“Every Rose Has Its Thorn” is a power ballad by the American rock band Poison, released in October 1988 with “Livin for the Minute” on the B-side as the third single from their album Open Up and Say… Ahh!. It became Poison’s most famous and successful song. The song is a soft, acoustic ballad that contrasts with Poison’s typical glam metal sound. It starts with a gentle acoustic guitar intro, setting a reflective and emotional tone. As the song progresses, it builds with electric guitar solos, but maintains a melancholic, heartfelt mood throughout. Lead singer Bret Michaels delivers an emotional vocal performance, making it a standout track in the hair metal genre. The lyrics are about heartache and the bittersweet nature of love.
“Every Rose Has Its Thorn” was a huge hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, making it Poison’s only chart-topping single. The song also performed well internationally, becoming one of the band’s signature songs.
The music video to “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” was directed by American director Marty Callner. It was filmed at the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and in the warehouse nearby.