Can I Use Lyrics Roses Chainsmokers For A Cover Legally?

I like to keep a quick checklist in my head when I want to cover a song like 'Roses'. Live gig? Usually handled by the venue’s blanket PRO license. Post an audio cover to streaming stores? You’ll need a mechanical license (many distributors help with this). Put the cover in a video? That’s sync territory and often ends up claimed on YouTube, or needs a negotiated license.

Also: don’t change the lyrics or print them without permission—those are separate rights. If you’re unsure, using services that specialize in cover licensing or contacting the song’s publisher is the safest move. It’s a bit of paperwork, but worth it if you want to share your version without surprises.

I’ve sung covers at small bars and uploaded a handful of songs to streaming services, so here’s the practical stuff about using the lyrics from 'Roses' by The Chainsmokers.

If you’re just performing live at a venue, you usually don’t need to clear anything yourself because venues typically have blanket licenses with performance rights organizations (like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC in the U.S.). But if you want to record and distribute a cover—on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, or as a download—you do need a mechanical license. In the U.S. there’s a compulsory mechanical license you can use (Section 115) which requires paying a statutory rate per copy; services like DistroKid, Loudr, or Easy Song Licensing can help handle that.

Want to post a cover video to YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram? That’s a different beast. A sync license is technically required to pair the audio with visuals, and rights-holders often control monetization via Content ID on YouTube. Many creators rely on platform agreements (YouTube has arrangements with some publishers) or get claimed/monetized by the publisher rather than being taken down. But changing the lyrics, translating them, or reproducing the printed lyrics in a video or description is not allowed without explicit permission because that creates a derivative or a printed copy.

Long story short: singing 'Roses' live at a bar is usually fine; recording and releasing it needs a mechanical license; adding visuals needs sync clearance; altering lyrics or printing them needs direct permission. If I were you, I’d use a licensing service or contact the publisher if you plan to change anything or monetize heavily—keeps things tidy and avoids headaches.

I handle a lot of releases and syncs, so I approach this from the distribution and rights side. First: the lyric content of 'Roses' is protected, period. For an audio-only release (Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp), you need a mechanical license. In the U.S., the statutory mechanical rate (for most songs under five minutes) applies and can be accounted for via compulsory license procedures; many distributors automate this now. For interactive streaming, mechanicals are tracked via entities like the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), though specific workflows depend on your distributor.

Second: if you want to put your cover in a video (YouTube/TikTok/Instagram), you’re entering sync territory. Sync licenses are typically negotiated with the publisher and are not covered by the mechanical compulsory license. Practically speaking, many creators upload covers and platforms either have direct publisher deals or let rights-holders monetize via Content ID; that keeps the video up but shifts revenue. Third: any change to the lyrics or printing the words (lyric video, captions, PDFs for sale) requires explicit permission from the copyright owner because that’s a derivative or a reproduction. Finally, if you plan to monetize your version, reach out to the publisher or use a licensing agent—costs vary, and getting the rights upfront is much cleaner than dealing with takedowns later.

I once learned this the hard way when I uploaded a cozy, acoustic cover of a pop tune and got a Content ID claim within a day. For 'Roses,' the lyrics are copyrighted, so you can’t just copy them wholesale into a posted lyric video or description without permission. If your plan is simply to record a faithful cover and put it on streaming platforms, grab a mechanical license through a service—many distributors will offer help so you don’t have to hunt down the publisher.

If your cover is going on YouTube or TikTok with video, assume the publisher will either claim the video or require a sync license. Sometimes platforms have blanket deals and the video stays up but revenue goes to the rights-holder. And if you want to rewrite lines or translate the song, you’ll need explicit permission—don’t try to wing that. I’d start by checking the publisher listed on a performing rights database and then use a cover-licensing service to keep it legal and stress-free.