The Briar And The Rose

by Tom Waits
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Lyrics

I fell a (Gm)sleep

(C7)down by the (F)stream,

and there I (Gm)had

the (C)strang est (F)dream.

Down by (F)Bren nan’s

Glen there (Dm)grows

a bri ar and a (F)rose.

There’s a tree in the (C)fo rest,

but I don’t know (F)where,

I built a (F)nest out (Gm)of your (C)hair.

And climb ing (C7sus4)up

(F)in to the (Bb)air

a bri ar (C7)and a (F)rose.

I don’t know (Am)how long

it has (G)been

but I was (Am)born

in (D7)Bren nan’s (G)Glen.

And near the (G)end of (B)spring there (Em)grows

a bri ar (D11)and a (G)rose.

I picked the (D)rose one ear ly (G)morn,

I pricked my (G)fin ger (Am)on a (D7)thorn.

They’d grown so (D7sus4)close (D7)their (G)wind ing (C)wove,

the bri ar (D7)and the (G)rose

I tried to (Am)tear them

both a (G)part,

I felt a (Am)bul let (D7)in my (G)heart.

All dressed (G)up in (B)spring’s new (Em)clothes

the bri ar (D11)and the (G)rose.

And when I’m (D)bu ried

in my (G)grave,

tell me (G)so I will (D7sus4)know.

Your (G)tears will (D)fall

to make them (C)grow,

the bri ar (D7)and the (G)rose.

And when I’m (D)bu ried

in my (G)grave,

tell me (G)so I will (D7sus4)know.

Your (G)tears will (D)fall

to make them (C)grow,

the bri ar (D7)and the (G)rose.

(G)rose.

Your tears will (D)fall

(G)to make them (C)grow, the bri (G)ar (Dsus4)and (D7)the (G)rose.

The Briar And The Rose — Piano Accompaniment (Falling Notes)

10 people have learned this song

Free piano accompaniment for "The Briar And The Rose" by Tom Waits in falling-notes (Synthesia) style. Watch the chord notes fall as you sing or play your instrument over the backing. Adjustable key + tempo. Original key Bb, 80 BPM.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (Bb) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About “The Briar And The Rose”

Why does the accompaniment for "The Briar And The Rose" show falling notes?
Falling Notes makes each chord visual — colored notes drop onto the keyboard so you can FEEL the rhythm of the backing before each entry. Singers find it easier to lock in with the piano's groove when they see the chord notes land instead of just hearing them.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "The Briar And The Rose" by Tom Waits in?
The backing track is in Bb at 80 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "The Briar And The Rose" with this accompaniment?
Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "The Briar And The Rose"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "The Briar And The Rose", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "The Briar And The Rose" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "The Briar And The Rose"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "The Briar And The Rose"?
"The Briar And The Rose" was originally performed by Tom Waits. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What other backing tracks by Tom Waits are available?
Other accompaniments by Tom Waits: "Jersey Girl", "(Looking For) The Heart Of Saturday Night", "Martha". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
Can I use "The Briar And The Rose" as a backing track for singing?
Yes — this is the piano accompaniment for The Briar And The Rose by Tom Waits, with the chord notes falling visually so you can see exactly when each chord lands. Original key is Bb; transpose live to fit your voice.
How is this different from the bar-sheet accompaniment?
Same audio backing — different visualization. Falling notes show each chord note dropping in real time (like Synthesia), which makes the chord rhythm easier to feel. Use whichever view helps you stay on the beat.

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