In this heart-wrenching ballad, Elvis Costello reflects on the end of a once-loving relationship. The song captures the crushing sorrow of a crumbling marriage. Everyday objects like lipstick-stained cigarettes and a half-filled coffee cup symbolize moments that now feel empty and forsaken. Even the lingering blooms in the garden contrast with the emotional neglect he feels. As his partner leaves, the unspoken words and unheard baby's cries amplify the silence and alienation that define their final moments together. Ultimately, the roses blooming despite everything represent the bittersweet memories of what was once beautiful in a relationship that's now ending.
Good Year for the Roses
Lyrics
I can hardly bear the sight of lipstick
On the cigarettes there in the ashtray
Lyin' cold the way you left 'em
But at least your lips caressed them
While you packed
Or the lip-print on a half-filled cup of coffee
That you poured and didn't drink
But at least you thought you wanted it
That's so much more than I can say for me
What a good year for the roses
Many blooms still linger there
The lawn could stand another mowin'
Funny, I don't even care
As you turn to walk away
As the door behind you closes
The only thing I have to say
It's been a good year for the roses
After three full years of marriage
It's the first time that you haven't made the bed
I guess the reason we're not talkin'
There's so little left to say we haven't said
While a million thoughts go racin' through my mind
I find I haven't said a word
From the bedroom the familiar sound
Of a baby's cryin' goes unheard
What a good year for the roses
Many blooms still linger there
The lawn could stand another mowin'
Funny, I don't even care
As you turn to walk away
As the door behind you closes
The only thing I have to say
It's been a good year for the roses
Writer(s): JERRY CHESNUT
Copyright(s): Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
What is the Meaning of Good Year for the Roses
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