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	1969
Genre	Funk, Soul Pop
Label	Gordy (Motown)
Marv Johnson singles chronology
"I Miss You Baby (How I Miss You)" (1966) "I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose" (1969) "So Glad You Chose Me" (1970)

"I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose"
Single by Eddie Fisher
B-side	"Lady Mae"
Released	1969
Genre	Vocal pop
Label	Musicor Records
Producers	Julie Rifkind, Roy Rifkind
Eddie Fisher singles chronology
"Now I Know" (1967) "I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose" (1969)

"I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose" is a soul-pop ballad written by James Dean, William Weatherspoon, and Marv Johnson in 1969.

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. ^[1]

Notable recordings

• 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 1969. ^[2] 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). ^[3] It was predicted to reach the top 60 on the Billboard Hot 100 but it never appear on the chart. ^[4]
• Eddie Fisher recorded the song in 1969, and it was released as his final single paired with "Lady Mae", produced by the Rifkinds for Musicor Records. ^[5] Fisher toured to promote the single and performed at Caesar's Palace in Vegas for two weeks beginning April 1969. ^[6]

References

1. "I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose – Marv Johnson Song Story". Radio.CallMeFred. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
2. "SecondHandSongs – Performance 1257022 (versions)". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
3. "Every song that peaked at number ten in the UK". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
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.
5. Eddie Fisher, "I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose" Single Release Retrieved October 26, 2025
6. Record World magazine, April 12, 1969