Poor little rose, beaten by the rain
In the wind in the gale, thunder and the hail
Sometimes I feel like I'm going insane
Without the numbness or the pain so intense to feel
Especially now it added up through the years

And I
I taught myself how to grow
Without any love and there was poison in the rain
I taught myself how to grow
Now I'm crooked on the outside, and the inside's broke

Most of the time I got nothing to say
When I do it's nothing and nobody's there to listen anyway
I know I'm probably better off this way
I just listen to the voices on the TV till I'm tired
My eyes grow heavy and I fade away

'Cause I
I taught myself how to grow
Without any love and there was poison in the rain
I taught myself how to grow
Till I was crooked on the outside
I taught myself how to grow
Without any love and there was poison in the rain
I taught myself how to grow
Till I was crooked on the outside, inside's caved
Crooked on the outside, inside's caved
Crooked on the outside, inside's caved
I taught myself how to grow old


Lyrics submitted by lexnercj

I Taught Myself How to Grow Old Lyrics as written by Ryan Adams

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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I Taught Myself How to Grow Old song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I really never got into Neil Young personally, but this song really speaks to me. Best off of Easy Tiger, easily.

    The "most of the time I've got nothing to say" verse is the most poignant, yes, but the whole rose metaphor really strikes another chord equally strong, equally perverse (right back to cold roses), in me...

    The harmonica is what really makes this song. I guess it affects you more when you hit 29 and no one is lying beside you in your new twin-sized bed.

    davidecoyoteon September 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i'm not the biggest RA fan....but this song is one of the most beautiful things i've ever heard. Very reminiscent of Neil Young.

    rmx386on June 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    jese...they dont even have this song on I-Tunes

    in_love_and_death92on June 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    jese...they dont even have this song on I-Tunes

    in_love_and_death92on June 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Not only does this sound like Neil Young....it's like it was written about him.

    maxie1pon June 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    FYI it's not on iTunes b/c it doesn't get released until 6-26. Great introspective tune...RA and the Cardinals have a thing for roses...

    rudythepolarbearon June 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    FYI it's not on iTunes b/c it doesn't get released until 6-26. Great introspective tune...RA and the Cardinals have a thing for roses...

    rudythepolarbearon June 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Oh man, i've listened to the entire album today except this track 'cause I had to leave. It's midnight now, perfect time for quiet songs (last tracks tend to be quiet:).

    Anyway, amazing, touching, I love Ryan's writing (can identify with most of the lyrics), love his voice, one of the best kept secrets in music (although he keeps releasing albums every year).

    I think the lyrics pretty much explain itself.

    Shayguyon July 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is so self pitying but it's Ryan and I wanna give the guy a hug. Beautiful song. Loving Maxie's post about Neil Young, crooked on the outside and all lol

    Beekarryon July 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Most of the time I got nothing to say When I do it's nothing and nobody's there to listen anyway I know I'm probably better off this way I just listen to the voices on the TV 'til I'm tired My eyes grow heavy and I fade away

    Sums it up for me...

    jerky5on December 13, 2007   Link

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