I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose

"I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose"
"I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose"
Single by Eddie Fisher
B-side	"Lady Mae"
Released	March 1969
Genre	Vocal pop
Label	Musicor Records
Producers	Julie Rifkind, Roy Rifkind
Eddie Fisher singles chronology

"I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose"
"I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose"
Single by Marv Johnson
B-side	"You Got the Love I Love"
Released	1968 (UK), 1969 (US)
Genre	Funk, Soul Pop
Label	Gordy (Motown) ; 7077
Marv Johnson singles chronology

Last updated January 27, 2026

"I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose" is a soul-pop ballad written by James Dean, William Weatherspoon, and Marv Johnson first recorded in 1968.

Background and composition

The song tells the story of a man reflecting on lost love and the hope of rekindling it. The metaphor of picking a rose represents enduring affection and a symbolic return to a past relationship. Set against a smooth, orchestrated backdrop, the lyrics combine themes of regret, romance, and emotional maturity.^[2]

Notable recordings

Marv Johnson version

Marv Johnson, one of the original architects of the Motown sound and the song's co-writer, was the first to record the track in 1968.^[3] The session was produced by the other two co-writers.^[1] Although Johnson's popularity had waned by the mid-1960s, the song brought him renewed success overseas, reaching No. 10 in the UK (his best charting song in seven years).^[4] In the United States the song was released a year later and was predicted to reach the top 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 but it never appeared on the chart.^[1] Billboard magazine also stated that the song is a "smooth rocker" with an "infectious beat".^[1] The song's success prompted Johnson to do a three-week tour in the United Kingdom (March to April).^[5]

Eddie Fisher version

Eddie Fisher recorded the song in 1969, and it was released as his final single paired with "Lady Mae". The songs were produced by the Rifkinds of Guardian productions and arranged by Bernard Hoffer for Musicor Records.^[6] Fisher toured to promote the single and performed at Caesar's Palace in Vegas for two weeks beginning April 1969.^[7]

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Marv Johson's *"I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose"*
Chart (1969)	Peak position
UK Melody Maker Top 30 Pop^[5]	10
UK New Musical Express Top 30 Britain^[8]	9
UK Record Retailer Singles Chart ^[4]	10

References

1 2 3 4 "Spotlight Singles: Top 60 Pop Spotlight". Billboard. August 23, 1969. p. RA1-PA74. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
↑ "I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose – Marv Johnson Song Story". Radio.CallMeFred. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
↑ "SecondHandSongs – Performance 1257022 (versions)". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
1 2 "Every song that peaked at number ten in the UK". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
1 2 Anon. (8 March 1969). "British Tour Set for Marv Johnson" (PDF). Melody Maker . p. 2 – via WorldRadioHistory.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
↑ Eddie Fisher, "I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose" Single Release Retrieved October 26, 2025
↑ Record World magazine, "Rosy Prospects" section: April 12, 1969.
↑ Anon. (8 March 1969). "NME Top 30 Singles" (PDF). New Musical Express . p. 7. Retrieved 26 January 2026– via WorldRadioHistory.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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[Spotlight-1] 1 2 3 4 "Spotlight Singles: Top 60 Pop Spotlight". Billboard. August 23, 1969. p. RA1-PA74. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2025.

[2] "I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose – Marv Johnson Song Story". Radio.CallMeFred. Retrieved 2025-07-03.

[3] "SecondHandSongs – Performance 1257022 (versions)". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved July 6, 2025.

[ten-4] 1 2 "Every song that peaked at number ten in the UK". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 26, 2025.

[chart-5] 1 2 Anon. (8 March 1969). "British Tour Set for Marv Johnson" (PDF). Melody Maker . p. 2 – via WorldRadioHistory.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[6] Eddie Fisher, "I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose" Single Release Retrieved October 26, 2025

[7] Record World magazine, "Rosy Prospects" section: April 12, 1969.

[8] Anon. (8 March 1969). "NME Top 30 Singles" (PDF). New Musical Express . p. 7. Retrieved 26 January 2026– via WorldRadioHistory.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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v t e Eddie Fisher
Discography
Studio albums	Eddie Fisher Sings (1952) I'm in the Mood for Love (1952) Christmas with Eddie Fisher (1952) I Love You (1955) Eddie Fisher Today! (1965) Mary Christmas (1965) Games That Lovers Play (1966) People Like You (1967) You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet (1968) After All (1984)
Live albums	Eddie Fisher at the Winter Garden (1963)
1950s singles	"Thinking of You" "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)" "I'm Walking Behind You" "With These Hands" "Dungaree Doll" "Any Time" "Tell Me Why" "I'm Yours" "Just a Little Lovin' (Will Go a Long Way)" "Trust in Me" "Wish You Were Here" "Lady of Spain" "Outside of Heaven" "Maybe" "Everything I Have Is Yours" "Oh! My Pa-pa (O Mein Papa)" "Anema E Core" "The Little Shoemaker" "I Need You Now" "Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)" "On the Street Where You Live" "Cindy, Oh Cindy"
1960s singles	"Tonight" "Arrivederci Roma" "Milk and Honey/Shalom" "Sunrise, Sunset" "Young and Foolish" "They Call the Wind Maria" "Games That Lovers Play"/"Mame" "People Like You" "Now I Know" "I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose"