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Canadian Rose
Lyrics: John Popper
Music: John Popper

Autumn air it carries me there
Less than an hour to go
Six hundred miles an hour
And still it feels so slow
I'm trying to get back to Burlington
To a square in the center of town
To a spot on a wooden table
Where her feet didn't reach the ground
And when she kisses me it tasted like cinnamon
And her skin smells of cider and rose
And when she looked at me we both got quiet
And my heart beats so hard we were in so close
Once for such a beautiful while that still makes me smile

And she called me her ugly American
And I would call her my Canadian flower
And I don't think that we'll ever get there again
We had such power
And she would call me her ugly American
And I'll remember my Canadian rose
Especially when the fall comes to Burlington
We were in so close

And every single hope and dream I could ever conjure up
Passionately springs in me and things are possible
Plausible and perfectly both of ours forever after
And every day, at least it seemed that way
Once for a beautiful while that still makes me smile
I finally made it this town looks rearranged
I don't know these people anymore
But in the best ways not much else has changed
From the way it was before
And at least they still have this certain table
Where I once carved a particular name
I run my finger through the weathered carving
And I almost can feel the same
And my mouth it almost tastes just like cinnamon
As I ponder what my pilgrimage means
And I try to figure out where Vancouver is from here
And I listen to the leaves
If only for a beautiful while that still makes me smile

And she called me her ugly American
And I would call her my Canadian flower
And I don't think that we'll ever get there again
We had such power
And she would call me her ugly American
And I'll remember my Canadian rose
Especially when the fall comes to Burlington
We were in so close

And every single hope and dream I could ever conjure up
Passionately springs in me and all things are possible
Plausible and perfectly both of ours forever after and every day
At least it seemed that way
Once for such a beautiful while that still makes me smile

And she called me her ugly American
And I would call her my Canadian flower
And I don't think that we'll ever get there again
We had such power
And she would call me her ugly American
And I'll remember my Canadian rose
Especially when the fall comes to Burlington
We were in so close

© 1997 Blues Traveler Publishing Corporation

First release: Straight On Till Morning
Released: 07/01/1997
Earliest time played: 11/09/1996
Last time played: 06/24/2007
Playing frequency:
  67 plays (see all shows)
  3.89% of shows in the database
  6.55% of shows since debut
  Detailed statistics
Song information:
  While this song is based on a few of John's personal experiences, the lion's share of this song is a fabrication.
  In John's words, the song is "the first song I've ever written consciously as complete fiction. I've drawn on some experiences I've had that involved a carving in a table and the way Burlington is like in the fall, and occasional romances."
  He continues: "a long time ago I met a girl from Vancouver, but the story itself is created. I wrote it on an airplane headed back from the World Series. What scares me is it worked very well."
  The Burlington mentioned in the lyrics is Burlington, VT.

Other recordings of "Canadian Rose":
  Canadian Rose, 1997
  Canadian Rose, 1997
  Abercrombie and Fitch in Stereo, 1997
  Invite Spring, 1997
  Singles Club, 1997
  Top Hits USA T416, 1997
  Canadian Rose, 1998
  Canadian Rose, 1998
  KFOG: Live from the Archives 5, 1998
  Hott Rocks 25, 1998
  Coca-Cola - Open Up and Experience The Music, 2000
  Travelogue: Blues Traveler Classics, 2002

Autumn air it carries me there/Less than an hour to go/Six hundred miles an hour
John wrote this song on an airplane headed back from playing The Star-Spangled Banner at the World Series, which would explain him being "carried" by "autumn air" at "six hundred miles an hour".
Burlington
Although the U.S. Geological Survey lists 36 towns and cities in the US named Burlington, the one referred to here is Burlington, Vermont.
Vancouver
According to MapQuest, Burlington, VT to Vancouver, BC is a 3,151 mile drive. However, Burlington, WA to Vancouver, BC is a 75 mile trip. Tennessee and Washington are the only states that have both a Vancouver and a Burlington.