Cash released her first single in 1979, a duet with Bobby Bare called "We Don't Need No Memories Hangin' 'Round". Two years later, she had her first country No. 1 (and the biggest commercial hit of her career), "Seven Year Ache". Although Cash was a prominent country star throughout the '80s, alongside fellow decade-defining artists Emmylou Harris, Juice Newton, and Dolly Parton, her music was anything but traditional: She topped the charts with songs written not only by herself, but by her father ("Tennessee Flat Top Box"), John Hiatt ("The Way We Make a Broken Heart"), Tom Petty ("Never Be You") and the Beatles ("I Don't Want to Spoil the Party"), "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me", which won her a Grammy in 1985, and "It's Such a Small World", a 1987 duet with Rodney Crowell on his album Diamonds & Dirt, provided further hits. A sampling of these songs and more are included on the compilation Hits 1979-1989. In 1979, she married Rodney Crowell, who was to produce most of her hit records. Their stormy marriage lasted until 1992; its break-up is chronicled in Cash's Interiors and in Crowell's album Life Is Messy. Cash later married John Leventhal, who produced her albums The Wheel, 10 Song Demo, Rules of Travel, and Black Cadillac.
To date, Cash has had more than twenty top 40 country singles, including eleven chart-toppers, but none since 1990, and she has left Nashville in both spirit and body to pursue her artistic vision. Although she had recorded all of her hits for Columbia Records' Nashville division, she released 10 Song Demo for the pop division of Capitol. Cash resurfaced in 2003 with Rules of Travel. The album features guest appearances by Sheryl Crow and Steve Earle, as well as a tune penned by Joe Henry and the Wallflowers' Jakob Dylan. Cash's latest album, entitled Black Cadillac, was released by Capitol Records in January 2006 to critical acclaim. Many of the songs were written by Cash and address the losses (within a 24-month span) of her step-mother, her father, her step-sister (Rosey Nix Adams) and then finally her mother on Cash's fiftieth birthday.
Wildwood Flower
Rosanne Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With the roses so red and the lilies so fair
And the myrtle so bright with the emerald hue
The pale and the leader and eyes look like blue
Oh, I'll dance, I will sing and my laugh shall be gay
I will charm every heart, in his crown I will sway
When I woke from my dreaming, my idol was clay
Oh, he taught me to love him and promised to love
And to cherish me over all others above
How my heart is now wond'ring no mis'ry can tell
He's left me no warning, no words of farewell
Oh, he taught me to love him and called me his flower
That was blooming to cheer him through life's dreary hour
Oh, I long to see him and regret the dark hour
He's gone and neglected this pale wildwood flower
In Rosanne Cash's song "Wildwood Flower," she sings about a lost love and the pain that comes with it. The lyrics describe a woman who is adorned in beautiful flowers, but inside she is heartbroken. The first verse tells us about how she will twine her hair with the most beautiful flowers including roses, lilies, myrtles, and the leader. As she dances and sings, she wants to charm every heart and sway in his crown. However, this was only a dream, and when she wakes up, she realizes that her idol has turned to clay and all her love has flown away.
The second verse is about her lost love, who had promised to love and cherish her above all others. She is now wondering how her heart will cope with this misery, as he has left her with no warning or farewell. The third verse is about her love, who had referred to her as his flower, blooming to cheer him through life's dreary hour. She longs to see him again and regrets the dark hour when he left her, and she became a neglected wildwood flower.
