Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Good Year For The Roses (with lyrics)

I can hardly bear the sight of lipstick
On the cigarettes there in the ashtray
Lying cold the way you left them
But at least your lips caressed them while you packed
Or the lip-print on a half-filled cup of coffee
That you poured and didn't drink
But at least you thought you wanted it
That's so much more than I can say for me

What a good year for the roses
Many blooms still linger there
The lawn could stand another mowing
Funny I don't even care
As you turn to walk away
As the door behind you closes
The only thing I have to say
It's been a good year for the roses

After three full years of marriage
It's the first time that you haven't made the bed
I guess the reason we're not talking
There's so little left to say we haven't said
While a million thoughts go racing through my mind
I find I haven't said a word
From the bedroom the familiar sound
Of our baby's crying goes unheard

What a good year for the roses
Many blooms still linger there
The lawn could stand another mowing
Funny I don't even care
As you turn to walk away
As the door behind you closes
The only thing I have to say
It's been a good year for the roses

[michelle]

When this first came out, I thought it was a lovely song. But when I was getting divorced, I could relate to every lyric. When you're packing and trying to make small talk, without mentioning 'the elephant in the room.' Fantastic gut wrenching song.

[stevieG.]

Learning this amazing song for a karaoke performance and it's hard to stay dry eyed..even after 5 years of being divorced.

[maryconway]

when you are finished in a marriage this song says it all

[Phil..._]

I can't seem to get this song from my mind. I woke up actually singing the chorus (probably badly) out loud the other night.. and had dreamt that I'd said to someone that I needed to find out what all the lyrics are.

I now know what the lyrics are.. and also the main reasons why I can't stop thinking about this song. Two of those reasons are private but other two are that this is by far the best version of this song ever sung, and also that I always subconsciously thought that "a good year for the roses" was a euphemism for "there's a lot of bullshit being spread around" (roses grow well on it)

[JennysCountryChannel]

Another great one, John! Again thumbs up! Have a lovely day....Hugs, Jenny :-)