Grant performed as a musician for a time in her early teens, but stopped due to a bout of stage fright, and did not return to performing until her early 20s when she played some shows with Heavy Blinkers. She then released an independent EP, Jenn Grant and Goodbye Twentieth Century, in 2005.
She collaborated on her debut album, Orchestra for the Moon, with such artists as Ron Sexsmith, Heavy Blinkers, Matt Mays and Jill Barber, and later toured Germany and Canada in support of the album, including as an opening act for The Weakerthans.
She later began recording her second album, Echoes, on a farm in rural Ontario in 2008. The album was produced by Jonathan Goldsmith and engineered by Walter Sobczak at The Studio at Puck's Farm. Her voice was also featured in the song "We Made a Pact" by Hey Rosetta on their 2008 album Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood). Echoes was released in 2009.
In 2010 and 2011, she collaborated with Buck 65 on several tracks, including "Paper Airplane", "Cold Steel Drum", "Days Go By" and a cover of Leonard Cohen/'s "Who By Fire", on his 20 Odd Years series of EPs. Late in 2010, she also released a four-song EP, Songs for Siigoun, which featured a cover of John Denver's "Annie's Song".
She released her third full-length album, Honeymoon Punch, in early 2011. Her fourth album, The Beautiful Wild, followed in 2012, and her fifth album, Compostela, was released on October 21, 2014.
She continues to paint, including designing some of her own album covers.
Bring Me A Rose
Jenn Grant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think of you
And where you might be now
My memories are just a version of the truth
I know you left in that northern breeze
When I grow up I wanna be
A picture of my mother holding onto me.
That some things are worth waiting for
I wanna be
Where did you go? I cannot see
Through your castles in the sky
Where the tiger lilies are blowing free
You might be waiting for me one more time
When I grow up I wanna be
A picture of my mother holding onto me
When I show up I wanna see
That some things are worth waiting for
I wanna be
Please won't you call me a rose?
I could be so sweet
Please won't you bring me a rose? Don't have to be so mean
La de da
When I grow up I wanna be
A picture of my mother holding onto me
When I show up I wanna see
That some things are worth waiting for
I wanna be
In “Bring Me A Rose”, Jenn Grant reflects upon a relationship that has ended, and she wonders where her ex-partner might be now. She acknowledges that her memories of the relationship may not be completely accurate but she still wishes to be reunited with her former lover. The song opens with Grant admitting that she thinks of her ex-partner every now and then, even though she is uncertain where they might be now. The line “my memories are just a version of the truth” implies that her recollections of the relationship may be distorted or one-sided.
Grant then goes on to describe a desire to be held by her mother, perhaps indicating a sense of longing for comfort and support. She sings of wanting to be a picture of her mother holding onto her, suggesting that she wishes to be symbolically held and nurtured. She also expresses a need to believe that some things in life are worth waiting for, hinting at a hopeful desire to rekindle her previous relationship.
In the chorus, Grant compares herself to a rose, asking for someone to bring her a rose and to call her “so sweet”. She acknowledges that relationships can be “mean” and difficult, but still desires the beauty and sweetness that life can offer. Overall, the song is an introspective reflection on love lost and longing for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Every now and then
Occasionally, I reminisce about you.
I think of you
I reflect on you and our memories.
And where you might be now
I wonder where you are these days.
My memories are just a version of the truth
I acknowledge that my memories of you are subjective and not necessarily completely accurate.
I know you left in that northern breeze
I understand that you departed abruptly.
When I grow up I wanna be
In the future, I aspire to become.
A picture of my mother holding onto me.
I envision being embraced by my mother.
When I show up I wanna see
When I arrive, I hope to observe.
That some things are worth waiting for
That it's worth being patient for certain things.
I wanna be
I desire to become.
Where did you go? I cannot see
I'm unsure of your current whereabouts and status.
Through your castles in the sky
Perhaps you've created an imaginary world for yourself.
Where the tiger lilies are blowing free
A place where flowers sway freely in the wind.
You might be waiting for me one more time
Is it possible that you're patiently waiting for me to return?
Please won't you call me a rose?
Could you refer to me as a rose?
I could be so sweet
I have the potential to be kind and gentle.
Please won't you bring me a rose? Don't have to be so mean
Requesting for a rose, but not in a demanding or harsh manner.
La de da
A meaningless utterance used to fill space.
When I grow up I wanna be
Once again expressing the desire to become something in the future.
Contributed by Tristan O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Petrina
Beautiful song! Clearly from the heart.
The Mary Webb Centre
This song is absolutely sublime! Can't wait to have you perform on February 28th at The Mary Webb Centre in little wee Highgate, Ontario (Chatham-Kent)!
JayAymar
Agreed...very beautiful
Denise Euphemia
So beautiful :)
The Lipkas
Heartland (Dreamer) brought me to Jenn Grant and I'm very grateful. Beautiful song <3
Chloe Slater
This song is physically painful, truly beautiful.
Biniam Teklesenbet
Beautiful
Joshua Bley
wow... these two.... xoxo
Barbara Brown
may it elicit some release, as it does so well.