Rose Parade Lyrics
You asked me to come down and watch the parade
To march down the street like the Duracell bunny
With a wink and a wave from the cavalcade
Throwing out candy that looks like money
To people passing by that all seem to be going the other way
[Chorus]
Said, "Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?"
[Verse 2]
Tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
People were shouting and pushing and saying
And I traded a smoke for a food stamp dollar
Ridiculous marching band started playing
Got me singing along with some half-hearted victory song
[Chorus]
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Won't you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
[Verse 3]
The trumpeter's obviously been drinking
'Cause he's fucking up even the simplest lines
You say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing
It's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine
When they clean the street, I'll be the only shit that's left behind
About
“Rose Parade” is the seventh track off of Elliott Smith’s celebrated album, Either/Or.
While the song seems to be a reference to the annual Portland Rose Festival, Elliott explained in a Jim Jr. Interview that “Rose Parade” is about parading a fake personality.
Rose Parade is a parade that happens in Portland every year. But, ‘Rose Parade’ wasn’t really supposed to be about that parade. It was just supposed to be about parades in general, like the way people parade around and expect you to join in on their peacock march. You know? Someone does, ‘We’re looking good,’ that kind of attitude. It’s like, people get fucked over a lot by sorta trying to parade around as something that they’re not really, but they can be for a little while, but then it all goes wrong.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Interviewer: “Tell us about Rose Parade.”
Elliott: “The Rose Parade is in Portland and I was supposed to describe it accurately but the point of it wasn’t to describe the Parade. It was supposed to be an allegory for any pompous parade or self-congratulatory venture, sort of like…”
“The Oscars.”
“Yeah, for example.”