Maya Hawke's song "Rose and Thorn" is a love song about the complexities of a relationship. The lyrics describe the narrator's deep love for their partner, who they see as both a beautiful rose and a painful thorn. The song starts with the narrator talking to themselves, but their partner leans in to listen. The image of a "silky laugh" is used to describe the partner's voice. The metaphor of Truman on the ropes and the narrator being heavy with hope suggests that the narrator sees themselves as vulnerable and reliant on their partner. The chorus repeats the idea that the partner is both a blessing and a curse, promising and warning the narrator at the same time. The second verse uses imagery of a pig that made it to the moon and a dog that learned her name to describe the impossible things the narrator would do for their partner. They want their partner to understand them, but it seems like they never will. The third verse acknowledges the narrator's tendency to be preoccupied with the future instead of living in the moment. They recognize that they might never find peace unless they spend their time with their partner. The final chorus repeats the idea that the partner is irreplaceable and has a hold on the narrator's heart. Overall, "Rose and Thorn" is a bittersweet love song about the highs and lows of a relationship. The lyrics emphasize the narrator's desire for their partner and their struggle to reconcile the contradictions in their feelings.
