65 Songs about Flowers (R&B, Rock, Traditional & More)

Foundations of Music

65 Songs about Flowers (R&B, Rock, Traditional & More)

Flowers are often sent as gifts to show appreciation and uplift the spirits. They are also frequently used in music to represent a variety of things, from failed relationships and the cycle of life, to personal growth that occurs in spite of difficult circumstances.

I. Latest songs about flowers (2020, 2021)

Here is a list of some of the most recent songs about flowers from a variety of genres.

1) Flowers

Artist: Kelly Rowland
Album: K
Year: 2021
Click to Open YouTube

The former Destiny’s Child singer stuns in this emotional R&B track that was dedicated to her late mother.

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2) Flowers

Artist: MARINA
Album: Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land
Year: 2021
Click to Open YouTube

The melancholy tune of this piano ballad emphasizes the heartache the woman is feeling after a breakup. She wonders whether she would have ended the relationship if her lover had been as devoted to her as she was to him, but realizes that she is still better off without him.

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3) Daisies

Artist: Katy Perry
Album: Smile
Year: 2020
Click to Open YouTube

“Daisies” is about achieving your dreams and remaining true to yourself in spite of the obstacles that may stand in your way.

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4) Wildflower

Artist: 5 Seconds of Summer
Album: Calm
Year: 2020
Click to Open YouTube
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5) Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris

Artist: Hayley Williams
Album: Petals For Armor
Year: 2020
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II. Traditional songs about flowers

Some of the most well-known nursery rhymes mention flowers in their lyrics. These folk songs have been around for centuries and often allude to historical events.

1) Lavender’s Blue (Dilly, Dilly)

Artist: Tim Hart & Friends
Album: My Very Favourite Nursery Rhyme Record
Year: 1981
Click to Open YouTube

Dating back to the 17th century, “Lavender’s Blue” tells the story of two lovers. The original version had over thirty verses and was a lot more risqué than what most modern renditions let on. 

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2) Ring A Ring O’ Roses

Artist: Unavailable
Album: Unavailable
Year: Unavailable

The lyrics to this song are thought to be a direct reference to the symptoms that people exhibited during the Great Plague. However, there is no real evidence to support this and it remains a popular nursery rhyme to this day.

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3) Mary, Mary Quite Contrary

Artist: Tim Hart & Friends
Album: My Very Favourite Nursery Rhyme Record
Year: 1981
Click to Open YouTube
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III. Pop songs about roses

Roses, especially red ones, are often used to symbolize love. But, as anyone who has ever been in love will know, every rose has its thorns. For this reason, and as some of the following pop songs suggest, roses can also represent betrayal and/or heartbreak.

1) Roses

Artist: Shawn Mendes
Album: Illuminate
Year: 2016
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/zG-2cRQ1MPk

“Roses” is all about longing to be with someone who you think feels the same way, but being fearful of getting rejected.

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2) Black Roses Red

Artist: Alana Grace
Album: With One Word
Year: 2009
Click to Open YouTube

“Black Roses Red” poses the question of whether it is possible to love again after being badly hurt by a previous relationship.

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3) Plastic Roses

Artist: Jessica Sanchez
Album: Me, You & the Music
Year: 2013
Click to Open YouTube

The girl in this pop song realizes – too late – that her love interest was not who she thought he was. She is left feeling betrayed and disillusioned, smelling the plastic roses he left behind.

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4) Rose Garden

Artist: Nick Jonas & The Administration
Album: Who I Am
Year: 2010
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/RsQKwekdBdY
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5) Plastic Rose

Artist: Maroon 5
Album: Red Pill Blues
Year: 2018
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/FH-ZVJkCuC8
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6) Desert Rose (feat. Cheb Mami)

Artist: Sting
Album: Brand New Day
Year: 1999
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/C3lWwBslWqg
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IV. R&B songs about flowers

While flowers do not appear to be a frequent motif in R&B tunes, there are one or two classic songs about flowers from this popular genre.

1) Forget Me Nots

Artist: Patrice Rushen
Album: Straight from the Heart
Year: 1982
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/vP709vKwkD0

This R&B song from the 80s is about a woman who attempts to rekindle her relationship with an ex-lover by sending him a bouquet of forget-me-nots.

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2) Kiss From A Rose

Artist: Seal
Album: Seal
Year: 1994
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/lkzXi4cmdJk

This Grammy award-winning number by Seal compares his love interest to a rose that adds color and excitement to his life.

