A Rose For Emily
The Zombies featuring Colin Blunstone & Rod Argent Lyrics
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The sky is overcast
And no one brings a rose for Emily
She watches her flowers grow
While lovers come and go
To give each other roses from her tree
But not a rose for Emily
Emily, can't you see
There's nothing you can do?
There's loving everywhere
But none for you
Her roses are fading now
She keeps her pride somehow
That's all she has protecting her from pain
And as the years go by
She will grow old and die
The roses in her garden fade away
Not one left for her grave
Not a rose for Emily
Emily, can't you see
There's nothing you can do?
There's loving everywhere
But none for you
Her roses are fading now
She keeps her pride somehow
That's all she has protecting her from pain
And as the years go by
She will grow old and die
The roses in her garden fade away
Not one left for her grave
Not a rose for Emily
The lyrics of The Zombies' song "A Rose for Emily" tell a story of a woman named Emily who lives a lonely life in her garden, watching as other couples come and go and exchange roses from her tree. The song creates a melancholic mood with the repetition of the line "But not a rose for Emily" throughout. Emily seems to be aware of her situation, but she still holds onto her pride as her only protection from the pain of her loneliness. The heartbreaking ending of the song where no one brings a rose for her grave implies that Emily has died alone and forgotten.
The song is based on a short story of the same name by William Faulkner. The story is about Emily Grierson, a woman from a prominent family who lives in isolation in her decaying home, refusing to accept the passage of time and change that comes with it. The song uses the symbolism of the rose as a gift of love and affection that Emily longs for but never receives, emphasizing the theme of lost opportunities and missed connections.
Line by Line Meaning
The summer is here at last
After a long, cold winter, summer has finally arrived
The sky is overcast
Although it is summer, the sky is cloudy and gray
And no one brings a rose for Emily
Despite the season and the presence of flowers, no one offers Emily a rose
She watches her flowers grow
Emily spends her time tending to her garden and observing her plants as they flourish
While lovers come and go
People in relationships come and leave her vicinity, but not with her
To give each other roses from her tree
Lovers take roses from Emily's garden to give to one another
But not a rose for Emily
Despite her efforts, no one brings a rose specifically for Emily
Emily, can't you see
Someone is addressing Emily and expressing concern for her well-being
There's nothing you can do?
Emily is helpless and cannot change the situation
There's loving everywhere
There are people in love all around, except for Emily
But none for you
Despite love being present, Emily cannot find someone to love her in return
Her roses are fading now
The flowers in Emily's garden are beginning to wither and die
She keeps her pride somehow
Despite her loneliness and lack of companionship, Emily still maintains her dignity and self-respect
That's all she has protecting her from pain
Her pride is the only thing that shields her from emotional distress and heartbreak
And as the years go by
Time passes and Emily grows older
She will grow old and die
Emily will age and eventually pass away
The roses in her garden fade away
Over time, the last remnants of her connection to the world, her garden, will also fade away
Not one left for her grave
Even in death, Emily will not receive a rose
Not a rose for Emily
Once again, the theme of loneliness and neglect is reinforced
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: R. ARGENT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind