"Little Susie" is a reference to the "brown-eyed susan" which is a metaphor for brown heroin, one of the more common forms of the opiate.
"Roses" is yet another flower which has been used as a metaphor or "street slang" for many years to allude to heroin.
"Dead Flowers" in general means "poppies which have been harvested and from which the opiate has been derived."
The power of heroin to kill pain is legendary -including the emotional pain from a broken relationship.
In the 1960's and 70's one way to deliver heroin was to place small amounts in a letter and use the US Postal System. Back then, before the days of technology to detect narcotics in the mail, and in the days when the American political system actually observed people's rights to 4th amendment privacy, heroin could be sent through the mail virtually risk-free to either the sender or the receiver.
"Dead Flowers" actually has to do with Keith's buddy Gram Parsons' wife sending him flowers while he was in England. By the time they tracked him down, the flowers were, of course, dead. I remember reading this from perhaps the book by Rolling Stone editor and writer Ben Fong-Torres. Maybe another source? Anyway both Keith and Gram found it funny.
"Dead Flowers" actually has to do with Keith's buddy Gram Parsons' wife sending him flowers while he was in England. By the time they tracked him down, the flowers were, of course, dead. I remember reading this from perhaps the book by Rolling Stone editor and writer Ben Fong-Torres. Maybe another source? Anyway both Keith and Gram found it funny.
Um, I know this is a 5 year old post, but it needs to be said, Little Susie/Brown-Eyes Susan are not terms associated with H. Neither is "roses". I think you're really stretching here. While yes, there is a common drug theme throughout the entire song, you cannot make up drug slang on the spot. First thing to remember, is this is a country song. It was written with the intention of being played as a straight country song. I think you'll have more luck finding a reason for "Susie" keeping that in mind. You didn't mention "another girl can...
Um, I know this is a 5 year old post, but it needs to be said, Little Susie/Brown-Eyes Susan are not terms associated with H. Neither is "roses". I think you're really stretching here. While yes, there is a common drug theme throughout the entire song, you cannot make up drug slang on the spot. First thing to remember, is this is a country song. It was written with the intention of being played as a straight country song. I think you'll have more luck finding a reason for "Susie" keeping that in mind. You didn't mention "another girl can take my pain away", which is a direct heroin reference (golden girl).
Just listen to the song, the "too good" girl left the bad boy. She thought she was the queen of the underground, ie slumming it. She's gone, and the junkies are left self medicating like they always do. The lyrics don't seem full of hidden meaning, it seems straight forward, and (side note) I've definitely been in the same spot from which the narration comes... nonetheless, beautiful song.
I think it's quite straightforward too -though I'm not entirely sure that what I'm understanding is right- rather than it having a hidden meaning.
But I have to say that to me it doesn't seem like she's left him rather he left her, otherwise, if he was so in love with her, why would he be saying "send me dead flowers to my wedding" and then "say it with dead flowers at my wedding", like she's pissed off at him?
Although he does say he won't forget to put roses on her grave, to me it seems that what he's trying to...
I think it's quite straightforward too -though I'm not entirely sure that what I'm understanding is right- rather than it having a hidden meaning.
But I have to say that to me it doesn't seem like she's left him rather he left her, otherwise, if he was so in love with her, why would he be saying "send me dead flowers to my wedding" and then "say it with dead flowers at my wedding", like she's pissed off at him?
Although he does say he won't forget to put roses on her grave, to me it seems that what he's trying to say is that she will die before him because she's in deeper shit than he is. Also the red roses thing plus the "rich folk that you know" plus the "rose pink cadillac" make it sound like she's rich, an actress maybe.
To me it sounds like they're both junkies, and he's going to marry someone else, which is why she's sending him dead flowers, as if she's really hurt about it and hates him for it.
Again, I might be completely wrong about this, but it makes sense to me... If you think there's something I'm missing here please point it out; I would really like to know exactly what the song is about. And I agree, BEAUTIFUL song!
This song is Keith Richard's "ode to heroin."