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3) Rose In Harlem

Artist: Teyana Taylor
Album: K.T.S.E.
Year: 2018
Click to Open YouTube

“Rose In Harlem” is something of a coming-of-age track that represents the personal struggles Taylor faced growing up, as well as how she overcame them.

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4) Neu Roses (Transgressor’s Song)

Artist: Daniel Caesar
Album: Freudian
Year: 2017
Click to Open YouTube
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5) Flowers

Artist: Leon Bridges
Album: Coming Home
Year: 2015
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/RgVseMnDXSE
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V. Rap/hip-hop songs about flowers

Flowers in rap and hip-hop songs are often used as symbols to represent a diverse range of emotions, life experiences, and events.

1) Sunflower

Artist: Post Malone, Swae Lee
Album: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Year: 2018

This hip-hop melody was nominated for not one, but two Grammy awards in 2020. It appears to represent the relationship between Miles Morales, the main protagonist of Into the Spider-Verse, and his love interest, Gwen.

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2) Sandra’s Rose

Artist: Drake
Album: Scorpion
Year: 2018
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/m3kVgCXFXdg

Drake appears to pay homage to his mother, Sandra Graham, in this track from his fifth studio album, Scorpion.

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3) Red Roses (feat. Landon Cube)

Artist: Lil Skies
Album: Life of a Dark Rose
Year: 2018
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4) Where This Flower Blooms (feat. Frank Ocean)

Artist: Tyler, The Creator
Album: Flower Boy
Year: 2017
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/1gAHhLb6tjA
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5) ITAL (Roses)

Artist: Lupe Fiasco
Album: Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1
Year: 2012
Click to Open YouTube
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VI. Christian songs about flowers

Christian songs that are specifically about flowers are few and far between. That being said, there are some that refer to gardens – the Garden of Eden in particular.

1) In the Garden

Artist: Alan Jackson
Album: Precious Memories
Year: 2006
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/s1691J96_xc
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2) Like the Dawn

Artist: The Oh Hellos
Album: Through the Deep, Dark Valley
Year: 2012
Click to Open YouTube

This song can be interpreted as an allusion to the creation of Eve in the Garden of Eden. Though it is sung by a woman, the story is told from the perspective of Adam.

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3) All Things Bright and Beautiful

Artist: Sound of Worship
Album: The Greatest Ever Hymns, Vol. 1
Year: 2014
Click to Open YouTube
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VII. Songs about flowers for kids

Besides the traditional nursery rhymes that you might have heard as a child, you might also be familiar with a few musical numbers from the Walt Disney films. While not many Disney songs mention flowers, there are a few that stand out in particular.

1) All in the Golden Afternoon

Artist: Kathryn Beaumont & Disney Studio Chorus
Album: Alice in Wonderland Original Soundtrack
Year: 1951
Click to Open YouTube

This sprightly tune from Disney’s 1951 adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland is a perfect example of the choral numbers that were typically present in the older generation of Disney films. 

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2) Painting the Roses Red

Artist: Kathryn Beaumont & The Mello Men
Album: Alice in Wonderland Original Soundtrack
Year: 1951
Click to Open YouTube

Both humorous and morbid, this song perfectly sums up the character of the Queen of Hearts in this classic Disney film.

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3) Healing Incantation

Artist: Mandy Moore
Album: Tangled Original Soundtrack
Year: 2010
Click to Open YouTube

In this adaptation of the classic fairy tale, Rapunzel becomes imbued with the healing properties of a magical flower. The song addresses the flower in the opening line, instructing it to use its magical abilities to restore what was injured or lost.

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VIII. Songs with flowers in the title

1) Bed of Roses

Artist: Bon Jovi
Album: Keep the Faith
Year: 1992
Click to Open YouTube
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2) Build Me Up Buttercup

Artist: The Foundations
Album: Baby Now That I’ve Found You
Year: 1967
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3) Dead Flowers

Artist: Miranda Lambert
Album: Revolution
Year: 2009
Click to Open YouTube
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4) A Dozen Roses and a Six-Pack

Artist: Cole Swindell
Album: Cole Swindell
Year: 2014
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5) Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses

Artist: Kathy Mattea
Album: Untasted Honey
Year: 1987
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6) Fading Like A Flower (Every Time You Leave)

Artist: Roxette
Album: Joyride
Year: 1991
Click to Open YouTube
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7) Flower

Artist: Kylie Minogue
Album: The Abbey Road Sessions
Year: 2012
Click to Open YouTube
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8) Flowers

