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Two White Roses
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A reflection on mortality. Somewhat dog related. Also a tree.
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Artist picture
Trash-pop, guitar rock and melodic miscellany.
Not so much a band as a bloke with a guitar and a laptop, The Smivets deliver a genre-bending blend of pop, rock, punk, prog and many other monosyllables.
Song Info
Genre
Rock • Progressive Rock
Charts
Peak #59
Peak in subgenre #10
Author
Steve Smith
Rights
Steve Smith
Uploaded
August 03, 2014
Track Files
MP3
MP3 5.9 MB • 128 kbps • 6:23
Story behind the song
That little dog had always loved the lake - it was probably his favourite place in all the world, so we decided it was a fitting place to scatter his ashes. It was a stifling hot day and somehow I remember it being totally silent, as though the heat itself was muffling every sound. We drove to town and bought two long-stemmed white roses, which the florist tied together with a white silk ribbon. Then we went back, rowed out into the middle of the still lake, scattered the ashes, said our goodbyes and set the roses to float away. Back on the shore I noticed for the first time a dead olive tree, still firmly planted in the bank. I must have walked past it a dozen times without seeing it. The grey grain twisted and contorted up the trunk, telling the story of its life - every drought, every frozen winter, etched into the wood. It had probably been there for over a hundred years and would probably be there for over a hundred more. It struck me as so strange that something that was dead should outlive the living. I'm not that sentimental a person, and although it was sad I wasn't grief stricken or anything over the poor dog, but you can't control how songs come and this came unbidden the next day.
Lyrics
Where the pine forest kneels to the water's edge And the dark hill is wreathed in the frozen breath Of the souls who have forsaken death I will call for you I bought two white roses tied with a silken ribbon With my silent words on the water laid them Watched them float away, unforgiven As I called for you Like a dead tree follows its twisted grain I am but a stranger, by my nature strange I bought two white roses and wished the world could change And I still call for you
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Comments 11
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Geoffrey Orbegoso
May 07, 2018
I'm really digging your tunes lately. "Arnold" and "Time Traveller" keep playing through my brain. Saw this one and decided to listen since my own dog (walking companion and ultra-mega-good friend) is about at his end. I'll keep this song close since I'm gonna need it soon. Awesome synths and moving tune. Nice!
Drumnjon
Dec 27, 2014
BEAUTIFUL LYRICS SETH! AMAZING COMPOSITION... I ALSO HEARD ANOTHER VERSION ON RANIA's PAGE...AMAZING VOCALS>>>>CONGRATS!! JON:):):):)
T Blue
Oct 21, 2014
Now this is what I call a big production had to listen a couple times to catch it all Tim
Gone4
Oct 13, 2014
Wow..I'm in love...this is my kind of song..any chance you could do a collab with me one day??
Oddger
Sep 25, 2014
A very unique piece, Steve! The 7/4 beat adds a caleidoscopic (is that a word?) sense to the mesmerizing sounds from this fantastic piece of music. Great vocals and the absolutely stunning guitar riff makes this come out as yet another truly original high class Smivets song.
Roger John
Sep 16, 2014
I love the poetry of this song. The music pulls you in and the poetry brings it home. Excellent.
Alan L Cole
Aug 13, 2014
A very cool track Steve. Great production, vocals and musicianship!
Dollar Bill and the Unmentionables
Aug 07, 2014
Poignant brilliance, Steve. The odd time signature heightens the off-balance feeling of loss... and I'm at a loss for words.
spinaceto
Aug 06, 2014
Really touching, I read the story about the song and it made me think about.....listening to the track, then, this opened my mind and let my thoughts swim away into another place for a while , completely loose from the present.... my friend Steve, that´s what makes good music!!! Bravo. :-)
Carlo D'Anna
Aug 04, 2014
Wow. Outstanding tune! Love the vocal rounds.
Michael Duran
Aug 04, 2014
Stunning, moving, intense, calming, a stirring crossfire of emotions that is simply brilliant.