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For The Roses Lyrics
I heard it in the wind last night
It sounded like applause
Did you get a round resounding for you
Way up here
It seems like many dim years ago
Since I heard that face to face
Or seen you face to face
Though tonight I can feel you here
I get these notes
On butterflies and lilac sprays
From girls who just have to tell me
They saw you somewhere
In some office sits a poet
And he trembles as he sings
And he asks some guy
To circulate his soul around
On your mark red ribbon runner
The caressing rev of motors
Finely tuned like fancy women
In thirties evening gowns
Up the charts
Off to the airport-
Your name's in the news
Everything's first class-
The lights go down-
And it's just you up there
Getting them to feel like that
Remember the days when you used to sit
And make up your tunes for love
And pour your simple sorrow
To the soundhole and your knee
And now you're seen
On giant screens
And at parties for the press
And for people who have slices of you
From the company
They toss around your latest golden egg
Speculation-well, who's to know
If the next one in the nest
Will glitter for them so
I guess I seem ungrateful
With my teeth sunk in the hand
That brings me things
I really can't give up just yet
Now I sit up here
The critic!
And they introduce some band
But they seem so much confetti
Looking at them on my TV set
Oh the power and the glory
Just when you're getting a taste for worship
They start bringing out the hammers
And the boards
And the nails
I heard it in the wind last night
It sounded like applause
Chilly now
End of summer
No more shiny hot nights
It was just the arbutus rustling
And the bumping of the logs
And the moon swept down black water
Like an empty spotlight
It sounded like applause
Did you get a round resounding for you
Way up here
It seems like many dim years ago
Since I heard that face to face
Or seen you face to face
Though tonight I can feel you here
I get these notes
On butterflies and lilac sprays
From girls who just have to tell me
They saw you somewhere
And he trembles as he sings
And he asks some guy
To circulate his soul around
On your mark red ribbon runner
The caressing rev of motors
Finely tuned like fancy women
In thirties evening gowns
Up the charts
Off to the airport-
Your name's in the news
Everything's first class-
The lights go down-
And it's just you up there
Getting them to feel like that
And make up your tunes for love
And pour your simple sorrow
To the soundhole and your knee
And now you're seen
On giant screens
And at parties for the press
And for people who have slices of you
From the company
They toss around your latest golden egg
Speculation-well, who's to know
If the next one in the nest
Will glitter for them so
With my teeth sunk in the hand
That brings me things
I really can't give up just yet
Now I sit up here
The critic!
And they introduce some band
But they seem so much confetti
Looking at them on my TV set
Oh the power and the glory
Just when you're getting a taste for worship
They start bringing out the hammers
And the boards
And the nails
It sounded like applause
Chilly now
End of summer
No more shiny hot nights
It was just the arbutus rustling
And the bumping of the logs
And the moon swept down black water
Like an empty spotlight
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I heard it in the wind last night It sounded like applause Chilly now End of summer No more shiny hot nights It was just the arbutus rustling And the bumping of the logs And the moon swept down black water Like an empty spotlight
If there's a better-written verse than this anywhere in popular music, then I've never seen it. A masterful song brought to a spine-tingling end.
This song is killer... So sad, so thought provoking... As many of Joni's songs are.
This is one of the first songs to demonstrate Joni's growing distaste for the music business. And though it's a topic that has been endlessly written about, Joni has the rare ability to make it new:
"They toss around your latest golden egg Speculation - Well, who's to know If the next one in the nest will glitter for them so"
And
"I guess I seem ungrateful With my teeth sunk in the hand That brings me things I really can't give up just yet"
Seriously priceless.
this song and the whole album 'For the rosses" isjust unbeleiveable good. if she had a dick she'd have been ten times more popular than dylan. she just so lovely-ly ahead of her time. this, much under acknowledged, album was like man on the moon when it came out people were like "how the fuck did she come up with that?" im still asking.
Joni is a true one of a kind original, a BRILLIANT lyricist and musician. Lyrically, only Dylan comes close to her poetry, but musically she is completely superior to him. It is my understanding that this song is not only about her ambivalance towards the music industry, but a little bit of a jab at James Taylor, with whom she had a brief affair:
Remember the days when you used to sit And make up your tunes for love And pour your simple sorrow To the soundhole and your knee
what's the meaning of the song? what is this song about?
@tt10707081 The main point of that song is Joni's growing hate for fame and music showbusiness and giving up with living in the city. Some say that she sings also about James Taylor but Joni has never admitted that.
@tt10707081 The main point of that song is Joni's growing hate for fame and music showbusiness and giving up with living in the city. Some say that she sings also about James Taylor but Joni has never admitted that.
It's about fame and the music business, and maybe a little James Taylor...