This 1970 country ballad is a masterclass in heartbreak, delivered with Jones’ signature ache and twang. It’s a song that transcends country music, becoming a universal lament for the loss of love.
Background
Released on Jones’ album “George Jones with Love”, the song wasn’t written by Jones himself, but by songwriter Jerry Chesnut. However, Chesnut’s penmanship perfectly captured the essence of Jones’ own tumultuous personal life, a life filled with multiple marriages and struggles with alcoholism.
In fact, the song’s raw emotion resonated so deeply with audiences that it became one of Jones’ biggest hits, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
But what exactly makes “A Good Year for the Roses” such a powerful song? Let’s delve deeper. The title itself sets a poignant scene. Roses, often associated with love and beauty, are thriving. Nature flourishes, yet the protagonist’s world crumbles.
This contrast between the external world and the speaker’s internal turmoil is a recurring theme in country music, and Jones delivers it perfectly. “A Good Year for the Roses” is more than just a breakup song. It’s a meditation on loss, on the lingering effects of a love that has soured.
It’s a song that resonates with anyone who has ever experienced the heartbreak of a shattered relationship. And with Jones’ powerful vocal delivery, it becomes an unforgettable country classic.
Video
Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
I can hardly bare the sight of lipstickOn the cigarettes there in the ashtrayLyin’ cold the way you left themBut at least your lips caressed them while you packedAnd a lip print on a half-filled cup of coffeeThat you poured and didn’t drinkBut at least you thought you wanted itThat’s so much more than I can say for meIt’s been a good year for the rosesMany blooms still linger thereThe lawn could stand another mowin’Funny, I don’t even careWhen you turned and walked awayAnd as the door behind you closesThe only thing I know to sayIt’s been a good year for the roses
Harley