"Roses" is an unreleased song by Lana Del Rey featuring rapper Theophilus London.[S 1] The first version of the song was recorded in 2010, and the second version in 2011. The song was written and produced with Chris Braide, and is registered to the International Standard Music Work Code.[1]
Background[]
The song was presumably produced in the same sessions as "Damn You" and "Hollywood's Dead", and is expected to be an outtake from Born to Die.
The second version of the song, finished in 2011 and featuring American rapper Theophilus London, leaked on May 15, 2016. The original file is titled "ROSES - NEW VERSION", which inferred a previous version to exist. There had only ever been speculation surrounding the supposed first version of the song, though it was believed to be a solo recording that had been first recorded in 2010. This would eventually be confirmed by insiders[S 2] and the song's metadata after the song's leak on November 17, 2023. The original file is titled "ROSES_-_MX1", though it originally leaked with the identifier "80s Mix". "Several" demos/alternate versions of the song are rumored to exist.[S 3][S 4]
According to multiple insiders, the version with London was produced specifically to be pitched around to other artists.[S 5][S 6] This would eventually be proven when a version recorded by Cheryl leaked on November 7, 2020, with the file titled "ROSES - CHERYL MX 3". This version features no rap verses and is more similar in structure to Del Rey's first version of the song. While Cheryl never released "Roses", she would eventually take on Del Rey's "Ghetto Baby" for her 2012 album, A Million Lights.
In 2021, producer Chris Braide reworked the song alongside "Damn You" and "French Restaurant" without Del Rey's involvement. The 2021 rework leaked on March 6, 2023, but did not receive widespread attention until November 14, 2023.
Composition[]
"Roses" is an R&B style song with an approximate tempo of 121 beats per minute. It is in the key of G♯ Minor. The song features Theophilus London,[S 1] who provides the bridge and outro to the song, as well as ad libs throughout.
Cross-references[]
- Roses have been mentioned in other songs, including "Guns and Roses", "JFK", "Honeymoon", and "Roses Bloom for You", among others.
- Being a creep, or creeping, has been used in "Raise Me Up (Mississippi South)", "Big Eyes", and "Sad Girl".
- Kissing hard is also referenced in "Born to Die", "Summertime Sadness", and "Delicious".
- Del Rey similarly sings "uh-oh, uh-oh" in "Match Made in Heaven".
- The line "I stole your girlfriend's keys, kicked her out of your place" is thematically similar to "break up with your girlfriend, let me move in" from "Midnight Dancer Girlfriend".
- The line "life is awesome, the doctor said" is similar to "life is awesome, I confess" from "Fucked My Way Up to the Top".
- The line "as long as you remember that you're mine" is similar to "promise you'll remember that you're mine" from "Blue Jeans".
Official versions[]
- Version 1 — 3:51
- Version 2 (featuring Theophilus London) — 4:04
- 2021 rework — 3:46
Lyrics[]
Version 1[]
Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh
Uh-oh, uh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
You always buy me roses when I'm mad
Do you think I'll forgive you just like that?
Did you forget who you were seein', yeah?
I'm not lettin' you off easy, I'm still sad
I'm kissin' you hard, you got my lipstick on your face
I stole your girlfriend's keys, kicked her out of your place
Because I want you more than I did before-fore
I'm missin' you hard, give you my softcore baby face
And then we start to fight, tumble down the staircase
And when we hit that floor, you want me even more, more
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
You always buy me roses like a creep
Askin' for forgiveness, I'm sexy
What happened to the man you used to be?
If you still want my love, then work for me
You're kissin' me hard, you got my lipstick on your face
Show me what you got and put a girl in her place
If you want me more than you did before
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
My baby buys me roses, roses
My baby buys me, buys me roses, roses
I love him and he know-kn-kn-kn-knows this
It-it-it-it-it's all right, it-it-it's all right
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
It's all right, it's all right
It's all right, it's all right
It's all right, it's all right
Version 2[]
[Lana Del Rey & Theophilus London]:
(Uh, feeling's gone, feeling's gone)
Uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh
Uh-oh, uh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
(Uh, this love is dead)
[Lana Del Rey & Theophilus London]:
You always buy me roses when I'm mad
Do you think I'll forgive you just like that?
Did you forget who you were seein', yeah?
I'm not lettin' you off easy, I'm still sad (Uh)
[Lana Del Rey & Theophilus London]
I'm kissin' you hard, you got my lipstick on your face
I stole your girlfriend's keys, kicked her out of your place
Because I want you more than I did before-fore (Uh)
[Lana Del Rey & Theophilus London]:
I'm missin' you hard, give you my softcore baby face
And then we start to fight, tumble down the staircase
And when we hit that floor, you want me even more, more
(Uh, feeling's gone)
[Lana Del Rey]:
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
[Lana Del Rey & Theophilus London]:
You always buy me roses like a creep
Askin' for forgiveness, unsexy
What happened to the man you used to be?
If you still want my love, then work for me (Uh)
[Lana Del Rey & Theophilus London]:
You're kissin' me hard, you got my lipstick on your face
Show me what you got and put a girl in her place
If you want me more than you did before
(Uh, feeling's gone, feeling's gone)
[Lana Del Rey]:
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
[Theophilus London]:
We had conversations, ain't nothing said
This girl is crazy, I done lost my head
"Her life is awesome", the doctor said
But my shit feel awful, this love is dead
[Lana Del Rey]:
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
[Theophilus London]:
See, I could see the pain in her eyes, in her eyes
This love is dead, this love is dead
2021 rework[]
You always buy me roses when I’m mad
Do you think I’ll forgive you just like that?
Did you forget who you were seein', yeah?
I’m not lettin' you off easy, I’m still sad
I’m kissin' you hard, you got my lipstick on your face
I stole your girlfriend’s keys, kicked her out of your place
Because I want you more than I did before-fore
I’m missin' you hard, give you my softcore baby face
And then we start to fight, tumble down the staircase
And when we hit that floor, you want me even more, more
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
You always buy me roses like a creep
Askin' for forgiveness, I'm sexy
What happened to the man you used to be?
If you still want my love, then work for me
You're kissin' me hard, you got my lipstick on your face
Show me what you got and put a girl in her place
If you want me more than you did before
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
And then you buy me roses and it's fine
I forgive you almost all the time
As long as you remember that you're mine
I'll let you off easy, it's all right
References[]
- ↑ ISWC-Net #T-803.065.471-9
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Say Yes To Heaven, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Honeymoun, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Eclipse, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Carcase, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Stormriver, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.
- ↑ This is speculation and should not be relied upon. It has not been confirmed by any official sources, but has been reported by Eclipse, who is considered a reliable insider by the community.