Blood Roses
Music and Lyrics by: Tori Amos
Instrumentation: Vocals, Acoustic Piano (Bosendorfer), Harpsichord, Harmonium Organ, Church Bells
Brief Summary: I admit, a fair amount of research went in to summarizing this one. But from what can be gathered from scattered Tori interviews, Blood Roses, at its basest level, is about giving yourself again and again to people in order to be loved until you have almost nothing left…like you are “meat” to be given away. And when you have nothing left, all there is to blame is yourself for letting it happen. And while it is true that the guys you’ve been messing around with have been a bit on the sadistic side (see “he likes killing you after you’re dead” line)…its is ultimately you who has to learn to turn to yourself for love and support rather than desperately seeking it from an unloving external source.
Tori’s Comments: (unknown source, quote found on HereInMyHead.com) “I mean, I was in absolute horror that I allowed myself to be raped. Blood Roses is the on-the-knees version of that, the ripped-open veins and the blood dripping, going ‘Why is it my fault now?’”
Fan Comments/Interpretations: Fan interpretations run the gamut from the song being about living with AIDS to an allegory for Aurthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” to a general message of violence toward women. One fan states that Tori herself explained during a meet and greet that Blood Roses is about a voodoo-practicing New Orleans prostitute who was killed and left to be eaten by animals for having cursed someone she knew.
China2Ny’s Comments: Given that Boys for Pele was my first exposure to Tori Amos, I have a fondness for the whole album in general. BLood Roses stands out for the shoutability factor — “GOD KNOWS I KNOW I’VE THROW AWAY-EE-AY-EE-AY…”
The visual imagery of this song is the most graphic I have ever witnessed in a Tori song. I can sense the meat being torn off the bone as the rose drips bloody red. The Voodoo queen dances the tango over the fresh grave as the razor cuts the flute song from the throat of the loon. This song is crazy, twisted, and horrific. Very Sweeney Todd like in my opinion.
omg…what a great analogy, Sweeney Todd. I agree, one of her most vivid. Even the way she says the words, “come on, come on” at the end paints a pictures of serious pain and distress.
thanksk for sharing, Meredith!