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Cherokee Rose

from Hotel Oregon by vonHummer

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This is kind of a Grateful Dead song. They were always doing songs about girls and flowers, and just when I thought they'd taken all the good floral monikers ("Sugar Magnolia!") I found the Cherokee Rose. And so "Cherokee Rose" came to be.

I think the girl in this song is even kind of a deadhead chick, with the cotton dress and free love and all. Cherokee Roses grow in the country (I think) and usually on fences and things. They're kind of a weed to me, but pretty. State flower of Georgia. White petals, gold in the heart. A climbing shrub.

The lyrics wrote themselves in a big gush back in the summer of '97 probably. I imagine it's the story of repressed suburban dude who takes up with a wandering hippie chick attracted to his security. As gardening metaphors run riot, she finds his security makes her miserable and leaves.

In the summer of 2004, this old chestnut was rediscovered and given a new tune—one dangerously close to my 2000 song "Private Jokes"—but with this recording never was put into a music video for "The vonHummer Hour." I don't think this song has ever been heard before, come to think of it.

So all right you collectors: here's one you don't have but should.

lyrics

"Cherokee Rose"
[vonHummer]

She was tangled on split rail fence, drooping slightly, “She needs water,” I thought, and her name was Cherokee Rose, Fuck I fell in love with her then and there!
Honeysuckle, beware, thorn-adorned (didn’t care) Army boots and a cotton dress, Seeking tender loving care and a house to share, “Home is anywhere I toss my clothes,” she said at the time, Cherokee Rose,
She was taken with my gardening rather rightly, “A bit of pruning,” I thought, “ought to suit our Cherokee Rose,” Mr. Henderson next door gave a jealous glare, Beauty bloomed everywhere, Drought about (didn’t care,) Army boots and a cotton dress,”Got a whore-to-culture, tender-nuture thing goin’ on, as growing goes,” I sighed to myself, “for Cherokee Rose,”
She’s the bane of the wildflower, goddess to the weed, she can give you anything you want, regardless of need…
Look upon her works, ye mighty, and regret, then she’s gone in a cloud of cigarette, sunlight, and half-eaten chocolate eclairs…
She was clipped in a bottle by a leaded window, weeping nightly, “Maybe root-rot,” I thought, “or reservations,” for Cherokee Rose, She got a heavy cross-pollination to bear, Nothing smuggled to declare, A renegade somewhere, Army boots and a cotton dress, new lacey underwear sit on the front stair packed in the last of the portmanteaus, left with regards and haste by Cherokee Rose…

credits

from Hotel Oregon, released April 16, 2005
vonHummer: vocals and guitar

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vonHummer Portland, Oregon

vonHummer is a Portland music/cable access legend whose career spanned from Fall of 2001 to Fall of 2011, during which he recorded a hundred or so songs for use in his absurdist show (and feature film) and played only a handful of concerts. Currently retired, his work shines on for the ages. Or will he someday return...? ... more

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