The Rose

by Bette Midler
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Lyrics

Some say love,

it is a (G7)riv er

that (F)drowns

the (G)ten der reed.

Some say love,

it is a (G7)ra zor

that (F)leaves

your (G)soul to reed.

Some say bleed.

Some say (Cmaj7)love,

it is a (F)hun ger,

an (F)end

less ach ing (G7sus)need.

I say (C)love,

it is a (G)flow er,

and (F)you,

its on ly (C)seed.

It’s the heart

a fraid of (G)break ing and that (G)nev er has learns to (C)dance.

It’s the dream

a fraid of (G)wak ing for that (F)nev er

(G)takes the chance.

It’s the (Em)one ber who won’t (Am7)be ter tak en, far who (F)can

not seem to (G)give,

and the (C)soul

a fraid of (G)dy in’ love in that (F)nev er

(G)learns to (C)live.

When the night

has been too (G)lone ly and that (G)nev er has been too (C)long,

and you think

that love is (G)on ly for that (F)luck y

(G)and the strong,

just re (Em)one ber in the (Am7)be ter tak en, far who (F)neath

the bit ter (G)snows

lies the (C)seed

that with the (G)sun’s in’ love in the (F)nev er

(G)learns to (C)live.

When the (F)spring

be (G)comes the (C)rose.

(C)rose.

The Rose — Classic Piano Sheet Music

10 people have learned this song

Read "The Rose" by Bette Midler in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of C. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 120 BPM.

Teacher’s notes

This arrangement is a wonderful first step into expressive ballad playing — your left hand will cycle through seven chords in the key of C, and the real gift here is getting comfortable with seventh shapes like Am7, Cmaj7, and G7 alongside the more familiar C, F, G, and Em.

Start hands-separate at around 80 BPM so you can lock in those chord changes without rushing; the G7 to C resolution especially deserves your attention because it pops up at emotional peaks and a fumbled transition there kills the mood.

Once your left hand feels automatic, add the right-hand melody and focus on playing it legato — let each note sing into the next.

Use the sustain pedal lightly, lifting cleanly on each chord change to avoid muddiness.

The melancholic feel comes from keeping dynamics soft and unhurried, so resist the urge to speed up.

This is the piece that will make seventh chords feel like home under your fingers.

About “The Rose

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "The Rose"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature C. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "The Rose" by Bette Midler played in?
The Rose is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "The Rose"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "The Rose" easy to play on piano?
This is an advanced arrangement. We recommend breaking it into sections and using the speed control to drill harder passages.
Can I download sheet music for "The Rose"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "The Rose"?
"The Rose" was originally performed by Bette Midler. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "The Rose"?
This arrangement uses 7 chords: Am7, C, Cmaj7, Em, F, G, G7.
What other songs by Bette Midler can I play here?
Try "From a Distance", "FROM A DISTANCE", "FROM A DISTANCE". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "The Rose" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature C, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 120 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.

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