Bed of Roses Lyrics by Statler Brothers
Statler Brothers Lyrics
She was called a scarlet woman by the people
Who would go to church but left me in the streets
With no parents of my own, I never had a home
And an eighteen year old boy has got to eat
She found me outside one Sunday morning
Begging money from a man I didn't know
She took me in and wiped away my childhood
A woman of the streets this lady Rose
Chorus:
This bed of roses that I lay on
Where I was taught to be a man
This bed of roses where I'm livin'
Is the only kind of life I'll understand
She was a handsome woman just thirty-five
Who was spoken to in town by very few
She managed a late evening business
Like most of the town wished they could do
And I learned all the things that a man should know
From a woman not approved of, I suppose
She died knowing that I really loved her
From life's bramble bush I picked a rose
Repeat chorus twice
Song Facts:
- Genre: Country
- Lyricist: The Statler Brothers
Artist Info:
The Statler Brothers were an American country music band formed in 1955. They had initially begun with gospel music but later turned toward country music and earned tremendous popularity due to the harmonious voice and traditional style that they maintained. Their clean-cut, wholesome image offered an alternative to the tougher side of the country music scene. The Statler Brothers were known for their storytelling in their songs, which included a hint of nostalgia, typical day-to-day life, and great pride for the community. Their original style was characteristic of mixing country with pop and gospel, harmonizing through this their music with a large spectrum of tastes.
Annotations and their meaning
Another sensitive-themed song, "Bed of Roses" by The Statler Brothers, speaks about a guy who was brought up by a woman whom everyone addressed as Rose. It goes without saying that this lady is condemned by society owing to her trade, but she does indeed provide him with shelter and solace. This song deals with feeling like an outcast, compassion, and the untraditional manner people find family and life lessons.
The very first line juxtaposes judgmental hearts of people going to church and the kindly heart of Rose, a woman being judged even by townsfolk. This juxtaposition clearly points toward the general truth of hypocrisy found in societies where, on one side, they preach morality, yet on the other side, they fail to practice compassion and understanding for each individual.
The lines of the chorus, "This bed of roses that I lay on / Where I was taught to be a man," are metaphorically his way of showing that he was brought up and nurtured in the beds of Rose. But despite the trying moments and judgment of society, the environment that she offered was really that of nurturing and growth, to be similar to a 'bed of roses'. This usually depicts lightness and ease but here recontextualizes to mean life full of complex experiences learned from "unorthodox wisdom."
Rose is portrayed as a very tough character running a business late into the night, secretly admired by the town but not publicly. It reflects one of the common paradoxes within society where people are more often than not frowning at one living on the edge while quiet in their envy for not being strangled by the confines of convention.
Statler Brothers Chords
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Statler Brothers Chords
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