Mother Rose

Album: Trampin' (2003)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Patti wrote this song about her mother Beverly, who died September 19, 2002, and about her own experience as a mother. There are mother themes throughout the album.
  • This is written in a classic 1950s - early 1960s slow-rock style reminiscent of the Crystals' 1962 song "He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss)".
  • The closing riff contains a homage to one of rock's more cryptic songs, 1963's "Sally Go Round the Roses," interwoven with a fragment of "Golden Mother," a poem Patti wrote for her mom's memorial service, in her usual overdubbed recitative voice.
  • Live performances of this feature a projection of a pretty picture of Beverly as a young lady surrounded by millions of whirling roses.
  • Beverly was a waitress and nightclub singer. She ran Patti's fan club and answered a lot of the fan mail. She enjoyed doing housework to Patti's more uptempo pieces. She loved roses but was allergic to them. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Ekristheh - Halath, for all above

Comments: 3

  • Lordladeda from Cornwall UkI still have a lovely letter from Beverly that she sent me around 1976. She as responding to my letter when I was asking questions about Patti's lyrics etc.
  • Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesI shall have to attend to that little matter, Nadine.
  • Nadine from Riverside, CaHow come there aren't more Patti Smith songs listed here? "Land" is pure genius.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Annie Haslam of Renaissance

Annie Haslam of RenaissanceSongwriter Interviews

The 5-octave voice of the classical rock band Renaissance, Annie is big on creative expression. In this talk, she covers Roy Wood, the history of the band, and where all the money went in the '70s.

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

80s Music Quiz 1

80s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

MTV, a popular TV theme song and Madonna all show up in this '80s music quiz.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Jonathan Cain of Journey

Jonathan Cain of JourneySongwriter Interviews

Cain talks about the divine inspirations for "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Faithfully."