The front cover design, by Jim Fitzpatrick, depicts a 'Black Rose' which refers to the last track of side 2 of the album. This song reflects to bandmember Phil Lynott's love for the poem 'Dark Rosaleen' by James Clarence Mangan: 'Oh, there was lightning in my blood, my Dark Rosaleen!' A poem about Ireland's yearning for liberty from English rule in the 16th century. 'Roísín Dubh' translates as Dark Rose (aka Dark Rosaleen)’. The rose became a patriotic symbol for Ireland.

Another poem was the inspiration for the blood coming from the rose. It was a famous religious poem by one of the leaders executed in 1916 after the Easter uprising titled 'I see his blood upon the rose', by Joseph Mary Plunkett.

On the back cover the shape of the rose returns with the band members in it.

Jim Fitzpatrick is an Irish artist famous for Irish Celtic art. Perhaps his most famous piece is his iconic two-tone portrait of Che Guevara created in 1968 and based on a photo by Alberto Korda

Thin Lizzy are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Bass guitarist and vocalist Phil Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led the band throughout their recording career of twelve studio albums. Major international hits were Whiskey in the Jar, Jailbreak and The Boys Are Back in Town.

After Lynott's death in 1986, various incarnations of the band have emerged based initially around guitarists Scott Gorham and John Sykes, though Sykes left the band in 2009. Gorham later continued with a new line-up including founding member Downey. In 2012, Gorham and Downey decided against recording new material as Thin Lizzy so they formed a new band, Black Star Riders. Thin Lizzy plan to reunite for occasional concerts.

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