A live cut from their 1994 Voodoo Lounge Tour can be found on the 1995 live album Stripped. The Stones performed the song on September 29, 2006 during their A Bigger Bang Tour at Louisville's famed Churchill Downs, in reference to a line from the song.
Dead Flowers
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Talkin' to some rich folk that you know
Well I hope you won't see me in my ragged company
Well, you know I could never be alone
Take me down little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave
Well when you're sitting back in your rose pink Cadillac
Making bets on Kentucky Derby Day
Ah, I'll be in my basement room with a needle and a spoon
And another girl to take my pain away
Take me down little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the mail
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave
Take me down little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the U.S. Mail
Say it with dead flowers in my wedding
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave
No, I won't forget to put roses on your grave
The Rolling Stones' song "Dead Flowers" is an ode to resilience and the human spirit. The lyrics are delivered from the perspective of someone who may be down on their luck and not living up to societal standards. The opening lines, "Well when you're sitting there in your silk upholstered chair, Talkin' to some rich folk that you know," are a clear indication of the class divide being addressed in this song. The singer is not living up to the expectations of high society, but is defiant in their own way. They acknowledge that they could never fit in with the rich and affluent but that they also would never be alone. This speaks to the idea that even those living in the margins of society can find comfort in knowing that they are not alone.
The chorus of the song is almost a plea to someone who may be more in the mainstream, to "Take me down little Susie," to show them something different. The reference to Susie being the queen of the underground is an acknowledgement that there are other ways of life that exist beyond what the mainstream may offer. This is followed by the singer asking for "dead flowers" to be sent their way in order to show that even in death, they will not be broken. The reference to having roses put on their grave is a gesture of defiance in the face of societal norms, as roses are typically what one would expect to see at a grave.
Overall, "Dead Flowers" is a song that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It is a call to those living outside of societal norms to stand strong and to embrace their differences. It is a reminder that even in death, one can still be unbroken.
Line by Line Meaning
Well when you're sitting there in your silk upholstered chair
When you're comfortably seated in your luxurious lifestyle.
Talkin' to some rich folk that you know
Speaking with people who live similarly wealthy lifestyles.
Well I hope you won't see me in my ragged company
I don't want you to witness me with my poor friends.
Well, you know I could never be alone
I need my friends, even if they're poor.
Take me down little Susie, take me down
Take me away from all this, Susie.
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
You may consider yourself to rule the darker parts of society.
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
You may even try to send me a message with these flowers.
Send me dead flowers by the mail
You can send your message by mailing me dead flowers.
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
Even if I get married, I won't forget your message.
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave
Still, I won't forget to pay my respects to you someday.
Well when you're sitting back in your rose pink Cadillac
When you're cruising in your fancy car.
Making bets on Kentucky Derby Day
Placing bets on horse races.
Ah, I'll be in my basement room with a needle and a spoon
As for me, I'll be alone with my drug addiction.
And another girl to take my pain away
But I'll find someone to distract me from the pain.
Send me dead flowers by the U.S. Mail
Again, even if you use the mail to send me your message.
Say it with dead flowers in my wedding
Even if I get married and start a new life, you may keep trying to reach me.
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave
In the end, I still won't forget to honor you properly.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jaggers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@thepeckhampoet1909
This performance for me is the ultimate Mick and Keith performance of all.
@wolfgangrittner6637
Hahahaha Yes ist is for me as well! Amazing background singing from Keith!
@thomasandersen2764
But as they started so inspired Taylor's guitar cleans out the dance floor
@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe
@thomasandersen2764 so that means he might be better say maybe than Tonyy Iommi?
@jayjay66111
this is the absolute pinnacle of rock n roll right here, soaring to unmatched heights, seeing mick and keith sharing a mic while grinning from ear to ear never fails to make me smile, oh and mick taylor.
@billsmith9966
You are correct sir
@j.mcconnell5260
Best Stone's country music. Maybe anyone.
@markmiwurdz202
@J McConnell. I have seen Steve Earle cover this song live some years ago here in the U.K. Steve introduced "Dead Flowers" saying something like "And here is a perfectly good British hillbilly song". Kind of says it all really. Stay safe and well.
@j.mcconnell5260
@@markmiwurdz202 the great Townes Van Zandt covering it says more than anything.
@j.mcconnell5260
@@markmiwurdz202 American musicians were stumped by invasion music co-opting Americana. Americans recovered nicely a good example "tell me why" Nora Jones.