Listen
Spoken version
A recorded reading of “Dead Roses Under Neon”. If the player does not load, use the original audio source.
We left a bouquet on the kerb— Petals bruised by taxi verbs. You laughed, “call it modern art.” I said, “it looks like our soft heart.” The sign flips pink to blue; Each blink forgets a truth. Dead roses under neon Still perfume where we won’t go; Hold me close, let failure show— Dead roses under neon. Window mannequins watch us drown; Lipstick rivers muscle down. You tongued a raindrop off my lip, Named it love, let the handle slip. Your shadow walks ahead of you; Mine sticks like alley glue. Dead roses under neon Still perfume where we won’t go; Hold me close, let failure show— Dead roses under neon. Pin one to my coat; Canonise the rot. Dead roses under neon— Write our names, then let them go. A cold room hums. The flowers snow.
Instructional lyrics
[Intro 6b night‑bus chime, kerbside rain] [Verse 1 brush kit ~98bpm] [**Verse 1**] We left a bouquet on the kerb Petals bruised by taxi verbs You laughed and called it modern art I said it looks like our poor heart [Pre rise, choir pad swell] [Pre tension, snare on 2/4] [Pre bloom pad] [**Pre-Chorus** ] The sign flicks, pink to blue Every blink forgets a truth [Chorus wide, tambourine last repeat] [Chorus octave bass, low BVs] [**Chorus** ] Dead roses under neon glow Still perfume where we won’t go Hold me close, let failure show Dead roses under neon glow [**Verse 2**] Window mannequins watch us drown Lipstick rivers down the town You kiss a raindrop off my lip Call it love, then let it slip [Pre rise, choir pad swell] [Pre tension, snare on 2/4] [Pre bloom pad] [**Pre-Chorus** ] Your shadow walks ahead of you Mine stays stuck like alley glue [Chorus wide, tambourine last repeat] [Chorus octave bass, low BVs] [**Chorus** ] Dead roses under neon glow Still perfume where we won’t go Hold me close, let failure show Dead roses under neon glow [**Bridge** ] Pin them to my coat Make a saint of rot [**Final Chorus**] Dead roses under neon glow Write our names, then let them go If we bloom, it’s down below Dead roses under neon glow [Outro 4b spring verb fade]
Song info
Gothic waltz‑tinged post‑punk. Commonwealth noir lexicon (kerb, pavement, night bus). The Smiths jangle with Sisters‑style pads, Nick Cave noir lyric. Baritone vocal. Tempo 98 BPM, key A minor. Octave‑lift bass, minimal drums with brush→stick lift, plate reverb. Structure: Intro → Verse → Pre → Chorus → Verse → Pre → Chorus → Bridge → Final Chorus → Outro. Hook: “Dead roses under neon.” Mood: bittersweet urban decay.
No published comments yet.