In the 1990s, Hogan sang with The Jody Grind, singing on their full-lengths… Read Full Bio ↴In the 1990s, Hogan sang with The Jody Grind, singing on their full-lengths One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure (1990) and Lefty's Deceiver (1992). The group disbanded after two of its members were killed in a car crash. She then co-founded the Rock*A*Teens, playing bass on the guitar and singing backup vocals. She appeared on their 1996 self-titled LP and the 1997 album Cry. Her debut solo record was released in 1996, which featured covers of songs by Will Oldham and Vic Chestnutt.

Hogan left the Rock*A*Teens after the release of Cry, and signed with Bloodshot Records, releasing two full-length albums in 2000-01. Among those appearing on the records were the Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Andrew Bird, and Edith Frost. In the 2000s she also collaborated with Neko Case, The Waco Brothers, The Minus 5, Nora O'Connor, The Wee Hairy Beasties, and others.

Plant White Roses
Kelly Hogan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I pour my heart out, blood flows
I planted you, watered you with tears
And watched you grow away from me
So much for my green thumb
I've overstayed my welcome

Plant white roses and plan to cry
If I can't spend my life with you

Plant white roses, I wanna die
If I can't spend my life with you
My life with you

When you're gone I stumble and I fall
I'm told that you don't wanna stay around
Those trains call
You're all I need
But you need more than country songs
You need to be getting along

Plant white roses and plan to cry
If I can't spend my life with you
Plant white roses, I wanna die
If I can't spend my life with you
My life with you

You'll have to stay
You'll have to stay and watch them grow
[x3]

Plant white roses and plan to cry
If I can't spend my life with you
Plant white roses, I wanna die
If I can't spend my life with you

My life with you
My life with you

Overall Meaning

The song "Plant White Roses" is a poignant ballad about heartbreak and the struggle to move on. The lyrics suggest that the singer has planted a garden, but despite their efforts, the person they love has grown away from them. The singer feels helpless and unhappy about the situation, and they express their desperation through vivid, visceral language - they have poured out their heart until blood flowed, and watered their garden with tears. Despite their best efforts, they can't seem to make their love grow.

The song has a melancholic tone, underscored by the repeated refrain of "Plant white roses and plan to cry / If I can't spend my life with you / Plant white roses, I wanna die / If I can't spend my life with you / My life with you." The message is clear - the singer cannot imagine a life without their love, and they would rather die than be without them. The final repetition of the line "You'll have to stay / You'll have to stay and watch them grow" suggests that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to make their love work, even if it means watching their garden grow without them.

Overall, "Plant White Roses" is a powerful and moving song about the pain of lost love and the struggle to let go. The imagery of the garden and the repeated refrain of planting white roses adds a sense of emotional depth to the song, making it a heartfelt tribute to the power of love.

Line by Line Meaning

When I pour my heart out, blood flows
I express my emotions intensely and with great depth

I planted you, watered you with tears
I invested a lot of emotion and energy into our relationship

And watched you grow away from me
I witnessed the gradual deterioration of our connection

So much for my green thumb
Despite my efforts, I am unable to maintain this relationship

I've overstayed my welcome
I am no longer wanted or needed

Plant white roses and plan to cry
I will cultivate beauty but still feel the pain of my loss

If I can't spend my life with you
I cannot envision my future without you in it

I wanna die
I feel hopeless and defeated without you

When you're gone I stumble and I fall
I struggle to function when you are not present in my life

I'm told that you don't wanna stay around
I am aware that you do not want to continue this relationship

Those trains call
You are tempted to leave and explore other opportunities