She and her husband lived on a wine farm in the Cape. She made a few albums.
She wrote her own lyrics and music.
The Rose
Lesley Rae Dowling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
I say love
It is a flower
And you its 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 to 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
Rose
The lyrics of Lesley Rae Dowling's song The Rose explore the concept of love through the use of metaphors, contrasting the idea of love being both a destructive force and a life-giving entity. The opening lines of the song describe the different interpretations of love, including the idea that it can be a powerful force that can leave one vulnerable and raw, or an insatiable desire that can never be fulfilled. However, the singer offers her own interpretation of love, likening it to a delicate flower with her lover as the seed. This metaphor suggests that love requires nurturing and attention to grow, but can also bring forth beauty and joy.
The second stanza of the song delves deeper into the fears and anxieties that prevent individuals from experiencing the joys of love. The "heart afraid of breaking" and the "dream afraid of waking" represent the fear of vulnerability and the reluctance to take risks. The idea of "the one who won't be taken" represents the inability of some individuals to open up and give themselves fully to someone else. Finally, the "soul afraid of dying" speaks to the human fear of mortality and the realization that time is limited.
The final stanza of the song offers a sense of hope and resilience, suggesting that even in the darkest of times, love can still grow and bloom. The metaphor of the seed that lies dormant until the sun brings it to life represents a feeling of potential and renewal, suggesting that even in the depths of winter, there is a reason to hope for spring.
Line by Line Meaning
Some say love
It is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Love can be like a river that can be overwhelming and all-consuming, and can destroy anything fragile in its path
Some say love
It is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed
Love can hurt so much that it feels like a sharp razor cutting through your soul and causing it to ache
Some say love
It is a hunger
An endless aching need
Love can create a constant longing that can never be satisfied, and can leave you feeling empty and unfulfilled
I say love
It is a flower
And you its only seed
For me, love is like a delicate flower that needs nurturing and care, and you are the one who can help it grow
It's the heart afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
Fear of getting hurt can prevent you from taking risks and experiencing the joy and freedom of life
It's the dream afraid of waking
That never takes the chance
Fear of facing reality can stop you from pursuing your dreams and taking opportunities that come your way
It's the one who won't be taken
Who cannot seem to give
People who do not trust or open themselves up to love find it difficult to give love or to receive it from others
And the soul afraid of dying
That never learns to live
Fear of death can prevent you from truly living and experiencing all that life has to offer
When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been to long
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong
When life feels like a difficult journey and you feel alone, it's easy to think that love is only for those who are fortunate and resilient
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
Even in the darkest and coldest of times, there is always hope and potential for growth and beauty, just like a seed that can become a blooming rose with the warmth and care of the sun
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Swarbrick
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind