Cover Me With Roses
Jackson C. Frank Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I’ll bend your head if I can
That’s what it is to be a man
Although we’re at the same station
It ain’t your trip that I’m takin’

Cover me with roses
Cover me with roses
Cover me with roses, if you can

As if I knew you won’t steal
I cover you and you make me feel
I put the salt in the pan
I watch you walk without command

Cover me with roses
Cover me with roses
Cover me with roses, if you can

Each day according to plan
You pick your ground
And you make your stand
Your life is like a parade
You make your deal
And you know it’s made

Cover me with roses
Cover me with roses
Cover me with roses, if you can

And when you offer your hand
Your smile goes water
And your will goes sand
If I was standin’ in your shoes
I’d laugh and say it was the blues

Cover me with roses
Cover me with roses
Cover me with roses, if you can

Cover me with roses




Cover me with roses
Cover me with roses, if you can

Overall Meaning

In the song "Cover Me With Roses" by Jackson C. Frank, the lyrics are seemingly contradictory and mysterious, but they seem to carry a deeper meaning. The first stanza consists of lines that suggest a man's dominance over a woman. However, the use of metaphors like "bend your head" implies submission, vulnerability, or a need for protection. The man in the song is trying to assert his dominance, but, in reality, he is seeking affection and protection from the woman. He's showing his need for love, and the rose is his analogy for the desired affection. The repeated line, "Cover me with roses," signifies his insistent need for protection and love.


The second and third stanzas, on the other hand, appear to switch the perspectives of the song. The woman now becomes a source of comfort for the man. The lines "I put the salt in the pan/ I watch you walk without command" implies that the man sees himself as the provider and the woman as the one who offers emotional support. The lyrics demonstrate that despite the different genders and traits, there is a mutual need for each other, and they can find strength in the balance.


Throughout the song, there seems to be an underlying theme of the paradoxical nature of the power dynamics and relationships. They shift back and forth from one stanza to the next, suggesting that we never truly know who has an advantage in a relationship. Ultimately, the "roses" metaphor is used to still signify the need for care, comfort, love, and protection, in both men and women.


Line by Line Meaning

I’ll bend your head if I can
I'll try to bend your will to mine, exerting my dominance as a man.


That’s what it is to be a man
This behavior is typically associated with masculinity and the societal expectations placed on men.


Although we’re at the same station
We may occupy the same space or position, but our perspectives and experiences differ.


It ain’t your trip that I’m takin’
I'm not interested in following your path or taking your journey, but rather asserting my own desires and intentions.


As if I knew you won’t steal
I'm trusting that you won't betray me or take advantage of me.


I cover you and you make me feel
By protecting or taking care of you, it makes me feel better about myself and my role in our relationship.


I put the salt in the pan
I'm responsible for the seasoning or flavoring of the situation.


I watch you walk without command
Although I may have covered you, I'm not controlling your every move or action.


Each day according to plan
You have a set routine or schedule that you adhere to each day.


You pick your ground
You are selective about the spaces or situations in which you engage.


And you make your stand
You are firm in your convictions and beliefs.


Your life is like a parade
Your life is on display, like a parade, for others to see and judge.


You make your deal
You make decisions or negotiations that affect your own well-being.


And you know it’s made
You are confident in the decisions or deals that you have made.


And when you offer your hand
When you extend an offer of friendship or partnership.


Your smile goes water
Your smile fades or loses its genuine quality.


And your will goes sand
Your resolve or determination weakens or disappears.


If I was standin’ in your shoes
If I were in your position or experiencing your circumstances.


I’d laugh and say it was the blues
I would find humor in the struggle or difficulty you are experiencing.


Cover me with roses
Requesting protection or care.


Cover me with roses
Repeating the request for protection or care.


Cover me with roses, if you can
Asking for the ability to receive protection or care.




Contributed by Dylan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@shamrock8123

So strong yet so weak. A true great.

@janetwilhelm4435

What a story...the tragedy of life this man carries it in his voice....that is why we relate...Thank you Jackson...

@guywiththeheadphones

Truly ahead of his time

@elisavieira737

Beautiful xxx

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