"Rose" is a song by John Hiatt that tells the story of an aging woman named Rose who is reflecting on her past and feeling lonely in her present life. The lyrics describe Rose getting ready in the morning, putting on her stockings and lighting a cigarette. As she looks at her tired face in the mirror, she sees a younger version of herself that she thought she had forgotten. This brings her pain because no one comes to visit her anymore. The song talks about Rose's vibrant past, where she used to go to parties and dancing with her partner under the southern moon. However, now she feels tired all the time and has nowhere to go. The memories of those times keep haunting her through the faces of the people she used to know. Rose then finds her dressing table and puts on all her clothes, realizing that she is just an old Rose, which brings her to tears. The repetition of her putting on stockings and lighting a cigarette signifies her daily routines and the monotony of her life. As Rose walks to the kitchen and fills her coffee cup, she reflects on how mornings used to be a joyful start to her day. But now, it's just another day and harder for her to get out of bed. It saddens her to think that no one needs her anymore. Rose yearns to start all over, but she feels like she doesn't have much left in her life. She cries in the realization that she is just an old Rose, reflecting on the passing of time and the loneliness that comes with aging. Overall, the song portrays the struggles and emotions of an aging woman who feels forgotten and unneeded in her later years. It captures the bittersweet nostalgia and longing for days gone by.
