Status

Elliott Smith Song

Alternate Title/Version

True Love Is a Rose

Written By

Elliott Smith

Recording Sessions

January-April 2001 (Two Beers & Everybody Sings; Chateau Brion - Los Angeles, CA - Brion Sessions) - One instrumental recorded with two vocal takes

Availability of Official Release

Heaven Adores You OST

Lyrics (thanks to snowballinhell)

true love is a rose behind glass
that’s locked and kept closed
maybe just to me
‘cause my heart’s been attacked
and shattered by tough love, bad love
so i bought mine off the street
true love, man, it just can’t be beat
i felt so complete
married to heavenly bodies above
and each night i’d look up
at a bright honey moon
‘cause it sure seemed built to last
even after my honey moon passed
i kept right with it, man
like a ghost to a house it once haunted
day after day
i’d steal with my true love away
to some hide-out where left undisturbed
we could do what we wanted
but i started to feel like a liar
saying i love you
she was madly in love or mad mean
there was no in between
it raised my alarm
(it came on and on)
i found i can’t make a stand
i’m her hired hand
i have to do harm
one day i got sick
she played me a nasty old trick
said i need cigarettes
walked ‘round the block
and caught a cab
stayed gone for too long
my love had gotten so strong
just to try to being back on my own
i had to go to rehab
all i need is a safe place to bleed
is this where it’s at?
half of no chance
steps in a dance
rest of my life spent in combat
now i’m the king of the ward
'cause i’m good and i swallow my sword
puke it out
for the doctor to write me a new prescription
tranquil as a dove
people that have lost their true love
they all seem to fit the same description
i feel cold, useless and old
i wish i was no one
take me up, my lord
take me up today
take me out of this place
take me up with you today 

Early Version (live performance, Silverlake Lounge, February 6, 2001

true love is a rose
in a case that’s locked to get closed
'cause it’s way more expensive than anybody on earth
so bought mine off the street
true love man just can’t be beat
i felt so complete
like all my romans turned into writers
and each night i look up
at a bright honey moon
it seems so built to last
even after my honey moon past
i went right after it
like a ghost
to the house it once haunted
day after day
i’d steal with my true love away
to some hide out left undisturbed
we could do what we wanted
but i started to feel like a liar
saying i love you
she was madly in love and at me
there’s no in between
felt so cold
i can’t make a stand
i’m her hired hand
i have to do harm
one day i got sick
she played me a nasty old trick
said i need cigarettes
walked round the block
caught a cab
stayed gone for too long
my love had gotten too strong
just to try getting back on my own
i had to go to rehab
all i need is a safe place to bleed
they said this is it
well half a chance
steps in a dance
now i’m the king of the ward
cause i’m good and i swallow my sword
puke it up
so the doctor can write his prescription
tranquil as a dove
people that have lost their true love
they all seem to fit the same description
they feel cold, they feel old
like a no one
take me home
take me home today
take me out of this place
take me out, do it today..