Dapple Rose
Slade Lyrics


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Once kept in a stable snug and warm
But now he's growing old in open fields
He's forced to go
He often stands in hail, rain, freezing snow
He's certain that his master
Doesn't mean him any harm

Dapple Rose he doesn't want you anymore
Times gone by you will remember
Dapple Rose you are cold and old and slow
Times gone by you will remember

His clothing was a shiny coat so fine
But now he's growing old
And his beauty does decay
One night he heard his master frown and say
No poor old bones could stand this life of mine

Dapple Rose he doesn't want you anymore
Times gone by you will remember
Dapple Rose you were cold and old and slow
Times gone by you will remember

His food was of the best corn and best hay
But now there's no such thing
And he hardly eats at all
He lives on sprouts that grow behind the wall
I doubt if he'll be lucky to last another day

Dapple Rose he doesn't want you anymore
Times gone by you will remember
Dapple Rose you were cold and old and slow
Times gone by you will remember

Don't feel so bad, feel so sad
No more wearing shiny glory
Now they hang upon the wall




The hall in some far gone manor
Not a soul realizes you're a Dapple Rose of fame

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Slade's song Dapple Rose seem to narrate the story of a horse who was once kept in a stable, snuggled up and warm, but as he grew old, he was moved to open fields and had to endure harsh weather conditions such as hail, rain, and freezing snow. The horse seems to understand that his master doesn't wish him any harm despite the tough conditions he is now living in. He is now long forgotten and is no longer appreciated as much he was before, though he had a time of glory and fame.


The horse is called Dapple Rose, and the song suggests that he is incredibly old, cold, and slow, indicating that he is unlikely to last another day. His master no longer wants him; in fact, he can hardly afford to feed him. Dapple Rose used to feast on the best corn and hay, but now he lives on sprouts that grow behind the wall.

Slade's song revolves around the idea that Dapple Rose was used to the best, from clothes to food, but now he is no longer appreciated, and no one realizes that he was once a horse of fame. The song has an element of sadness and melancholy, reflecting on Dapple Rose's present reality, where he is no longer cherished, and he is growing old, cold, and slow.


Line by Line Meaning

Once kept in a stable snug and warm
Dapple Rose was once cared for and protected in a stable


But now he's growing old in open fields
Dapple Rose is now old and left to fend for himself in the fields


He's forced to go
He has no say in his situation and is at the mercy of his surroundings


He often stands in hail, rain, freezing snow
Exposed to extreme weather conditions, Dapple Rose endures through hardship


He's certain that his master
Despite his current state, Dapple Rose holds no grudges against his master


Doesn't mean him any harm
He knows that his master never meant to do him wrong


Dapple Rose he doesn't want you anymore
His master no longer wants him and has abandoned him


Times gone by you will remember
Dapple Rose reflects on better times, as memories are all that's left now


His clothing was a shiny coat so fine
Dapple Rose used to wear a superb coat, once prized and envied


But now he's growing old
As time passed, Dapple Rose's appearance declined as he got older


And his beauty does decay
Dapple Rose is no more the most beautiful horse that he used to be


One night he heard his master frown and say
Dapple Rose heard his master express dissatisfaction with him


No poor old bones could stand this life of mine
His master confirms that he no longer wants Dapple Rose as he grows old


His food was of the best corn and best hay
Dapple Rose was once fed the finest foods, reflecting the high regard he was held in


But now there's no such thing
In his desperate state, Dapple Rose now struggles to find enough food to sustain him


And he hardly eats at all
Dapple Rose struggles with hunger and malnourishment


He lives on sprouts that grow behind the wall
To avoid starvation, Dapple Rose tries to find sustenance anywhere he can


I doubt if he'll be lucky to last another day
Given his current situation and state of health, Dapple Rose may not live much longer


Don't feel so bad, feel so sad
There's no point in feeling sorrow or guilt over what Dapple Rose has been through


No more wearing shiny glory
The once beautiful coat of Dapple Rose is now no more than a memory


Now they hang upon the wall
The coat now hangs as nothing more than decoration on a wall


The hall in some far gone manor
The coat hangs in a distant place, where people may not even be aware of its original owner


Not a soul realizes you're a Dapple Rose of fame
Nobody knows or cares about the sad fate of the once-famous Dapple Rose




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DON POWELL, JIM LEA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Bon Belami

Once kept in a stable snug and warm
But now he's growing old in open fields
He's forced to go
He often stands in hail, rain, freezing snow
He's certain that his master
Doesn't mean him any harm

Dapple Rose he doesn't want you anymore
Times gone by you will remember
Dapple Rose you are cold and old and slow
Times gone by you will remember

His clothing was a shiny coat so fine
But now he's growing old
And his beauty does decay
One night he heard his master frown and say
No poor old bones could stand this life of mine

Dapple Rose he doesn't want you anymore
Times gone by you will remember
Dapple Rose you were cold and old and slow
Times gone by you will remember

His food was of the best corn and best hay
But now there's no such thing
And he hardly eats at all
He lives on sprouts that grow behind the wall
I doubt if he'll be lucky to last another day

Dapple Rose he doesn't want you anymore
Times gone by you will remember
Dapple Rose you were cold and old and slow
Times gone by you will remember

Don't feel so bad, feel so sad
No more wearing shiny glory
Now they hang upon the wall
In the hall in some far gone manor
Not a soul realizes you're a Dapple Rose of fame



All comments from YouTube:

8wellbank

All these years later from being a spotty teenager I love to listen to these slade classics. 62 years old now. Takes me back to those days Timeless

Verve

А я Русский и мне Slade и эта песня тоже очень нравится!

robbosp

You have to come from the BLack Country to understand this song. In the early sixties we had lots of little farmlets in the Black Country and they all had old horses which were being put out to pasture because of the mechanisation of all our local industries.. I used to walk past a dapple rose every day on my way too school, he used to pull the milk cart, now he was just an old horse in a small field.. I love this song, rekindles fond memories

Verve

Нихрена не нужно! Достаточно быть Русским чтобы понять песню на английском языке

MWS

I bet you'll like 'Heavy Horses' by Jethro Tull (1978):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDYK5SBnVaQ

Zena Merton

Excellent. I didn't get into Slade until a kid in the '80s. When I found this album in Beanos (Europe's biggest 2nd hand record shop at the time, in Croydon) I loved it. Not what I was expecting. And this was my fave song on the album. Peace.

stan dawson

For me early Slade classic,brilliant as ever with as usual superb vocals from the one and only Noddy Holder !! Bought this album 1971 aged 18 and sounds as good today as it did then !!

eveningtsar

Damn they wrote alot of songs. Every time I think I've exhausted them, I find another one! And they're Good songs too! Possibly the highest concentration of really good songs of any band I know.

NumbuggaStudios

I was once banned from playing this song because it was too sad. Slade were fantastic. I love this song.

Tuten Vanman

If you love this listen to Rag and Bone by Steve Ellis.

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