About the song
**Introduction to “Bed of Roses”**
“Bed of Roses,” a standout track by American rock band Bon Jovi, represents a significant moment in the band’s evolution. Featured on their fifth studio album, *Keep the Faith* (1992), and released as a single on January 11, 1993, this song marked a pivotal shift in Bon Jovi’s sound and style. Written by Jon Bon Jovi during a hangover in a hotel room, the lyrics of “Bed of Roses” reflect a period of introspection and vulnerability. The song, characterized by its power ballad style, melds emotive vocals with drawn-out guitar riffs and soft piano melodies, encapsulating a more mature and introspective phase for the band, transitioning from their glam metal roots of the 1980s.
“Bed of Roses” achieved considerable commercial success worldwide, reaching No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 10 on the German Singles Chart. Its success highlighted Bon Jovi’s ability to adapt and evolve their musical style while maintaining a strong connection with their audience.
The music video for “Bed of Roses” complements the song’s emotional depth with a visually striking narrative. It opens with Richie Sambora playing guitar against the backdrop of mountain peaks, shifting to scenes of Jon Bon Jovi in a hotel room, the band recording in the studio, and their live performance. Despite initial plans to place Jon Bon Jovi on the mountaintop, he humorously declined, recalling his previous appearance in “Blaze of Glory.” Instead, Richie Sambora and David Bryan, seen at the mountain top, visually embody the song’s introspective themes. The live footage, captured at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on December 31, 1992, for a New Year’s Eve concert, further energizes the video with dynamic audience interaction.
“Bed of Roses” has remained a staple in Bon Jovi’s live performances and was included on their greatest hits compilation, *Cross Road*, and in acoustic form on *This Left Feels Right*. The song’s enduring popularity is also evident in its Spanish-language version, “Cama De Rosas,” and its appearance in an episode of *Ms. Marvel*, performed by the band “Brown Jovi.” The track’s continued relevance underscores its lasting impact and the band’s ability to resonate with diverse audiences over the years.
Video
Lyrics
Sitting here wasted and wounded
With this old piano
Trying hard to capture
The moment this morning I don’t know
‘Cause a bottle of vodka
Still lodged in my head
And some blonde gave me nightmares
Think that she’s still in my bed
As I dream about movies
They won’t make of me when I’m dead
With an ironclad fist
I wake up and French kiss the morning
While some marching band keeps
Its own beat in my head
While we’re talking
About all of the things that I long to believe
About love the truth and what you mean to me
And the truth is, baby you’re all that I need
I wanna lay you down in a bed of roses
For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails
Oh, I wanna be just as close as the Holy Ghost is
And lay you down on a bed of roses
Well I’m so far away
Step that I takes on my way home
A king’s ransom in dimes I give each night
To see through this payphone
Still I run out of time
Or it’s hard to get through
‘Til’ the bird on the wire flies me back to you
I’ll just close my eyes and whisper
Baby blind love is true
I wanna lay you down in a bed of roses
For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails
Oh, I wanna be just as close as the Holy Ghost is
And lay you down on a bed of roses
Well, this hotel bar’s hangover whiskey’s gone dry
The barkeeper’s wig’s crooked
And she’s giving me the eye
I might have said yeah
But I laughed so hard I think I died, ooh yeah
Now as you close your eyes
Know I’ll be thinking about you
While my mistress she calls me
To stand in her spotlight again
Tonight I won’t be alone
But you know that don’t mean I’m not lonely
I’ve got nothing to prove
For it’s you that I’d die to defend
I wanna lay you down in a bed of roses
For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails
Oh, I wanna be just as close as the Holy Ghost is
And lay you down
I wanna lay you down in a bed of roses
For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails
I wanna be just as close as the Holy Ghost is
And lay you down
On a bed of roses