Rose
Lisa Loeb Lyrics


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Those were rose-colored times on rides with your eyes closed.
Those were rose-colored times on rides with your eyes open wide.
Shabby tried to comb her hair with the gift from her grandma, her blood.
Tangled she got halfway.
Sticky and powdered with dirt from the ground where her mamma had left her,
Had left her, had left her.
Those were rose-colored times on rides with your eyes closed.
Those were rose-colored times on rides with your eyes open wide,
With your eyes open wide.
Rusty the screen door, she opened it.
Raised from the ground.
Mamma left me her ring, mamma left me no family,
Just barstools, and boyfriends, and whiskey at nighttime, and bedtime,
Bedtime, bedtime, bedtime.
I'll go with the man who looks like my father,
The neighbors all tell me to go with him.
He better take caution, he better take care of me,
'Cause if he don't he, better beware of me.
Those were rose-colored times on rides with your eyes closed.
Those were rose-colored times on rides with your eyes open wide,
With your eyes open wide,
With your eyes open wide,




Wide, wide, wide,
Eyes open wide.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories's song "Rose" paint a vivid picture of a young girl's life growing up in a less than ideal environment. The song seemingly delves into themes of loneliness, abandonment, and searching for a better life. The line "those were rose-colored times on rides with your eyes closed" can be interpreted as the character looking back on her past with nostalgia, even though it might not have been as perfect as she remembers it to be. The second line, "those were rose-colored times on rides with your eyes open wide," suggests that even when she was looking at her life with clarity, she still saw the beauty and possibility in the world.


The third pair of lines describe a young girl named Shabby struggling to brush her hair with her grandmother's gift while being covered in dirt from her mother's absence. This paints a picture of abandonment and poverty and sets the tone for the rest of the song. The lines "Mamma left me her ring, mamma left me no family, Just barstools, and boyfriends, and whiskey at nighttime, and bedtime, Bedtime, bedtime, bedtime" describe a lack of familial love and support, and the need for solace and comfort at bedtime.


The final lines of the song reveal the character's longing for a father figure, even if it means being with a man that the neighbors warn against. She wants to be taken care of, and in the absence of this care, she promises to be dangerous. The lyrics of "Rose" are heartfelt, and the song offers a glimpse into the struggles of growing up in a complicated world.


Line by Line Meaning

Those were rose-colored times on rides with your eyes closed.
This line describes a nostalgic memory of a happy past experience. The singer recalls a time when they were carefree and enjoyed riding with their eyes closed, relishing the moment.


Those were rose-colored times on rides with your eyes open wide.
This line is a variation of the previous line, but instead of eyes being shut, the singer emphasizes the wideness of their eyes as they took in the beauty of their surroundings during a happy time.


Shabby tried to comb her hair with the gift from her grandma, her blood.
The singer describes someone named Shabby who attempted to tidy her hair using a comb passed down from her grandmother. The blood mentioned refers to the fact that this comb has been handed down for generations and is precious to Shabby.


Tangled she got halfway.
The previous line hinted at the fact that Shabby's hair was difficult to manage. This line simply states that she only managed to get halfway through combing her hair before it became tangled again.


Sticky and powdered with dirt from the ground where her mamma had left her,
This line seems to be describing Shabby again. Her hair is now dirty and dusty, likely from being left outside. The mention of her mother leaving her in a certain spot suggests that Shabby may be homeless or struggling in some way.


Had left her, had left her.
This line simply repeats the previous line for emphasis, perhaps to highlight the sadness of Shabby being abandoned.


Rusty the screen door, she opened it.
This line describes someone opening a rusty screen door. It's unclear who the character is at this point or what significance the door might hold, but the image portrayed is one of decay and age.


Raised from the ground.
This line is a bit ambiguous, but it could be interpreted as the door being lifted off the ground to open or perhaps that the area around the door is raised from the surrounding ground.


Mamma left me her ring, mamma left me no family,
The artist is reflecting on their mother's passing and inheritance. They received their mother's ring as an heirloom, but were left with no other family after her death.


Just barstools, and boyfriends, and whiskey at nighttime, and bedtime,
The artist describes the lifestyle they now lead without family. It seems to be a lonely and dark existence, filled with alcohol and fleeting relationships.


Bedtime, bedtime, bedtime.
This line repeats the previous line three times, perhaps emphasizing the monotony and sadness of the singer's life.


I'll go with the man who looks like my father,
The artist hints at a desire to be with someone resembling their deceased father. This could be a subconscious need for comfort or familiarity.


The neighbors all tell me to go with him.
The singer may be referring to neighbors who want to see them happy and settled with someone who resembles their father.


He better take caution, he better take care of me,
The singer warns their potential partner that they should be careful with the singer's feelings and wellbeing. They may have been hurt in the past and are looking for a caring and attentive partner.


'Cause if he don't he, better beware of me.
The final line is a warning to the potential partner, letting them know that if they don't treat the singer well, there will be consequences. The tone is slightly threatening, perhaps hinting at a past where the singer was taken advantage of and now demands respect.


Wide, wide, wide,
This line repeats the word 'wide' three times, emphasizing the importance of the artist's eyes being open and aware of the world around them.


Eyes open wide.
The final line echoes the importance of being present and attentive to the world. It's a call to stay engaged and not let life pass by unnoticed.




Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: LISA A. LOEB

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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