Rosebud
Ryan Adams/The Cardinals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is the song that always comes
Don't know what I'm singing 'bout and
Don't know what for
I think about you
And I think about Rosebud
Wish there was a song to sing
But you can't get here from nowhere I guess
Rosebud's shipwrecked up on the Ohio
Behind a wall of glass
Telling me to take care of myself
And my friends
You sing to a field of trees
And roses singing those melodies
Simple and easy where everything moves
Underneath you
And Rosebud too
I wish there was a song to sing
To get you back
But you can't get here from nowhere I guess
Rosebud's shipwrecked up on the Ohio
Behind a wall of glass
Telling me to take it easy
But I took a photograph
And she's just a wooden machine
But you and Rosebud, you're still singing to me
The song "Rosebud" by Ryan Adams & The Cardinals is a haunting and melancholic tune, steeped in nostalgia and regret. The first stanza presents an interesting paradox - the singer seems to be admitting that he has no idea what the song that always comes to him when he picks up his guitar is about, or what its purpose is. Yet, he cryptically hints that it has something to do with someone or something called Rosebud - the mysterious subject of the song. The second stanza is equally enigmatic, as the singer laments the absence of a song that could "bring back" someone - presumably, Rosebud. But he shows a sense of resignation when he acknowledges that Rosebud is "shipwrecked up on the Ohio", and that he can't do much to help her except to take care of himself and his friends. The third and final stanza is perhaps the most poignant, as the singer describes Rosebud as a wooden machine - yet, he confesses that "she's still singing to me", even though she is physically trapped behind a "wall of glass" and inaccessible.
Line by Line Meaning
When I pick up my guitar
As soon as I take my guitar in hand
This is the song that always comes
This song always comes to me, automatically
Don't know what I'm singing 'bout and
I am not sure about what I am singing
Don't know what for
I do not know what my purpose is
I think about you
I think about a person I miss
And I think about Rosebud
I think about a feeling of nostalgia
Wish there was a song to sing
I wish there was one perfect song
To bring you back
That could bring back the person I miss
But you can't get here from nowhere I guess
It's impossible to bring them back, unfortunately
Rosebud's shipwrecked up on the Ohio
The feeling of nostalgia is in a difficult position, lost and far away
Behind a wall of glass
It's separated from me by a barrier, unable to interact
Telling me to take care of myself
The feeling of nostalgia wants me to take care of myself
And my friends
And not forget about my friends
You sing to a field of trees
That person used to sing to nature
And roses singing those melodies
And sing songs that were simple and beautiful
Simple and easy where everything moves
Where everything is easygoing and flows naturally
Underneath you
And it's a feeling that accompanies that person
And Rosebud too
The feeling of nostalgia is also present
I wish there was a song to sing
I still wish there was that one perfect song
To get you back
That could bring back the person I miss
But you can't get here from nowhere I guess
But unfortunately, it's still impossible
Rosebud's shipwrecked up on the Ohio
The feeling of nostalgia is still distant and lost
Behind a wall of glass
And I am still separated from it by a barrier
Telling me to take it easy
The feeling of nostalgia tells me to relax
But I took a photograph
I captured a moment of that feeling with a picture
And she's just a wooden machine
The picture is nothing but an object
But you and Rosebud, you're still singing to me
But the feeling of nostalgia, and the person I miss, still resonate in me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RYAN ADAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind