Roses for Mama (song)
Encyclopedia
"Roses for Mama" is a song recorded and by both country music
artists Red Sovine
and C.W. McCall, and was a top 5 hit for McCall in 1977. The song was also covered in German language
by Austrian singer Johnny Hill.
One of McCall's numerous recitations released during the 1970s, "Roses for Mama" differed from his usual novelty-style tales. Instead, this song focuses on a traveller's kind-hearted actions toward a motherless boy.
her a dozen roses. At the flower shop, he runs into a teary-eyed 5-year-old boy. The boy is upset because he cannot afford to purchase roses for his mother, whom he says he hasn't seen in a year.
The boy tells his story about living with his grandmother and that he had promised to purchase the roses to celebrate his mother's birthday. The story touches the narrator's heart, and he agrees to fund the boy's purchase. The boy thanks the narrator, who then proceeds with his planned purchase.
Later, as the narrator is driving out of town, he sees the boy at the cemetery, kneeling by what turns out to be his mother's grave. After the boy explains that "this is where my mother stays now," the narrator decides that he is taking his own mother for granted and decides to take his rose bouquet to give to her in person.
, for his 1975 hit "Convoy
." However, "Roses for Mama" became a big hit in the fall of 1977, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
chart.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artists Red Sovine
Red Sovine
Woodrow Wilson Sovine , better known as Red Sovine, was an American country music singer associated with truck driving songs, particularly those recited as narratives but set to music...
and C.W. McCall, and was a top 5 hit for McCall in 1977. The song was also covered in German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
by Austrian singer Johnny Hill.
One of McCall's numerous recitations released during the 1970s, "Roses for Mama" differed from his usual novelty-style tales. Instead, this song focuses on a traveller's kind-hearted actions toward a motherless boy.
Song story
The narrator is travelling to Florida to vacation with an old friend when he makes a stop in Georgia. During the stop, he calls his mother to wish her a happy birthday and plans to wireWire transfer
Wire transfer or credit transfer is a method of electronic funds transfer from one person or institution to another. A wire transfer can be made from one bank account to another bank account or through a transfer of cash at a cash office...
her a dozen roses. At the flower shop, he runs into a teary-eyed 5-year-old boy. The boy is upset because he cannot afford to purchase roses for his mother, whom he says he hasn't seen in a year.
The boy tells his story about living with his grandmother and that he had promised to purchase the roses to celebrate his mother's birthday. The story touches the narrator's heart, and he agrees to fund the boy's purchase. The boy thanks the narrator, who then proceeds with his planned purchase.
Later, as the narrator is driving out of town, he sees the boy at the cemetery, kneeling by what turns out to be his mother's grave. After the boy explains that "this is where my mother stays now," the narrator decides that he is taking his own mother for granted and decides to take his rose bouquet to give to her in person.
Chart performance
McCall was considered by some to be a one-hit wonderOne-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
, for his 1975 hit "Convoy
Convoy (song)
"Convoy" is a 1975 novelty song performed by C. W. McCall that became a number-one song on both the country and pop charts in the US. Written by McCall and Chip Davis, the song spent six weeks at number one on the country charts and one week at number one on the pop charts...
." However, "Roses for Mama" became a big hit in the fall of 1977, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart.
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 2 |