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Run For The Roses Lyrics

Born in the valley and raised in the trees
Of Western Kentucky on wobbly knees
With mama beside you to help you along
You'll soon be a-growing up strong

All the long, lazy mornings in pastures of green
The sun on your withers, the wind in your mane
Could never prepare you for what lies ahead
The run for the roses so red

And it's run for the roses as fast as you can
Your fate is delivered, your moment's at hand
It's the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance
And it's high time you joined in the dance
It's high time you joined in the dance

From sire to sire, it's born in the blood
The fire of a mare and the strength of a stud
It's breeding and it's training and it's something unknown
That drives you and carries you home

And it's run for the roses as fast as you can
Your fate is delivered, your moment's at hand
It's the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance
And it's high time you joined in the dance
It's high time you joined in the dance
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7 Meanings

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Cover art for Run For The Roses lyrics by Dan Fogelberg

You have to understand that Dan Fogelberg's Album, "The Innocent Age" - he called it a song cycle - is about a person's life from the very beginning until death. Run For The Roses is about being a person who is at the moment in life when they are finally coming into their own as they were meant to since birth. It's about losing the innocence of youth, all the soul searching, the struggles gone through to get to the point where you are taking your first brave step out into your adult life. It's an encouragement to take that step, "It's a chance of a lifetime, In a lifetime of chance, And it's high time you joined in the dance" You've got everything you need to be successful.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Run For The Roses lyrics by Dan Fogelberg

"The Run for the Roses" is literally the KY Derby. But the lyrics "It's the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance" refers to all of us, not just this horse, ie, "Go for it!" when the time comes.

Cover art for Run For The Roses lyrics by Dan Fogelberg

its about a horse, sure, but that wasnt the only meaning it had.

Song Meaning
Cover art for Run For The Roses lyrics by Dan Fogelberg

i never knew what this song was about, i thought it was about a person, i just figured it out. its about a horse!!! still a good song

@poohbluesky It's definitely about more that a horse.

Cover art for Run For The Roses lyrics by Dan Fogelberg

"Run for the Roses" is about horse racing. When a horse wins a race, they are draped with a banner of roses. Those are the roses the song is telling them to run for. (This song may be referring specifically to the Kentucky Derby. I'm not sure.)

Cover art for Run For The Roses lyrics by Dan Fogelberg

Yeah it's about the Kentucky Derby..and it took Dan about two hours to write it.RIP to Dan...this song will live on forever!!

Cover art for Run For The Roses lyrics by Dan Fogelberg

Love hearing this along with "My Old Kentucky Home" around the First Saturday in May.