Artist: Nathan Dawe (feat. Jaykae, Malika)
Album: Flowers The Remixes
Year: 2019
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9) Flowers in Your Hair

Artist: The Lumineers
Album: The Lumineers
Year: 2012
Click to Open YouTube
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10) Hospital Flowers

Artist: Owl City
Album: All Things Bright and Beautiful
Year: 2011
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/RfEE6CbwLeg
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11) Iris

Artist: Goo Goo Dolls
Album: Dizzy Up the Girl
Year: 1998
Click to Open YouTube
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12) Lilac Wine

Artist: Jeff Buckley
Album: Grace
Year: 1994
Click to Open YouTube
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13) Marigold

Artist: Nirvana
Album: With the Lights Out
Year: 2004
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/Brv-lCLttyg
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14) Roses (feat. ROZES)

Artist: The Chainsmokers
Album: Bouquet
Year: 2015
Click to Open YouTube
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15) Supermarket Flowers

Artist: Ed Sheeran
Album: Divide
Year: 2017
Click to Open YouTube
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16) Wildflower

Artist: Deana Carter
Album: I’m Just a Girl
Year: 2003
Click to Open YouTube
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IX. Songs with flowers in the lyrics

1) A Rose By Any Name

Artist: Blondie
Album: Blondie 4(0)-Ever: Greatest Hits Deluxe Redux/Ghosts of Download
Year: 2013/14
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/Fu6ySoWahfo
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2) Back To December

Artist: Taylor Swift
Album: Speak Now
Year: 2010
Click to Open YouTube
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3) Blue Orchid

Artist: The White Stripes
Album: Get Behind Me Satan
Year: 2005
Click to Open YouTube
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4) Bring My Flowers Now

Artist: Tanya Tucker
Album: While I’m Livin’
Year: 2019
Click to Open YouTube
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5) Buy Me A Rose

Artist: Kenny Rogers
Album: She Rides Wild Horses
Year: 1999
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/TDSjFQr-FYE
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6) Eighteen Yellow Roses

Artist: Bobby Darin
Album: Eighteen Yellow Roses
Year: 1963
Click to Open YouTube
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7) Flowers

Artist: Gabi Demartino
Album: INDIVIDUAL
Year: 2018
Click to Open YouTube
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8) Flowers on the Wall

Artist: The Statler Brothers
Album: Flowers on the Wall: The Essential Statler Brothers 1964-1966
Year: 1966
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/fyyTPsSTM7U
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9) If I Die Young

Artist: The Band Perry
Album: The Band Perry
Year: 2010
Click to Open YouTube
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10) (I Never Promised You) A Rose Garden

Artist: Lynn Anderson
Album: Rose Garden
Year: 1970
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11) Lotus Flower

Artist: Radiohead
Album: The King of Limbs
Year: 2011
Click to Open YouTube
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12) Lotus Intro

Artist: Christina Aguilera
Album: Lotus
Year: 2012
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/wl3_J8fc3_4
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13) Red Roses For a Blue Lady

Artist: Wayne Newton
Album: The Capitol Collector’s Series: Wayne Newton
Year: 1989
Click to Open YouTube
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14) The Yellow Rose

Artist: Johnny Lee & Lane Brody
Album: ‘Til The Bars Burn Down
Year: 1984
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/gLQD3CXgxNY
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15) When I Was Your Man

Artist: Bruno Mars
Album: Unorthodox Jukebox
Year: 2012
Click to Open YouTube
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16) You Don’t Bring Me Flowers

Artist: Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond
Album: You Don’t Bring Me Flowers
Year: 1978
Click to Open YouTube
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X. Beautiful songs about flowers

Whether it has something to do with the lyrics, the melody, the vocals, or all three, there’s just something about these songs that moves the spirit.

1) La vie en rose (feat. Cécile McLorin Salvant)

Artist: Michael Bublé
Album: love
Year: 2018

Loosely translated, la vie en rose means “life is rosy”. The singer is in a “world where roses bloom” when he is around his beloved.

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2) Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)

Artist: Josh Groban
Album: Josh Groban
Year: 2001
Click to Open YouTube

While Vincent is not specifically about flowers, it does pay homage to the artist who painted Sunflowers. The lyrics also mention daffodils and a “bloody rose”.

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3) The Rose

Artist: Bette Midler
Album: The Rose
Year: 1979
Click to Open YouTube
https://youtu.be/2fnaFzFluM0
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