In his own words (from his myspace page):
“For me it’s all about the SONG. I remember watching my father sitting at our dining room table for hours and hours with his pencil and pad crafting his songs; spending the time to find the perfect word, the perfect chord, the perfect melody. That really made an impression on me. When I write a song it really is a kind of science, an operation; but it isn’t mathematical or calculated, it is alive and breathing and moving. At the risk of sounding like a hippie on a soapbox, music is still powerful and holy and sacred to me. You can turn it into a product and a business, but you can’t start it that way. To me the genesis of a song has to be honest and unassuming. I truly believe that God hands me these gifts and it is my job to translate them as honestly as I can. You have to let a song be what it is. We can’t lose that. When I write songs, I like to focus on the fact that we are all the same and we are all just searching for answers and trying to make sense of everything. It's about exploring life and celebrating truth when you find it.”
Beautiful Rose
Sean McConnell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And posters hanging on the wall of heros that would never fall.
Summer nights and kick the can, huffy bikes, and peter pan.
But baby this aint neverland no baby this aint never land.
Yeah maybe lifes not what I thought itd be.
Its nothing like my childhood fantasies.
Its harder than I couldve known.
But higher than my hopes could float and better than I ever couldve dreamed.
But Ill take the thorns for this beautiful rose.
Well I heard you can make God laugh by telling him the plans you have.
And now I know that to be true cause I could never dream of you.
Praise the Lord theres something more than what we think we're fighting for.
And think what we'd be missing if we only got what we were wishing for.
Yeah maybe lifes not what I thought itd be.
Its nothing like my childhood fantasies.
Its harder than I couldve known.
But higher than my hopes could float and better than I ever couldve dreamed.
More villans and sad endings I suppose.
But Ill take the thorns for this beautiful rose.
Instutmental)
Well maybe lifes not what i thought its be.
Nothing like my childhood fantasies.
Its harder than i couldve known.
But higher than my hopes could float and better than i ever couldve dreamed.
More villans and sad endings I suppose.
But I'll take the thorns for this beautiful rose.
Ill take the thorns for this beautiful rose.
Instrumental)
In "Beautiful Rose," Sean McConnell reminisces about his childhood and contrasts it with his current reality. He remembers simpler times of playing games like Kick the Can and riding bikes with his friends, all while living in a world where heroes never fall. However, he knows that he can't stay stuck on these memories forever, even if he wishes he could. Life has been harder than he ever could have known, but it has also been better than he could have ever dreamed. He acknowledges that there are more villains and sad endings than he expected, but he will take those thorns and endure them for the sake of the beautiful rose he has found in his life.
The central theme of the song is that life isn't always what we expect it to be, but that doesn't mean it is any less beautiful or worth it. We often have idealized childhood experiences, but as we grow up, we must confront the harsh realities of life. Despite the challenges and unexpected setbacks, we must learn to embrace the thorns in our lives for the sake of the beautiful roses that they help us to find.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember barefoot creek and rolled up huckleberry jeans.
I have memories of carefree childhood adventures spent in a natural setting.
And posters hanging on the wall of heroes that would never fall.
There were images of admired figures that reminded me that no one is perfect and that perseverance is necessary.
Summer nights and kick the can, huffy bikes, and peter pan.
There were moments of fun and imagination that felt endless and magical.
But baby this ain't neverland no baby this ain't never land.
Despite nostalgia, I acknowledge that life is not always easy or fair.
Yeah maybe life's not what I thought it'd be.
I had expectations of what my life would be like, but reality has not met those expectations.
It's nothing like my childhood fantasies.
The ideal scenarios I imagined as a child have not panned out in real life.
It's harder than I could've known.
Life has presented me with obstacles and challenges that I could not have foreseen.
But higher than my hopes could float and better than I ever could've dreamed.
Despite the hardships, there have been moments of happiness and success that exceed even my wildest dreams.
More villains and sad endings I suppose.
While there have been victories, there have also been failures and disappointments.
But I'll take the thorns for this beautiful rose.
Despite the difficulties, I am willing to persevere and face challenges in order to experience the beauty and joy that life can offer.
Well I heard you can make God laugh by telling him the plans you have.
I have learned that sometimes even the best laid plans can go awry, and that a sense of humor is necessary to navigate life's curveballs.
And now I know that to be true cause I could never dream of you.
Meeting someone as wonderful as you was not part of my plan or expectation, but it has brought me immense happiness and gratitude.
Praise the Lord there's something more than what we think we're fighting for.
I am grateful for the blessings and opportunities that have come my way, and acknowledge that there is often more to life than what we initially perceive or pursue.
And think what we'd be missing if we only got what we were wishing for.
If I had only followed my own narrow desires and goals, I would have missed out on many unexpected joys and experiences.
Contributed by Jonathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.