Chords
The Rose

The Rose, composed by Amanda McBroom and popularized by Bette Midler, was inspired by a song McBroom heard on the soundtrack of the movie Madame X. Initially written for her own personal use, it became well-known after being chosen as the theme for the 1979 movie The Rose starring Midler.

Key: C

Introduction:

           C              G 
Some say love, it is a river,
       F             G     C 
That drowns the tender reed
           C              G 
Some say love, it is a razor,
       F             G        C 
That leaves your soul to bleed
           Em             Am 
Some say love, it is a hunger,
       F      Dm7     G 
An endless aching need
        C               G 
I say love, it is a flower and
  F         G     C 
You its only seed

            C                  G 
It' s the heart afraid of breaking
       F        G         C 
That never learns to dance
            C                 G 
It' s the dream afraid of waking
      F         G         C 
That never takes the chance
          Em                 Am      Am7 
It' s the one who won' t be taken
       F      Dm7      G 
Who cannot seem to give
         C                 G 
And the soul afraid of dying
       F      G          C 
That never learns to live

           C                    G 
When the night has been too lonely
          F         G          C 
And the road has been too long
           C                 G 
And you think that love is only
          F       G         C 
For the lucky and the strong
       Em               Am 
Just remember in the winter
       F                 G      G4 
Far beneath the bitter snow
           C                   G 
Lies the seed that with the sun' s love,
          F         G          C 
In the spring becomes the rose