As I understand it, the singer is visiting his ex for a birthday party for one of their kids. After the party, the two of them are alone and, as sometimes happens, they have sex (but it is not a recommencement of their relationship). In any event, sometime during the evening (likely before they have sex), the singer discovers a red rose pressed in his ex's Bible, which he understands to be a momento from some love that his ex lost (but not him). During their love-making, the ex's passion is nothing like he ever experienced when they were together, but he understands that her passion is not for him (the singer), but rather, is a manifestation of her passion for whomever the pressed red rose represents for his ex.
To elborate on the above somewhat, it is important to distinguish between the song's inspiration, and the story actually being told in the song. JP's liner notes explain that the situation that inspired him (in part) was something he experienced as a kid:
To elborate on the above somewhat, it is important to distinguish between the song's inspiration, and the story actually being told in the song. JP's liner notes explain that the situation that inspired him (in part) was something he experienced as a kid:
"I stayed overnight at my cousin Charlie Bill's. It was the back of a general store in Paradise. There was a tin roof and a wonderful thunderstorm going on above and around us."
"We were telling ghost stories and staying up late, and there was a curtain separating the bedroom from the mature adults' kitchen. Our light was...
"I stayed overnight at my cousin Charlie Bill's. It was the back of a general store in Paradise. There was a tin roof and a wonderful thunderstorm going on above and around us."
"We were telling ghost stories and staying up late, and there was a curtain separating the bedroom from the mature adults' kitchen. Our light was off. Thus, their 'kitchen light fell asleep on the bedroom floor', I was nine."
In the song, he is on the other side of the curtain, having an experience with his ex.
As I understand it, the singer is visiting his ex for a birthday party for one of their kids. After the party, the two of them are alone and, as sometimes happens, they have sex (but it is not a recommencement of their relationship). In any event, sometime during the evening (likely before they have sex), the singer discovers a red rose pressed in his ex's Bible, which he understands to be a momento from some love that his ex lost (but not him). During their love-making, the ex's passion is nothing like he ever experienced when they were together, but he understands that her passion is not for him (the singer), but rather, is a manifestation of her passion for whomever the pressed red rose represents for his ex.
To elborate on the above somewhat, it is important to distinguish between the song's inspiration, and the story actually being told in the song. JP's liner notes explain that the situation that inspired him (in part) was something he experienced as a kid:
To elborate on the above somewhat, it is important to distinguish between the song's inspiration, and the story actually being told in the song. JP's liner notes explain that the situation that inspired him (in part) was something he experienced as a kid:
"I stayed overnight at my cousin Charlie Bill's. It was the back of a general store in Paradise. There was a tin roof and a wonderful thunderstorm going on above and around us." "We were telling ghost stories and staying up late, and there was a curtain separating the bedroom from the mature adults' kitchen. Our light was...
"I stayed overnight at my cousin Charlie Bill's. It was the back of a general store in Paradise. There was a tin roof and a wonderful thunderstorm going on above and around us." "We were telling ghost stories and staying up late, and there was a curtain separating the bedroom from the mature adults' kitchen. Our light was off. Thus, their 'kitchen light fell asleep on the bedroom floor', I was nine."
In the song, he is on the other side of the curtain, having an experience with his ex.