The Rockrose and the Thistle
The Amazing Devil Lyrics


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When you call to me asleep
Up the ragged cliffs I scramble
A single thread hangs limply down
And I breathe not now, not now

And I find you all unwoven
Trying desperately to sew
I know the kindest thing
Is to leave you alone

When your seams have come unknitted
And you cry out to the sky
I've run out of my words, my song
Just let me die, me die

The rockrose and the thistle
Will whistle as you moan
I could try to calm you down
But I know you won't

All the pins inside your fretted head
And your muttered whens and hows
All your mother's weaves and your father's threads
Let me rob them of you now

Cos I'll darn you back together
When you think that you're bereft
And you'll wail, you'll scream, but I'll never stop
Cos it's all that I have left

I wake and hear you calling
And up those cliffs I climb
And I find you with a thimble weeping
May I, I ask, may I?
And you gently gift it to me

Cos you've no clue how to sew
And I know the kindest thing
I pray to god it's the kindest thing




I know the kindest thing
Is to never leave you alone

Overall Meaning

The Amazing Devil’s song "The Rockrose and the Thistle" describes the complex emotions that go with trying to comfort and be there for someone who is struggling with their own anguish. The first stanza describes the singer's desperate attempt to reach their lover, who is calling out to them in their sleep, by climbing up ragged cliffs. However, when they finally reach their lover, they find them broken and unwoven, trying to mend themselves. The singer realizes that they must leave them alone, even though it breaks their heart to do so.


The following stanzas describe the intense pain and sadness that the singer's lover is experiencing. The rockrose and thistle, which are symbolic of resilience and survival, try to soothe their cries. The singer wants to help, but they don't know how to fix them. They feel helpless and overwhelmed, and they can only hope that, in the end, their love will be enough to never leave them alone, no matter how hard it becomes.


Overall, "The Rockrose and the Thistle" is a heartbreaking and deeply moving song about the heavy burden of loving and trying to protect someone who is consumed by their own pain.


Line by Line Meaning

When you call to me asleep
When you need me in times of vulnerability and weakness


Up the ragged cliffs I scramble
I climb the rough edges to reach you where you are


A single thread hangs limply down
Your frayed edges and distress are evident


And I breathe not now, not now
It's hard to confront the reality of your suffering


And I find you all unwoven
You're falling apart at the seams


Trying desperately to sew
Despite your attempts to repair yourself, you're struggling


I know the kindest thing
I understand that being there for you while you self-soothe is the most loving approach


Is to leave you alone
Even though I'm here, I won't intrude, and I'll wait for you to be ready for help


When your seams have come unknitted
When you reach the breaking point and can no longer hold yourself together


And you cry out to the sky
When the emotional pain becomes too much to bear


I've run out of my words, my song
I don't know what to say or do to ease your pain


Just let me die, me die
I feel powerless to help and that I'm not making a difference


The rockrose and the thistle
The sounds of nature remind me of your anguished cries


Will whistle as you moan
The noises of the wind and wildflowers are ambient in your painful moments


I could try to calm you down
I can attempt to soothe you


But I know you won't
But you need to go through the pain in order to heal


All the pins inside your fretted head
I recognize the complexity of your mental and emotional distress


And your muttered whens and hows
I acknowledge that you need answers and clarity about your situation


All your mother's weaves and your father's threads
I'm going to put you back together, even though your upbringing may have contributed to your unraveling


Let me rob them of you now
I'll temporarily take away your pain


Cos I'll darn you back together
I'll help you repair yourself


When you think that you're bereft
When you feel like you have nothing left to give


And you'll wail, you'll scream, but I'll never stop
You'll express your emotion, but I'll always be there for you


Cos it's all that I have left
Helping you is my only priority and purpose in this moment


I wake and hear you calling
I'm always listening for you in case you need me


And up those cliffs I climb
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to reach you


And I find you with a thimble weeping
I see you trying to help or comfort yourself, but crying instead


May I, I ask, may I?
May I help you repair yourself?


And you gently gift it to me
You accept my help and let me participate in your healing journey


Cos you've no clue how to sew
You admit that you're unprepared to fix yourself


And I know the kindest thing
I remember that being understanding and patient is the most compassionate thing for me to do


I pray to god it's the kindest thing
I hope that supporting you is the right thing to do


I know the kindest thing
I'm confident that I'm doing the right thing


Is to never leave you alone
I'll always be here for you, no matter what you're going through




Contributed by Chloe Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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