The Rose
Paul McDermott & Flacco 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 the heart to bleed.

Some say love, it is a hunger,
an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower,

and you're its only seed.

Its the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance.
Its the dream afraid of waking
that never takes the chance.

Its 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 snow,

Lies the seed that with the suns love,
in the spring, becomes a rose

Overall Meaning

The Rose, a song famously performed by Bette Midler, has been widely covered and repurposed, but Paul McDermott and Flacco’s The Rose is a parody all about misguided love. The opening lines, “Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed. Some say love, it is a razor, that leaves the heart to bleed” allude to the many interpretations of love around us, some positive and others quite negative. In the next verse, McDermott and Flacco continue to subvert traditional poetic language by referring to love as “hunger” and “an endless aching need”.

However, the chorus of The Rose is where the parody really hits: “I say love, it is a flower and you’re its only seed.” Instead of a deeply poetic description of love, we get a simple flowery metaphor. The next verse takes a more serious turn, discussing how fear often stops people from pursuing love or opening themselves up emotionally. They argue that it is only those who are brave enough to take risks and experience the pain of love that are able to live truly full lives, “And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.”

The final verse is what really ties The Rose together, as McDermott and Flacco remind listeners that even when it seems like there is no hope for love, there is always the possibility for something beautiful to bloom. “Just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow, lies the seed that with the sun’s love, in the spring, becomes a rose.” This verse plays off of the earlier “flower and seed” metaphor and flips it on its head to say that even the coldest, most desolate seasons can hold potential for growth and new beginnings.

Line by Line Meaning

Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed.
Love is often compared to a river that can be strong enough to overpower the most delicate of things.

Some say love, it is a razor, that leaves the heart to bleed.
Love can be dangerous, cutting deep and causing pain.

Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need.
Love can create a persistent longing, a craving that is never satisfied.

I say love, it is a flower, and you're its only seed.
The artist chooses to see love as something that can grow into something beautiful, but it needs someone to nurture it.

Its the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.
People who are afraid of getting hurt often hold themselves back from living fully.

Its the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance.
People who are scared of failure may not pursue their dreams, choosing instead to avoid the possibility of disappointment.

Its the one who won't be taken who cannot seem to give.
People who are resistant to love may struggle to express love to others.

And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.
People who are too focused on their own mortality may not fully embrace life and all its possibilities.

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
During difficult times, it's easy to feel like love is only for those who have it easy.

Just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow, Lies the seed that with the suns love, in the spring, becomes a rose
Love may seem dormant or non-existent, but with time and nourishment, it can blossom into something beautiful.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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