The rose
Joanna Field Lyrics


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Some say love it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed

Some say love it is a hunger
An endless aching need
I say love it is a flower
And you it's only seed

It's the heart afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance
It's the one who won't be taken
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed
That with the sun's love




In the spring
Becomes the rose

Overall Meaning

In the song "The Rose," Joanna Field starts off by saying that some people believe that love is like a river that is strong enough to drown someone who is weak and vulnerable; others believe it is like a razor that can cut so deep that one's soul is left bleeding. But Field believes that love is like a flower whose only seed is you. It is something that needs to be cultivated and nurtured. Love may be hungry but only because it needs to be fed, and love may be an aching need but only because it truly matters.


The song talks about how we often hold ourselves back and don't take risks when it comes to love because we worry about being hurt. We become afraid of breaking our own hearts and become paralyzed by the fear of the unknown. In the end, we need to remember that love lies within us, waiting to be unleashed. And the winter, when everything is cold and bleak, it is the seed waiting for the sun's warmth to blossom and become the beautiful rose.


Overall, the song is about the power of love and the beauty of those who have the courage to open up and take a chance on it. It's about appreciating love in its entirety, both its thorns and its beauty.


Line by Line Meaning

Some say love it is a river
Love is often compared to a river by some people


That drowns the tender reed
Love can sometimes engulf the delicate spirits of people and overwhelm them


Some say love it is a razor
Some people compare love to a sharp object like a razor blade


That leaves your soul to bleed
Love can be so painful that it can make your soul bleed


Some say love it is a hunger
Love is often portrayed as an insatiable hunger that cannot be satisfied


An endless aching need
Love can cause an incessant and painful yearning


I say love it is a flower
However, I personally believe that love is a flower


And you it's only seed
And you, the lover, are nothing but a seed that can grow into something beautiful


It's the heart afraid of breaking
The fear of heartbreak can prevent one from experiencing the beauty of love


That never learns to dance
This fear can keep a person from enjoying the rhythm and flow of love


It's the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance
A dream of love that you cling to but are afraid to wake up and fulfil, and this fear can stop you from taking the chance of pursuing it


It's the one who won't be taken
The person who is unable or unwilling to be loved


Who cannot seem to give
This person is also incapable of giving love to others


And the soul afraid of dying
The fear of death can stop a soul from living fully


That never learns to live
This fear of death can keep a soul from embracing life and the love that comes with it


When the night has been too lonely
When you feel lonely and the darkness of the night engulfs you


And the road has been too long
When you have been struggling for too long in search of love


And you think that love is only
And you start to believe that love is an emotion only felt by the fortunate and strong


For the lucky and the strong
The ones who are privileged and strong are the only ones who can love


Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows
But remember, even in dark and cold times, there is hope for love


Lies the seed
The seed of love is present within you


That with the sun's love
With the love of another person


In the spring
In the season of new beginnings


Becomes the rose
This seed can blossom into something as beautiful as a rose




Contributed by Addison J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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