the Rose – English Lyrics

• By: Bette Midler

Lyrics & Translation

"The Rose" by Bette Midler is a timeless ballad that offers a deep dive into the complexities of love and resilience. Its poetic lyrics, rich with metaphors, provide an excellent opportunity for language learners to explore English vocabulary and expressions related to emotions, nature, and life's challenges. The song's clear, emotive delivery makes the profound message accessible, encouraging listeners to understand how love, much like a rose, can endure and blossom even through the toughest winters. Studying its verses can enhance comprehension of nuanced English sentiments and storytelling through song.

[English]

Some say love, it is a river

That drowns the tender reed

Some say love, it is a razor

That leaves your soul to bleed

Some say love, it is a hunger

An endless aching need

I say love, it is a flower

And you, its only seed

...

It's the heart, afraid of breaking

That never learns to dance

It's the dream, afraid of waking

That never takes the chance

It's the one who won't be taken

Who cannot seem to give

And the soul, afraid of dying

That never learns to live

...

When the night has been too lonely

And the road has been too long

And you think that love is only

For the lucky and the strong

Just remember in the winter

Far beneath the bitter snows

Lies the seed that with the sun's love

In the spring becomes the rose

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection for someone
drowns /draʊnz/ B2	verb - to die through submersion in water
tender /ˈtendər/ B2	adjective - gentle, loving, or kind
reed /riːd/ B2	noun - a tall, slender-leaved plant of the grass family
razor /ˈreɪzər/ B2	noun - an instrument with a sharp blade
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being
bleed /bliːd/ B2	verb - to lose blood
hunger /ˈhʌŋɡər/ B2	noun - a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food
aching /ˈeɪkɪŋ/ B2	adjective - suffering from a continuous dull pain
need /niːd/ A2	noun - something required or wanted verb - require (something) because it is essential or very important
flower /ˈflaʊər/ A1	noun - the seed-bearing part of a plant
seed /siːd/ A2	noun - a flowering plant's unit of reproduction
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood
breaking /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/ A2	verb - separating into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep verb - to experience dreams during sleep
waking /ˈweɪkɪŋ/ A2	verb - to emerge from sleep
chance /tʃæns/ B1	noun - a possibility of something happening
dying /ˈdaɪɪŋ/ B1	verb - to stop living
live /lɪv/ A1	verb - to remain alive
lonely /ˈloʊnli/ A2	adjective - sad because one has no friends or company
road /roʊd/ A1	noun - a way or course for traveling between two places
lucky /ˈlʌki/ A2	adjective - having, bringing, or resulting from good luck
strong /strɔːŋ/ A2	adjective - having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks
winter /ˈwɪntər/ A1	noun - the coldest season of the year
bitter /ˈbɪtər/ B2	adjective - having a sharp, pungent taste or smell
snows /snoʊz/ A1	noun - precipitation in the form of ice crystals
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth
spring /sprɪŋ/ A1	noun - the season after winter and before summer
rose /roʊz/ A1	noun - a flower with a thorny stem

Key Grammar Structures

• Some say love, it is a river

  ➔ Simple present tense

  ➔ The phrase "Some say" indicates a general opinion or belief.

• That drowns the tender reed

  ➔ Relative clause

  ➔ The clause "that drowns the tender reed" describes the noun "love".

• It's the heart, afraid of breaking

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "afraid of breaking" indicates an ongoing state of fear.

• And the soul, afraid of dying

  ➔ Present participle

  ➔ The phrase "afraid of dying" uses the present participle to describe the soul's state.

• Just remember in the winter

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The phrase "Just remember" is a command or suggestion.

• Lies the seed that with the sun's love

  ➔ Inversion

  ➔ The structure "Lies the seed" is an example of inversion for emphasis.

• In the spring becomes the rose

  ➔ Simple present tense

  ➔ The phrase "becomes the rose" indicates a transformation that occurs regularly.