Seal’s Kiss From A Rose On The … ?
There has been quite the quandary around the TSF offices (a.k.a. my apartment) over the past few weeks. I’ve been discussing with friends and co-workers and debating the actual lyrics to the chorus of Seal’s 1995 smash #1 hit “Kiss From A Rose“. I was obsessed with this song growing up. As well all remember, it was the theme song to Batman Forever and dominated pop radio for like 3 years.
What we don’t realize is that some of us are most likely singing the song completely wrong. It is arguably one of the most popular lines in music history:
I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the _____ ?
Common sense would easily deduct that the word “grave” is the only plausible word that could end that sentence. It makes the most sense, right? It certainly does.
Please note that Seal has never posted the lyrics to his songs. Thus, when you search for Seal’s lyrics, every source you find will be a guess to what he is saying. Some websites say “grey” and some say “grave” … so that was of no help to me.
I have been pleading my case that Seal is actually saying “I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey“ – and I will tell you why.
The first line of the song is “There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea…”
Upon my interpretation, this song is referring to a woman who has entered his life and has become a bright spot in what once was a gloomy existence.
There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea
You became the light on the dark side of me.
He goes on throughout the entire song proclaiming to this woman that she has lit up his life.
A light hits the gloom on the grey
… The light you shine can be seen
Grey is a term that is usually used to define something that is depressing or sad. Also, grey is the color that is a transformation of white to black. Her light is “white” and is casting onto his sadness and slowly changing his grey to white. She is “casting” her light (happiness) onto his grey (depressing) existence, in which he refers to himself as a “greying tower” in the song.
That may be reading a little too far into it, but let’s take a listen to the actual song and listen to how he finishes the word grey (or grave) in the chorus. In my opinion, he never sounds out the consonant sound of the “v”.
I decided to make this less of a guessing game and dig for some facts. I pulled a few strings and sent out a few emails to a couple of people who know Seal personally.
First, Seal’s manager in London. I have deleted his name and email from this screen shot due to privacy reasons. You are just going to have to trust me. When asked about the actual lyrics to “Kiss From A Rose“, this was his response:
Pretty nice for my first try. He actually asked Seal – which is great and all – but damn it, sounds like he’s going to the grave with this one (pun intended) unless they are actually going to put lyrics up on his website, which would make this whole post moot.
Second, we have Shane Alexander, a friend of TSF who has toured with Seal. Here was his answer, which is indefinite and still a guess:
Needless to say, I am pretty sad that I couldn’t find the actual answer. I went on to email the co-writer and the producer of the song, but nothing came up. No emails back – nothing.
I hope to find the answer. Until then, you will never hear this song the same now that you know about this misheard lyric. You’ve been saying it “grave” for the last 13 years, haven’t you?
3 Comments so far
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it is grave my father used to sing it to me when i was a toddler and it has been my favorite song since and i actually have the lyrics
first off sll ve been singing grape,but ur answer to this song makes a lot of sense and thank u for ur info.feel free to e mail me about this so we can further get into it if u want at bani.osorio@chef.net
I love your powers of deduction! You could make a pretty good sleuth or maybe the author of mystery novels. I have watched the video numerous times and I vote for GREY. My reasons are, a kiss from a rose on the grave would mean someone laid a rose on a grave. Not exactly a kiss. If the “grey” is the tower and wild roses grew at it’s base, the wind would cause the roses to “kiss” the tower. The bleek picture of a grey tower would become beautiful with the addition of the roses.