"Wildwood Flower" is actually a traditional American folk song that was adapted and rearranged by many artists. It was originally written by Maud Irving, a member of the Carter Family, and was later recorded by many artists such as Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Connie Francis, and of course, Rosanne Cash.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I'll twine with my mingles and waving black hair
I will adorn myself with flowers and display my beautiful hair
With the roses so red and the lilies so fair
I will choose the most stunning roses and lilies
And the myrtle so bright with the emerald hue
I will select bright green myrtle leaves
The pale and the leader and eyes look like blue
I will combine these flowers to match my pale skin and blue eyes
Oh, I'll dance, I will sing and my laugh shall be gay
I will express my joy by dancing, singing, and laughing
I will charm every heart, in his crown I will sway
I will enchant every person and have power over them
When I woke from my dreaming, my idol was clay
When I woke from my fantasy, my perfect love was revealed as flawed
All portion of love had all flown away
The love I had for him disappeared completely
Oh, he taught me to love him and promised to love
He taught me how to love and said he would always love me
And to cherish me over all others above
He promised to value me above anyone else
How my heart is now wond'ring no mis'ry can tell
I am now filled with doubt, pain, and sorrow
He's left me no warning, no words of farewell
He left me suddenly and without saying goodbye
Oh, he taught me to love him and called me his flower
He taught me how to love and called me his special person
That was blooming to cheer him through life's dreary hour
I was there to make his life more enjoyable
Oh, I long to see him and regret the dark hour
I desire to see him again and regret the time when he left me
He's gone and neglected this pale wildwood flower
He abandoned me and did not recognize my value
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Alvin Pleasant Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@randallhutchcraft4039
@Rosanne Cash ole john was a very great man, he did you proud, how about you helping out a poor boy and recordings this song I wrote.
I was driving down a country road
Not going anywhere
I passed a farm house on the right
I had to stop and stare
It reminded me so much of home
We had when I was a kid
With mom and daddy sitting on the porch
Was wondering where I'd been
I'd tell them I was honest
A truthful and loving son
I got back home when I was told
I wasn't hurting anyone
They would smile and clap there hands
Follow me into the house
I'd say I love you truly and sit down on the couch
The years have come and gone
I wished they could have stayed
Mom and daddy are in Heaven now
Soon I'll be on my way
If Heaven holds a place for mother
I'm sure she is just fine
The lord He blessed us one and all
He's standing by her side
A golden crown sits on her head
As she walks that final mile
To see the Father on His throne
And His welcome home smile
Written by Randall Hutchcraft.
For Mother, is the title of song
@johnallison7358
This song is will never go out of style no matter who sings or plays it. This is pure country at its best.
@bertpar68
Absolutely, this is true country music at it's finest.
@rhondaboncutter5812
As a kid my Mom played guitar and this was my favorite songs she sang and played!
@kayedavis1032
Any time I attend a bluegrass festival, if this song isn't performed by someone, I leave the festival disappointed. Nothing can compare! Rosanne, you are incredible and such a jewel in your family's crown.
@rosannecash1701
Hi there🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
Thanks for your love and support that has brought me this far, it has been a hard time for me going through this but your love and support keeps me going and standing strong in this difficult times. I do read your heartwarming comments and I truly appreciate all you’ve done for me throughout the years.
It’s a season of love😍❤️❤️ for me and so I decided to put a smile on the faces of my fans by going through my YouTube channel and checking out on my fans, so I can get to communicate with my fans better through discussion of depth and humor listening to o and criticism of my career.💞💞🙏💖💕💕💕❤️❤️❤️
@jaysilverheals4445
be aware that blue grass and developed by Bill Monroe and blue grass did not exist during the Carters time. Blue grass is often mistaken as "country music" but its a misnomer. Wildwood flower dates back civil war and before with the full lyrics lost to time. Thats why some of lyrics seem confusing because they are. To this day nobody knows what flower is a "myrtle". even maybelle said Peer insisted they record the song even though she said were not ready some of the lyrics are a mix" because such as at the start nobody knew or knows that the lyrics are. but zero bluegrass was being played till Bill Monroe approaching ww2.
@jaysilverheals4445
all contributed. one huge breakthrough for roots of country was "Vernon Dalhart wreck of the old 97" before the Bristol sessions. it was big because except for marching bands people started viewing records as entertainment. wreck of the old 97 is a funny one since each time it was copied the speed of the train kept increasing 5mph or more. even though its known the speed of the train was about 55mph. later it was up to 90.
@gunahlinova2704
❤
@jrex7486
She has one of the prettiest voices I have ever heard. I’ve listened to this thing five times in a row just because of that.
@alexandervanwyk6478
Out of South Africa. What a classic and beautiful Lady you are! Love your music...your dad was my hero singer.