Where the Wild Roses Grow

Nick Cave, Kylie Minogue

About Where the Wild Roses Grow

"Where the Wild Roses Grow" is a duet by Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and pop singer Kylie Minogue. It is the fifth song and lead single from the band's ninth studio album, Murder Ballads (1996), released on Mute Records. It was written by the band's frontman Nick Cave and produced by Tony Cohen and Victor Van Vugt. The song received a positive reception from music critics and became the band's most successful single worldwide reaching No. 3 in Norway, the top five in Australia, and the top twenty in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and New Zealand. It also received a limited promotional release in the United States. The song was certified Gold in Germany in 1996 for 250,000 copies sold, despite never reaching the top ten in that country. It charted again at the bottom of the German Top 100 in 2008 because of digital downloads after it was used in a soap opera. "Where the Wild Roses Grow" was also certified Gold in Australia for selling 50,000 copies. Cave was inspired to write "Where the Wild Roses Grow" after listening to the traditional song, "Down in the Willow Garden", a tale of a man courting a woman and killing her while they are out together. Cave arranged this tale as second of two B-sides, "The Ballad of Robert Moore & Betty Coltrane" / "The Willow Garden", released on the CD-Maxi single version. 


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They call me The Wild Rose
But my name was Elisa Day
Why they call me it I do not know
For my name was Elisa Day

From the first day I saw her I knew she was the one
She stared in my eyes and smiled
For her lips were the colour of the roses
That grew down the river, all bloody and wild

When he knocked on my door and entered the room
My trembling subsided in his sure embrace
He would be my first man, and with a careful hand
He wiped at the tears that ran down my face

They call me The Wild Rose
But my name was Elisa Day
Why they call me that I do not know
For my name was Elisa Day

On the second day I brought her a flower
She was more beautiful than any woman I'd seen
I said, "Do you know where the wild roses grow
So sweet and scarlet and free?"

On the second day he came with a single red rose
He said "Will you give me your loss and your sorrow"
I nodded my head, as I lay on the bed
"If I show you the roses, will you follow?"

They call me The Wild Rose
But my name was Elisa Day
Why they call me that I do not know
For my name was Elisa Day

On the third day he took me to the river
He showed me the roses and we kissed
And the last thing I heard was a muttered word
As he knelt above me with a rock in his fist

On the last day I took her where the wild roses grow
And she lay on the bank, the wind light as a thief
And I kissed her goodbye, said, "All beauty must die"
And I lent down and planted a rose 'tween her teeth

They call me The Wild Rose
But my name was Elisa Day
Why they call me that I do not know
For my name was Elisa Day
My name was Elisa Day
For my name was Elisa Day

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Nick Cave

Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, composer and occasional film actor. more »

3 fans

Written by: Nicholas Cave

Lyrics © PREMIERE MUSIC GROUP, BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Collaboration Artist
"Where the Wild Roses Grow" is a duet by Australian artists Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave, and it is part of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ 1996 album, "Murder Ballads".
Inspiration
Nick Cave wrote the song and was inspired by the traditional American song "Down in the Willow Garden," a tale that narrates a murder committed by a man courting a woman.
Music Genre
The song blends various genres such as alternative rock, folk and murder ballads, offering a haunting and melodious tune with a grim storyline.
Chart Performance
"Where the Wild Roses Grow" was a commercial success. It reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, and it was Minogue's first Top Twenty hit in the United Kingdom since 1992.
Music Video
The song's video was directed by famed British director Rocky Schenck and precisely portrayed the tragic storyline, with Minogue playing the victim, Elisa Day, and Cave the murderer.
Awards
"Where the Wild Roses Grow" won ARIA Awards for 'Single of the Year' and 'Song of the Year' in 1996 and was certified platinum in Australia.
Not Kylie's Usual Style
The song marked a significant departure from Minogue's earlier work, which predominantly consisted of pop and dance tracks. She also wore minimal make-up and sported a different look in the video to suit the tragic character she was playing.
Breaking the Mould
It allowed Minogue to break free from her 'girl next door' image as she embraced a darker, more sophisticated persona.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by many artists since its release, such as Kamelot, Sarah Brightman, and Ane Brun, highlighting its enduring popularity.
Cultural Impact
"Where the Wild Roses Grow", through its poetic lyrics and gripping storyline, has contributed to the legacy of murder ballads and has been studied and analyzed in university courses and scholarly papers.
25-Year Anniversary
In 2021, Minogue and Cave marked the 25th anniversary of this song by performing it again at a benefit concert in London.

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