Self-taught on the guitar, Otis Whitman worked at a shipyard in Tampa while developing a musical career, eventually performing with a band known as the "Variety Rhythm Boys". Whitman's first big break came when agent Colonel Tom Parker heard him singing on the radio and offered to represent him. Signed with RCA Records, he was billed as the cowboy singer, "Slim Whitman" and released his first 45rpm single in 1948. He toured and sang at a variety of venues including on the popular radio show, the Louisiana Hayride.
He only became a full time musician in the early 1950s after he recorded a version of the Bob Nolan hit Love Song of the Waterfall that made it into the country music Top 10 chart. His next single, Indian Love Call, was even more successful, going to the No.2 position (and actually saving the world in the 1996 movie Mars Attacks! where it proves fatal to the invading Martians). A yodeler, Whitman avoided the "down on yer luck-buried in booze" songs, preferring instead to sing laid-back romantic melodies about simple life and love.
In 1955, in the United Kingdom, he had a No.1 hit on the pop music charts with Rose Marie. With eleven weeks at the top of the charts, the song set a record that lasted for thirty-six years. Soon after recording this big hit Whitman was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry and in 1957, along with other musical stars, he appeared in the film musical, Jamboree. Despite this type of exposure, he never achieved the level of stardom in the United States that he did in Britain where he had a number of hits during the 1950s and 60s. Throughout the early 1970s, he continued to record and was a guest on Wolfman Jack's musical television show, The Midnight Special. At the time, Whitman's recording efforts were yielding only minor hits and in 1974 he stopped making new records.
Bouquet of Roses
Slim Whitman Lyrics
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One for every time you broke my heart
And as the door of love between us closes
Tears will fall like petals when we part
I begged you to be different, but you'll always be untrue
I'm tired of forgivin', now there's nothin' left to do
One for every time you broke my heart
I know that I should hate you after all you've put me through
But how can I be bitter when I'm still in love with you?
So I'm sending you a big bouquet of roses
One for every time you broke my heart
The lyrics to Slim Whitman's song Bouquet of Roses express the bitterness and sadness felt by the singer after enduring repeated heartbreak from his lover. In the opening lines, he sends a big bouquet of roses to his lover, but it's not just any romantic gesture. Instead, the singer has sent one rose for every time his lover has broken his heart. As the relationship is coming to an end, the singer compares this painful process to a door closing between them, and the tears that fall are as numerous as the rose petals.
The singer's emotions are raw, and he reveals his frustration about repeatedly forgiving his lover, only to be hurt again. However, in the final verse, he admits that despite everything, he is still in love with his lover. The singer is conflicted about whether he should hate his lover after all the hurtful actions, but he finds it hard to feel bitter towards someone he still loves. This song is a powerful example of the complicated emotions involved in a break-up and how it can be hard to let go of feelings of love and affection, even if the relationship has been damaging.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sending you a big bouquet of roses
I'm sending you a grand tribute of flowers
One for every time you broke my heart
There's one flower for every instance you've hurt me
And as the door of love between us closes
Our romantic relationship is ending soon
Tears will fall like petals when we part
It will be emotional and sad when we say goodbye
I begged you to be different, but you'll always be untrue
I wanted you to change, but you remain unfaithful
I'm tired of forgivin', now there's nothin' left to do
I'm exhausted from constantly forgiving you, and there's no hope left
I know that I should hate you after all you've put me through
Although you've caused me so much pain, I should despise you
But how can I be bitter when I'm still in love with you?
But it's difficult to feel resentful when I still have feelings for you
So I'm sending you a big bouquet of roses
I'm still sending you a grand tribute of flowers
One for every time you broke my heart
There's still one flower for every instance you've hurt me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Hilliard, Steve Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind