone wild
I went searching for a flower to call mine
Surrounded by gold, I stood there beguiled
Ignoring the treasure that hid in plain sight

A single rose, blooming from the thorns
Crimson petals and pure to the core
Alive, undying, beautifully thriving
But fool's gold was what my heart was searching for

And I picked a wildflower and ran from the rose
I couldn't see past the thorns, I suppose
Forever, I'll regret the flower I chose
I picked a wildflower and ran from the rose

On my windowsill, in a jar full of water
I laid the wild one to be close to me
But in less than a day, she lost all her blossoms
The wildest of things can't be tamed 'til they're free

And I picked a wildflower and ran from the rose
I couldn't see past the thorns, I suppose
Forever, I'll regret the flower I chose
I picked a wildflower and ran from the rose

And I picked a wildflower and ran from the rose
I couldn't see past the thorns, I suppose
Forever, I'll regret the flower I chose
I picked a wildflower and ran from the rose





I picked a wildflower and I let you go

Overall Meaning

The song “The Rose” by Jack Settle is a beautiful metaphorical representation of a common human experience. The lyrics talk about the singer's search for a flower that he could call his own. He wanders through a field full of flowers gone wild and is surrounded by gold. However, instead of choosing the perfect flower right in front of him, he chooses a wildflower and runs away from a rose that was blooming from thorns. The wildflower represents something that may seem attractive on the outside but eventually fails to match up to what one truly desires. The rose, on the other hand, may come with thorns, but it is pure and undying, representing true love and beauty that stands the test of time.


The singer picks the wildflower and brings it home, but it lasts only for a day as the wild things can't be tamed until they're free. The songwriter's message is that there are times when we settle for less than what we deserve, whether it be in love, relationships or life in general. Sometimes, we get so fixated on what we want that it becomes difficult to see the right choice in front of us. And, when we realize our mistake, the regret can linger on forever.


Overall, “The Rose” is a beautifully written song with meaningful lyrics that strike a chord with anyone who has ever settled for something less than they deserved. It's a poignant reminder that the things we search for aren't always the best ones for us.


Line by Line Meaning

On a stroll through a field full of flowers gone wild
While walking through a field of wild flowers,


I went searching for a flower to call mine
I was searching for a flower to claim as my own


Surrounded by gold, I stood there beguiled
I was surrounded by beauty and captivated by it


Ignoring the treasure that hid in plain sight
I failed to see the value of what was right in front of me


A single rose, blooming from the thorns
I saw a singular rose, growing amidst the thorns


Crimson petals and pure to the core
The rose had deep red petals and a pure appearance


Alive, undying, beautifully thriving
The rose was full of life and thriving despite the circumstances


But fool's gold was what my heart was searching for
Despite the beauty of the rose, my heart was searching for something else


And I picked a wildflower and ran from the rose
I chose a wildflower over the rose and retreated from it


I couldn't see past the thorns, I suppose
I was unable to see past the difficulties associated with the rose, I assume


Forever, I'll regret the flower I chose
I will always regret having chosen the wildflower over the rose


On my windowsill, in a jar full of water
I placed the wildflower on my windowsill in a jar of water


I laid the wild one to be close to me
I wanted to keep the wildflower near me


But in less than a day, she lost all her blossoms
However, within a day, the wildflower had already wilted


The wildest of things can't be tamed 'til they're free
Things that are untamed cannot be controlled until they are set free


And I picked a wildflower and ran from the rose
Once again, I chose the wildflower and abandoned the rose


I couldn't see past the thorns, I suppose
I was still unable to see past the difficulties associated with the rose, I assume


Forever, I'll regret the flower I chose
I will always regret having chosen the wildflower over the rose


And I picked a wildflower and ran from the rose
Once more, I chose the wildflower and left the rose


I couldn't see past the thorns, I suppose
Again, I was unable to see past the difficulties associated with the rose, I assume


Forever, I'll regret the flower I chose
I will always regret having chosen the wildflower over the rose


I picked a wildflower and I let you go
I chose the wildflower over the rose and let it go, along with the missed opportunity




Writer(s): Christopher Royden Myers, Jack Washington Settle

Contributed by Anna D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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