Of Monsters and Men’s “Wild Roses” Lyrics Meaning
Of Monsters and Men’s “Wild Roses” is wildly-symbolic and a bit challenging to understand. So we will instead start our interpretation with what Nanna Hilmarsdóttir, the lead singer of the band, has stated about this track. In term of its primary meanings, she has said that it is based on “Joseph Campbell’s The Power of Myth and what it is like to lean into your sadness”.
The mythology part is clearly evident, as mentioned earlier with the track’s symbolism. For instance, in this song, Of Monsters and Men reference different times of the year, a couple of animals and a number of different settings, all of which read as if they are representations of a greater idea. How they all tie into the teachings of mythologist Joseph Campbell is not abundantly clear. That being said, Campbell is known to have developed a concept called “the hero’s journey” (as in the archetypical hero’s quest) which may have comparable elements in this song, as it seems that the singer is likewise on some type of search for a heightened sense of being.
As far as “lean(ing) into your sadness”, the song does begin by referencing the singer’s “own pain”. And again, the journey the song seems to be espousing does read as if it may be related to some form of pain alleviation. Indeed the titular “roses”, as the singer states, do not have any meaning that the addressee ‘does not understand’. However, she wants the two of them to pretend that they do. In other words she may be looking for some meaning in them again as form of pain alleviation. Indeed other terminology, such as the singer’s desiring to “fly”, may all be pointing to a longing to escape what she is actually going through in the real world. And the changing of the seasons which she also mentions may allude to her expecting to heal with time.
As far as “lean(ing) into your sadness”, the song does begin by referencing the singer’s “own pain”. And again, the journey the song seems to be espousing does read as if it may be related to some form of pain alleviation. Indeed the titular “roses”, as the singer states, do not have any meaning that the addressee ‘does not understand’. However, she wants herself and the person(s) she is addressing to “pretend” that they do. In other words, she is imagining the roses to be a symbol of relief from her inner pain.
Indeed other terminology, such as the singer desiring to “fly”, may all be pointing to a longing to escape what she is actually going through in the real world. And the changing of the seasons which she also mentions may allude to her expecting to heal with time. Or put differently, she is equating common, everyday occurrences like beholding wild roses in the springtime (i.e. perceiving a rose as a symbol of pain relief), witnessing the flight of a moth (i.e. ‘flying’) and the passage of time (i.e. ‘changing seasons’) to her yearnings to be free.
So ultimately we are thankful to Nanna for providing that explanation of the song’s meaning. With her statement in mind, the track becomes much easier to understand. The singer is apparently on some type of ideological journey to achieve a desired state and is questioning if the addressee will also join her on this quest. And her reason for setting forth in the first place is looking for an escape from the painful reality of what she is currently going through.
Release Date of “Wild Roses”
Republic Records released (internationally) “Wild Roses” on 12 July 2019 as the second single from Of Monsters and Men’s 2019 album Fever Dream. However, it made an appearance in their native Iceland, via Spotify, as early as 28 June 2019.
Of Monsters and Men teased the release of this track, via Twitter, the day prior to its official (international) release.
FYI, “Alligator” was the first single that Fever Dream produced.
Writing and Production
Nanna Hilmarsdóttir wrote this song along with fellow Of Monsters and Men band member Ragnar Þórhallsson.
Meanwhile the entire band contributed to its production alongside their regular collaborator, Rich Costey.
