Good Year For The Roses

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

Credits

• Written by: Jerry Chesnut
• Produced by: Billy Sherrill
• Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals and guitar

Steve Nieve - keyboards

Bruce Thomas - bass

Pete Thomas - drums

Tommy Millar - fiddle

John McFee - guitar

Nashville Edition - background vocals

Discography

Albums:

• Almost Blue, 1981
• Almost Blue (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1994
• Almost Blue (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2004
• This section may be incomplete.

Singles:

• This section may be incomplete.

Collections:

• The Very Best Of Elvis Costello And The Attractions
• The Very Best Of Elvis Costello
• This section may be incomplete.

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Covers

Also recorded by:

• George Jones
• Johnny Paycheck

Bootlegs

• 1981-12-31 - A New Year For The Roses
• This section is incomplete.