Dropkick Murphys' EP version
| Ken Casey: | The pictures tell the story |
| This life had many shades | |
| I'd wake up every morning | |
| And before I'd start each day | |
| I'd take a drag from last night's cigarette | |
| That smoldered in its tray | |
| Down a little something | |
| And then be on my way | |
| Bruce Springsteen: | I travelled far and wide |
| Laid this head in many ports | |
| I was guided by a compass | |
| I saw beauty to the North | |
| I drew the tales of many lives | |
| Wore faces of my own | |
| I had these memories all around me | |
| So I wouldn't be alone | |
| Casey and Springsteen: | Some may be from showing up |
| Others are from growing up | |
| Sometimes I was so messed up | |
| And didn't have a clue | |
| I ain't winning no one over | |
| I wear it just for you | |
| Bruce Springsteen: | I've got your name written here |
| In a rose tattoo | |
| Dropkick Murphys and Springsteen: | In a rose tattoo, in a rose tattoo |
| I've got your name written here in a rose tattoo | |
| Ken Casey: | This one's for the mighty sea |
| Mischief, gold and piracy | |
| This one's for the man that raised me | |
| Taught me sacrifice and bravery | |
| Bruce Springsteen: | This one's for our favorite game |
| Black and gold, we wave the flag | |
| This one's for my family name | |
| Dropkick Murphys and Springsteen: | With pride I'll wear it to the grave |
| Dropkick Murphys and Springsteen: | Some may be from showing up |
| Others are from growing up | |
| Sometimes I was all messed up | |
| And didn't have a clue | |
| I ain't winning no one over | |
| I wear it just for you | |
| I've got your name written here | |
| In a rose tattoo | |
| Dropkick Murphys and Springsteen: | In a rose tattoo, in a rose tattoo |
| I've got your name written here in a rose tattoo | |
| In a rose tattoo, in a rose tattoo | |
| I've got your name written here in a rose tattoo | |
| Ken Casey: | This one means the most to me |
| It stays here for eternity | |
| A ship that always stays the course | |
| An anchor for my every choice | |
| Bruce Springsteen: | A rose that shines down from above |
| I signed and sealed these words in blood | |
| I heard them once sung in a song | |
| Dropkick Murphys and Springsteen: | It played again and we sang along |
| Ken Casey: | You'll always be here with me |
| Even if you're gone | |
| Bruce Springsteen: | You'll always have my love |
| Dropkick Murphys and Springsteen: | Our memory will live on |
| Dropkick Murphys and Springsteen: | Some may be from showing up |
| Others are from growing up | |
| Sometimes I was so messed up | |
| And didn't have a clue | |
| I ain't winning no one over | |
| I wear it just for you | |
| I've got your name written here | |
| In a rose tattoo | |
| Dropkick Murphys and Springsteen: | In a rose tattoo, in a rose tattoo |
| I've got your name written here in a rose tattoo | |
| In a rose tattoo, in a rose tattoo | |
| I've got your name written here in a rose tattoo |
ROSE TATTOO is a song written by Al Barr, Tim Brennan, Ken Casey, Jeff DaRosa, Matt Kelly, and James Lynch, and released by the Dropkick Murphys first on their 2013 album Signed And Sealed In Blood. The song was re-recorded in May 2013 with Bruce Springsteen on guest vocals and released on an exclusive iTunes download four-song charity EP with all proceeds going to victims of the April 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. The above lyrics are for the Dropkick Murphys' EP version of ROSE TATTOO (featuring Bruce Springsteen) as released in 2013.
On 28 Apr 2013, the Dropkick Murphys performed a benefit concert for the Boston Marathon bombings victims at House of Blues Boston. From the stage, frontman Ken Casey announced live that the band will re-release ROSE TATTOO, re-recorded with Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen was at the time on tour in Europe with the E Street band.
Guitarist James Lynch told Backstreets, "Bruce actually called us up the day of the bombing and asked what he could do to help. We didn't have to reach out. He was there for us." Ken Casey added, "As soon as we figured out what we were going to do, Bruce went into the studio, recorded his parts and nailed them right away."
The Dropkick Murphys, a Celtic punk band from Massachusetts, first met Bruce Springsteen in 2005 or 2006 when he attended a gig of theirs in New York. "He came back afterwards and introduced himself," Ken Casey told Rolling Stone. "We were just blown away, but we really hit it off. He's since invited us to play with him a few times."
During their Working On A Dream Tour, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band played the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, MA, on 22 Apr 2009. They were joined onstage by the Dropkick Murphys on GLORY DAYS and AMERICAN LAND. Then the band's guitarist, Tim Brennan, proposed onstage down on bended knee to his girlfriend Diana. Springsteen then dedicated the tour premiere of SO YOUNG AND IN LOVE to the couple, saying that "this was going to be their wedding song."
In his turn, Springsteen made a guest appearance at Dropkick Murphys' 18 Mar 2011 show at House Of Blues in Boston, MA, joining the band onstage for three songs: PEG O' MY HEART, BADLANDS (a Springsteen song that the band had covered on several occasions), and I'M SHIPPING UP TO BOSTON. He also took part of their 29 May 2020 concert at Fenway Park in Boston, MA, joining the band remotely for two songs: ROSE TATTOO and AMERICAN LAND.
Springsteen appears on two Dropkick Murphys studio tracks: PEG O' MY HEART in 2011 and ROSE TATTOO in 2013.
Ken Casey is a lifelong Springsteen fan, and his favorite Springsteen album is Darkness On The Edge Of Town. The Dropkick Murphys have covered BADLANDS live and Casey has said that the band wouldn't say no to recording an entire album as Bruce Springsteen's backing band. "Bruce, we're ready when you are," Casey told Rolling Stone in 2011.
ROSE TATTOO was performed off-tour on 29 May 2020 at Fenway Park in Boston, MA, during a remote guest appearance with Dropkick Murphys at their Streaming Outta Fenway concert. See the live 29 May 2020 version for more details.
Thanks Manuel Lázaro for the lyrics help.
List of available versions of ROSE TATTOO on this website:
ROSE TATTOO [Dropkick Murphys' EP version]