Poison – “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” Lyrics Meaning

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Written By Joanna Landrum

Joanna holds a BSc in English Literature and uses her expertise in literary analysis to uncover the deeper meaning of her favorite songs.

“Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison narrates the anguish and sorrow accompanied by lost love. The poetic and poignant song reflects on the pain and scars left by love, using the metaphor of a rose with thorns to symbolize beauty accompanied by pain. The songwriter, caught at the crossroads of regret and acceptance, portrays the unavoidable ache and the lingering sting of a love that could have been saved. It’s a musical journey through the fragility of relationships and the enduring marks they leave, speaking volumes about the vulnerability of the human heart.


Explore the intense emotions and vivid imagery concealed in “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” lyrics. Feel the intricate amalgamation of pain, love, and regret and witness the exquisite beauty shrouded in the thorns of unspoken words and lost chances.


“Every Rose Has Its Thorn” Lyrics Meaning

The song unfolds the agony of silent struggles in relationships and the inward solitude that can exist between two individuals, despite their physical closeness. The metaphor “Every rose has its thorn” beautifully represents the juxtaposition of love and pain. The rose, a universal symbol of love, is paired with thorns, representing the pain and sorrow inherent in relationships. The lines “Just like every night has its dawn” illustrate the transient nature of time, implying that pain, like the night, is temporary and will eventually give way to a new dawn.

The poignant verses reflect a deep sense of regret and a yearning to turn back time to salvage the relationship. The silence “in the dead of the night” represents the unspoken words and unresolved issues that create a chasm between the lovers. The silence becomes a palpable entity, separating the individuals more significantly than physical distance ever could.

The radio scene, with the DJ declaring love as a game of “easy come and easy go,” raises the question of the universality of pain in love. It ponders whether everyone experiences this torment and the weight of unspoken words, highlighting the profoundness of emotional scars, which linger long after the wound has healed.

The song brings forward the relatability of human emotions in the face of lost love. The wound may heal, but “the scar remains,” serving as a constant reminder of what was lost. The lingering pain, compared to the cutting of a knife, reinforces the enduring nature of emotional scars.

Every note in this song resonates with the melancholic beauty of love intertwined with pain, portraying the delicate balance between holding on and letting go. It’s a soulful rendition of heartbreak, hope, and the perennial presence of scars in the landscape of human emotions.

The Story Behind “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”

The creation of “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” is deeply interwoven with the human experience of pain and loss. The songwriter was in a contemplative state, examining the remnants of a relationship marked by unfulfilled promises and unspoken words. The song delves into the psyche of someone witnessing the dissolution of a relationship, questioning the actions and words that could have saved the love that was lost.

This ballad’s conception reflects reflective moments, an exploration of the intricate tapestry of human emotions when faced with the paradox of love and pain. It encapsulates the dichotomy between the desire to hold on and the inevitability of parting ways. It’s a dialogue between regret and acceptance, acknowledging the irreversible nature of time and the enduring scars left by unspoken words and unrealized potentials.

“Every Rose Has Its Thorn” is a philosophical exploration of love and its accompanying thorns. The creator was immersed in the complexities of human emotions, striving to articulate the unspoken pain and the residual scars left by the thorns of a withered rose. It’s a musical journey that connects listeners to the universal experiences of love, loss, and the perennial scars that shape the human heart.