"Little Susie" is a reference to the "brown-eyed susan" which is a metaphor for brown heroin, one of the more common forms of the opiate.
"Roses" is yet another flower which has been used as a metaphor or "street slang" for many years to allude to heroin.
"Dead Flowers" in general means "poppies which have been harvested and from which the opiate has been derived."
The power of heroin to kill pain is legendary -including the emotional pain from a broken relationship.
In the 1960's and 70's one way to deliver heroin was to place small amounts in a letter and use the US Postal System. Back then, before the days of technology to detect narcotics in the mail, and in the days when the American political system actually observed people's rights to 4th amendment privacy, heroin could be sent through the mail virtually risk-free to either the sender or the receiver.
"Dead Flowers" actually has to do with Keith's buddy Gram Parsons' wife sending him flowers while he was in England. By the time they tracked him down, the flowers were, of course, dead. I remember reading this from perhaps the book by Rolling Stone editor and writer Ben Fong-Torres. Maybe another source? Anyway both Keith and Gram found it funny.
"Dead Flowers" actually has to do with Keith's buddy Gram Parsons' wife sending him flowers while he was in England. By the time they tracked him down, the flowers were, of course, dead. I remember reading this from perhaps the book by Rolling Stone editor and writer Ben Fong-Torres. Maybe another source? Anyway both Keith and Gram found it funny.
SOURCE: songfacts.com/detail.php
SOURCE: songfacts.com/detail.php
Um, I know this is a 5 year old post, but it needs to be said, Little Susie/Brown-Eyes Susan are not terms associated with H. Neither is "roses". I think you're really stretching here. While yes, there is a common drug theme throughout the entire song, you cannot make up drug slang on the spot. First thing to remember, is this is a country song. It was written with the intention of being played as a straight country song. I think you'll have more luck finding a reason for "Susie" keeping that in mind. You didn't mention "another girl can...
Um, I know this is a 5 year old post, but it needs to be said, Little Susie/Brown-Eyes Susan are not terms associated with H. Neither is "roses". I think you're really stretching here. While yes, there is a common drug theme throughout the entire song, you cannot make up drug slang on the spot. First thing to remember, is this is a country song. It was written with the intention of being played as a straight country song. I think you'll have more luck finding a reason for "Susie" keeping that in mind. You didn't mention "another girl can take my pain away", which is a direct heroin reference (golden girl).
Just listen to the song, the "too good" girl left the bad boy. She thought she was the queen of the underground, ie slumming it. She's gone, and the junkies are left self medicating like they always do. The lyrics don't seem full of hidden meaning, it seems straight forward, and (side note) I've definitely been in the same spot from which the narration comes... nonetheless, beautiful song.
I think it's quite straightforward too -though I'm not entirely sure that what I'm understanding is right- rather than it having a hidden meaning. But I have to say that to me it doesn't seem like she's left him rather he left her, otherwise, if he was so in love with her, why would he be saying "send me dead flowers to my wedding" and then "say it with dead flowers at my wedding", like she's pissed off at him? Although he does say he won't forget to put roses on her grave, to me it seems that what he's trying to...
I think it's quite straightforward too -though I'm not entirely sure that what I'm understanding is right- rather than it having a hidden meaning. But I have to say that to me it doesn't seem like she's left him rather he left her, otherwise, if he was so in love with her, why would he be saying "send me dead flowers to my wedding" and then "say it with dead flowers at my wedding", like she's pissed off at him? Although he does say he won't forget to put roses on her grave, to me it seems that what he's trying to say is that she will die before him because she's in deeper shit than he is. Also the red roses thing plus the "rich folk that you know" plus the "rose pink cadillac" make it sound like she's rich, an actress maybe.
To me it sounds like they're both junkies, and he's going to marry someone else, which is why she's sending him dead flowers, as if she's really hurt about it and hates him for it.
Again, I might be completely wrong about this, but it makes sense to me... If you think there's something I'm missing here please point it out; I would really like to know exactly what the song is about. And I agree, BEAUTIFUL song!