People often wonder about the origins of famous songs, and “The Rose” is no exception. Many ask about the inspiration behind “The Rose” song lyrics. Here’s the story of how this iconic song came to be.
The journey began one afternoon in the 1970s while I was driving down the freeway. Listening to the radio, I was captivated by a song called “Magdalena” by Danny O’Keefe, sung by Leo Sayer. One lyric in particular struck me: “Your love is like a razor. My heart is just a scar.” I remember thinking, “Ooh, I love that lyric.” It was powerful and evocative.
However, as I continued my drive, a contrasting thought began to form. I realized I didn’t actually agree with the sentiment. Love, to me, wasn’t like a razor. (Perhaps my younger self was more optimistic!). This sparked a question within me: If love isn’t a razor, then what is it? Suddenly, it felt like a window opened in my mind. Ideas and words started flooding in, almost as if from an external source.
To keep from forgetting these rapidly forming lyrics, I began reciting them aloud, driving faster and faster towards home. I practically screeched into my driveway, rushed into the house, past my understandably confused dogs, cats, and husband, and immediately sat down at the piano. Incredibly, within just ten minutes, “THE ROSE” was complete. The lyrics and melody flowed effortlessly.
Excited, as I always was with new songs, I called my husband, George, into the room to listen. After I played it for him, he quietly made a profound statement: “You’ve just written a standard.” I was taken aback and protested, believing that only my close friends would ever hear it. This was long before I had ever recorded anything professionally. But George insisted, “Mark my words, something is going to happen with this song.”
About a year later, a talented young songwriter named Michele Brourman, who became a dear friend and my primary musical collaborator, approached me. She said, “Listen, there’s a movie coming out called “The Rose”. They are looking for a title song. Would you like me to submit this song?” I had never actively tried to submit my songs before, not really considering myself a songwriter in the professional sense at that time. So, I simply said, “Sure, why not?” Interestingly, the film was initially going to be named “THE PEARL,” which was Janis Joplin’s nickname. However, her family declined permission to use that title. In retrospect, this turned out to be incredibly fortunate for me, as “Pearl” is indeed much harder to rhyme!
Michele submitted “The Rose” to the movie producers, and their initial reaction was far from enthusiastic. They reportedly hated it, deeming it dull, hymn-like, not rock and roll enough, and completely unsuitable for their film. They placed it in the rejection pile. However, fate intervened in the form of the remarkable Paul Rothchild, who was the music supervisor for the film and had been Janis Joplin’s producer. He rescued “The Rose” from the reject box and urged the producers to reconsider. They refused again. Undeterred, Paul Rothchild mailed the song directly to Bette Midler. Bette loved it, and that’s how “The Rose” became part of the film, ultimately changing my life forever.
To this day, I have never written another song as quickly and effortlessly as “The Rose”. I like to think of myself as simply being the open window, the conduit through which these thoughts and words needed to pass. I am eternally grateful to so many: to Bette Midler for embracing the song, to Paul Rothchild for his belief in it, to Bill Kerby, the screenplay writer, to my friend Michele for submitting it, and ultimately, to the Universe itself for speaking to me in the first place and for revealing to me what I truly believe about love.
*Here are the lyrics to “The Rose”:
Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger
An endless aching need
I say love, it is a flower
And you, its only seed
It’s the heart afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It’s the dream afraid of waking
That never takes the chance
It’s the one who won’t be taken
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul afraid of dying
That never learns to live
When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed
That with the sun’s love, in the spring
Becomes the rose
* For permission to reprint “THE ROSE” lyrics or use them in publications/recordings, contact Warner Chappell at www.warnerchappell.com
