Not all is what it seems: “Petals fall from pink roses / and everything I thought I knew, I suppose is a lie.” In “Roses,” Abra examines the rose metaphor to reveal the deception embedded in love. Why does something so beautiful end in so much pain? Abra tries to understand this timeless question that everyone has considered at some point in their lives.
“Roses” comes off of Abra’s album Rose, released last month. With a SXSW appearance this spring and the new release, the Atlanta-based artist is starting to make a splash. This track in particular showcases her vocal, lyrical, and mood evoking abilities in a song.
The beat helps to create a dark and deceptive ambiance, but the lyrics and vocals quickly become the focal point: “And I’m green with envy of the me that was young and unwise and unknowing.” This is a pessimistic outlook, but most people can sympathize. After all, ignorance is bliss. Perhaps the only resolution to the paradox of love is ignorance of it in the first place. But we all know how impossible that is, right? Abra recognizes this as well. The track culminates as the music fades, when she repeats “I’m young and I’ll waste you away.” This is a crazy viewpoint, but it reveals another truth: The only real solution to the problem with love is suffering through the pain because joy will come in the future.