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A Good Year For The Roses Lyrics
can hardly bare the sight of lipstick
on the cigar-[D]-ettes there [A] in the ashtray
lyin? cold the way you left them
at least your lips caress-[D]-ed them [A] while you packed
And a [D] lip print on a half-filled cup of coffee
that you poured and [A] didn?t drink
but at [E] least you thought you wanted it
that?s so much more than I can say [A] for me
Chorus:
But what a good year for the [D] roses
[E] many blooms still linger [A] there
the lawn could stand another [D] mowin?
[E] it?s funny, I don?t even [A] care
and when you turned and walked [D] away
[E] and as the door behind you [D] closes [A]
the only thing I know to [D] say
[E] it?s been a good year for the [D] roses [A]
[A] After three full years of marriage
it?s the first time that you [D] haven?t [A] made the bed
I guess the reason we?re not talkin?
there?s so little left to say, [D] we [A] haven?t said
while a [D] million thoughts go runnin? through my mind
I find I haven?t [A] spoke a word
and from the [E] bedroom those familiar sounds
of our one baby?s cryin? goes un-[A]-heard
on the cigar-[D]-ettes there [A] in the ashtray
lyin? cold the way you left them
at least your lips caress-[D]-ed them [A] while you packed
that you poured and [A] didn?t drink
but at [E] least you thought you wanted it
that?s so much more than I can say [A] for me
But what a good year for the [D] roses
[E] many blooms still linger [A] there
the lawn could stand another [D] mowin?
[E] it?s funny, I don?t even [A] care
and when you turned and walked [D] away
[E] and as the door behind you [D] closes [A]
the only thing I know to [D] say
[E] it?s been a good year for the [D] roses [A]
it?s the first time that you [D] haven?t [A] made the bed
I guess the reason we?re not talkin?
there?s so little left to say, [D] we [A] haven?t said
while a [D] million thoughts go runnin? through my mind
I find I haven?t [A] spoke a word
and from the [E] bedroom those familiar sounds
of our one baby?s cryin? goes un-[A]-heard
Song Info
Submitted by
butneveroutgunned On May 25, 2006
More George Jones
He Stopped Loving Her Today
She Thinks I Still Care
Golden Ring
Roly Poly
The Grand Tour
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Thanks for adding the tabs with these lyrics! BTW, Elvis Costello does a killer cover of this song--and he writes a lot of great country tunes himself.
@pharmageek yes, what a great song. Love Elvis C's version as well. Cheers.
@pharmageek yes, what a great song. Love Elvis C's version as well. Cheers.
This is just superb song writing. It reads almost like a Raymond Carver short story lingering on details and traces. The humanity of this sad story is revealed in its many sensual references, the caress of lips, the taste of coffee, the smell of roses, the cry of an infant. Subtle and clever references – “a half-filled cup” – half-empty or half-full? A life changing decision based-on the answer. The last stanza is particularly heart-breaking, the singer’s adult mind is racing but can’t form words while the lonely frightened child cries alone in the bedroom.