In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
The crimson tide is flowing through your fingers as you sleep
The promise of a clean regime are promises we keep
Do you like it rough I ask and are you up to task?
The catacombs of bet and bone where cultures come to clash
Several of my best friends wear,
The colors of the crown
And Mary wants to fill it up,
And Sherry wants to tear it all back down, girl
The savior of your light
The monarchy of roses
The monarchy of roses tonight
The cloth between my former queen, her legendary stare
The holy tears that I am in, the lovely cross to bear
Several of my best friends know,
The secrets of this town
And Mary wants to raise it up,
And Sherry wants to spit it all around, girl
The sailors of the night
The monarchy of roses
The monarchy of roses tonight
Several of my best friends wear,
The colors of the crown
And Mary wants to fill it up,
And Sherry wants to tear it all back down, girl
The savior of your light
The monarchy of roses
The monarchy of roses
Hey yeah
We all want the rose you know
I said, hey yeah
Show us love before you go
Say I will, and then say I'll want to
The story of love that I'll never taunt you
Hey yeah
We all want the rose you know
I said, hey yeah
Show us love before you go
Say I will, and then I'll say I want to
The story of love that I'll always want you
Hey
The promise of a clean regime are promises we keep
Do you like it rough I ask and are you up to task?
The catacombs of bet and bone where cultures come to clash
Several of my best friends wear,
The colors of the crown
And Mary wants to fill it up,
And Sherry wants to tear it all back down, girl
The savior of your light
The monarchy of roses
The monarchy of roses tonight
The cloth between my former queen, her legendary stare
The holy tears that I am in, the lovely cross to bear
Several of my best friends know,
The secrets of this town
And Mary wants to raise it up,
And Sherry wants to spit it all around, girl
The sailors of the night
The monarchy of roses
The monarchy of roses tonight
Several of my best friends wear,
The colors of the crown
And Mary wants to fill it up,
And Sherry wants to tear it all back down, girl
The savior of your light
The monarchy of roses
The monarchy of roses
Hey yeah
We all want the rose you know
I said, hey yeah
Show us love before you go
Say I will, and then say I'll want to
The story of love that I'll never taunt you
Hey yeah
We all want the rose you know
I said, hey yeah
Show us love before you go
Say I will, and then I'll say I want to
The story of love that I'll always want you
Hey
Lyrics submitted by aristuma21, edited by Kalico37, strychninetwitch
Monarchy of Roses Lyrics as written by Anthony Kiedis Michael Balzary
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It sounds like it has something to do with England (Monarchy of Roses) and Ireland (The holy tears of Ireland). Maybe the troubles in the North. Can't quite figure it out though. Any ideas!?
@Dorfcb Also "many of my best friends wear the colors of the crown" and "monarchy of roses" often refers to the war of the roses where the house of white rose fouhgt the house of red rose in England. I think, remembering this from like 4th grade.