Story Behind The Song

My best friend Tammy had one of the saddest childhoods I'd ever heard of. Her mom was an alcoholic, sometimes neglectful, sometimes extremely abusive, and always oblivious to what went on around her, including her second husband's abuse and almost daily assaults against her very young daughter, that went on for years. Even though she'd had it so horribly, she remained a good person, beautiful inside and out. Tammy ended up going into foster care as a teenager, finally finding safety, and support and after several years there she met who she believed to be the love of her life, someone she could trust. But no. He cheated on her with his previous girlfriend and the night Tammy found out about it was the night she died in a single car accident. She had made such an impact on my life, I just wanted to honor her memory.

Song Description

The song is about a beautiful flower/person that had been born into a toxic environment, one that was cold, dark, and full of weeds/nasty people. Still through all of the turmoil that flower/person remained beautiful, she never let all that ugliness consume her or influence her behavior. Because she remained true to herself and had such a lovely soul, I believe she went straight to Heaven where she was finally free and at peace.

Lyrics

(Verse I)
Once in a weed infested garden
A wild red rose had grown
Amongst the brush and the tangles
Oh, her beauty stood alone
Though the weeds tried to choke her
In her dark tiny spot
The rose grew even more lovely
In the garden that time forgot

(Chorus)
Sometimes beauty comes from places
Where the ugliness is found
And rays of hope
Just like sunshine
Spilled her heart upon the ground

(Verse II)
One day a young man was walking by
Saw the rose as she shone
He thought that he could save her
So he picked her and took her home
In a glass vase he put her in
Placed her upon a shelf
When her beauty faded
He replaced her with something else

(Chorus)
Sometimes beauty comes from places
Where the ugliness is found
And rays of hope
Just like sunshine
Spilled her heart upon the ground

(Verse III)
The rose wasn't a flower at all
She was a dear friend of mine
She made my life more beautiful
If only for a short, sweet time
And the times that I miss her most
I see her in my dreams
Her face is full of love and laughter
She's happier now it seems

(Chorus)
Sometimes beauty comes from places
Where the ugliness is found
And rays of hope
Just like sunshine
Spilled her heart upon the ground
Still upon the ground

(Ending)
God saw her withered loveliness
And with gentle loving care
Carried her into Heaven
No forgotten gardens growing there