A Perfect Circle: Rose Meaning
Rose Lyrics
The tempermental Goat,
The Snail,
while he's feeding on the Rose
Stay frozen, compromise
What I will I am
Bend around the wind
Silently thrown about again
I'm treading so soft and lightly
Compromising my...
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Am I the only one who noticed that parts of this song sound like the theme song for Vincent Valentine?
The lyrics seem to fit his story as well. -
Axl Rose
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Beauty and the beast just comes to mind when I listen to this. The beast kept a rose in a glass dome, and was hell bent on defending it. Rate this down, or rate this up, I think this is about The Beast, and someone who is living in fear of him.
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haha this song is so ironic. It is just like my life. Plus my name is Rose...
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I think its about someone, this so called "Rose" who's being controlled by "The Beast" in an abusive or as said, controlling way. Deer in the headlights could be referring to this person as not being able to speak up for themselves. But near to the end of the song, rose is looked at as a verb instead of a noun or a name. "The Rose" rose and stopped taking crap from this beast. In the end the rose, spoke for him or herself hence the quote, "I rose. I roared aloud here."
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This song has many allusions that nobody has touched on here. The William Shakespeare allusion, although I do not remember which work it comes from, is most likely an accurate reference so Kudos!
Now during the first verse, Maynard emphasizes four words. Beast, Goat, Snail, and Rose. I may not be 100% accurate with this, as it is sort of abstract, but I am doing my best here. The Beast is no doubt a reference to Satan, or a "devil." The Goat is most likely a reference to Baphomet, a Pagan deity that was thought to be a Satanist Cult followed by the Knights Templar. Continuing with religion, the Snail, who is eating a rose, could be a reference to the seven deadly sins: Sloth and Gluttony. The seven deadly sins stemmed from Catholicism, which is funny because the Rose was a symbol for the Virgin Mary during the Middle Ages. Funny how Maynard just KEEPS bashing religion, eh? And to show homage to anon, "What, I, Will-I-Am." Maynard slurs the last three words, which may be an attempt to bring up William Shakespeare, who was rumored to be a Catholic.
So enough about allusions. I stated several small pieces of information and gave no insight to why they were used. Maynard had a deeply troubling childhood, so could his references to the Beast, the Goat, the Snail, and the Rose be references to his childhood? Regardless, the verse is merely about being terrified of what will happen if one was to 'disturb the beast,' which was most likely his father figure.
The next verse focuses on the struggle to find one's self. Maynard claims to float with the wind wherever it goes, as well as being tossed like a rag doll. He hides from the world, so as to not be seen/heard, changing himself to be what the world wants him to be.
Maynard finally reaches his "teenage" years, and stands up for himself, almost yelling that he will no longer be used/abused by those who pushed him around. If they others wanted to start a fight, so be it. Maynard would just have to finish it.
The last verse is definitely the most effective. Maynard is reflecting on his decision, and is INSISTING to himself that it was the right thing to do. The only question remaining is:
Was it? -
This song is about addiction and the addiction that William Shakespeare dealt with in his life...that is where the lyrics "will i am" came from. He is talking about his will and spelling out William.
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It could be applied to many situations where a dominating personality takes over and forces those around them into submission. Those around the dominant being can’t “disturb the beast” for fear of rousing the anger within, unleashing the vengeance of that inexplicable anger and generally living in dread.
The very frenetic (but a toned down sort of multi-layered frenetic) sound of the song seems to be borne of emotional or psychological distress because of the fear of this force. But the song moves into something more empowering… “rising”, “roaring”, becoming less of the martyr for the person’s anger; no longer a doe in the headlights.
“when push comes to shove” most of us find the deepest well of strength within to escape that prison of fear and take back our power to live freely, without fear of that one inflicting their dominance just because they can. It’s a very positive song really, and if you look at it closely it’s a very subtle imprint leftover, kind of, of reoccurring, broad themes of what Maynard and co. Have done before/after.
I find it empowering anyway. No longer does the frightening beast exist by the end of the song because the narrator is rising, roaring, becoming his own power. He knows within he isn’t tied to the beast which feeds at his innocence and will to live any longer. -
This song is about someone who takes advantage of their relation and power they have with another person. One who dominates another of a weaker mind or will, untill they rise up and refuse the demands of the controlling bitch.
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