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Mama Liked the Roses
Words & Music:
John ChristopherOh, mama liked the roses she grew them in the yard
But Winter always came around and made the growing way too hard
Oh, mama liked the roses and when she had the time
She'd decorate the living room, for all us kids to see
When I hear the Sunday bells ringing in the morning
I remember crying when she used to sing
Oh, mama liked the roses but most of all she cared
About the way we learned to live
And if we said our prayers
You know I kept the family bible
With a rose that she saved inside
It was pressed between the pages
Like it had found a place to hide
Oh, mama liked the roses in such a special way
We bring them every Mother's Day
And put them on her grave
Oh, mama liked the roses Mmmm
Mama liked the roses Recorded:
1969/01/15, first released on
singleReactions
A bad a song as The Last Farewell, but with that voice, I cannot help but fall for it.
Sweeter than honey, sung with seemingly deep feeling, was he perhaps thinking of his mother when he recorded this one. Different from the majority of recordings at these sessions, with its Christmas like touch, it is still a great song in its own right.
One must be made out of stone to be able to reist this.
Love this song, remember some time ago an Elvis almost "non believer" heard this and also Miracle of the Rosary and was blown away, yes very sentimental but if it introduces "non believers" into the Elvis fold I'm all for it.
Sentimental maybe but I like it. I remember the Beeb playing the intro over their Christmas TV schedule announcements some years ago.
It´s a different kind of song for the memphis sessions. I like it, but to release it as a b-side for a single was wrong in my mind. I don´t think it was strong enough for that.
An absolutely perfect recording. Great lyrics, great vocals and the emotional spoken bridge is used as effectively as it was in "Are You Lonesome Tonight". The chiming bells and sentimentality of the song make it fit well on the Christmas LP even though the song never mentions the holiday.
Syrupy, sentimental goo, but I love it. The spoken bridge gives me goose bumps. Great song!
A great song, released as the B-side on Wonder Of You. In my opinion it could have been an A-side, as it's just as good as Kentucky Rain and Don't Cry Daddy. I really love this song. Rumors says that Elvis cried the first time he heard this song, and that he recorded it to his mother who died 10 years before. Don't know if it's true though. All I know is that this is a really great song, under-rated and often forgotten on compilations.
Sentimental indeed.And i think it fits well on the christmas album. 5 stars.
I never understood why did ended up on a christmas album. Anyway it's a nice song.
Its sentimental , maybe even corny, but I like it. I actually love it. Great performance.
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