She liked it, and that’s how it got into the film and changed my life forever. But the divine Paul Rothchild, who was the music supervisor on the film, and had been Janis Joplin’s producer, hauled it out and asked them to reconsider. They thought it was dull and a hymn and NOT rock and roll and totally wrong. She submitted the tune to the producers, who HATED it. But her family refused permission to use that name. So I said, “Sure.” Originally the film had been called THE PEARL, which was Janis Joplin’s nick name. I didn’t consider myself a song writer at the time. Do you want me to submit this to them?” I had never really tried to submit this song to anyone. There is this movie coming out called “The Rose”. (This is long before I had ever recorded anything.) He said,”Mark my words, something is going to happen with this song.”Ī year or so later, a great young songwriter named Michele Brourman, who became my primary musical collaborator and best friend, said “Listen. He listened, and quietly said to me, “You’ve just written a standard.” I protested that no one but my pals would ever hear it. I called my husband, George, into the room and played it for him, as I always did with my new songs. I screeched into my drive way, ran into the house, past various bewildered dogs and cats and husbands, and sat down at the piano. I had to keep reciting them to myself as I drove faster and faster towards home, so I wouldn’t forget them. (I was younger then.) What, then, do I think love is? Suddenly, it was as if someone had opened a window in the top of my head. My heart is just a scar.”I thought,”Ooh, I love that lyric.”Īs I continued to drive down the road the thought came, I don’t agree with the sentiment. My favorite line was “Your love is like a razor. It was “MAGDALENA” by Danny O’Keefe, sung by Leo Sayer. I was driving down the freeway one afternoon, some time in 1970-something.

People often ask me what inspired me to write The Rose.

D rose song meaning