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Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Instead of going to bed
I’m writing this for you.
Last week I posed some items that parodied and played on words for the old poem that has many variations but nearly always begins “Roses are red”, sometimes with the additional line “Violets are blue”.
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Some background and trivia . . .
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Benny Hill (who is now out of favour as being sexist, racist, ageist and a lot more ists) adapted the poem in one of his 1960’s comedy shows:
Roses are red and
Violets are blue,
So goes the age old rhyme.
But I know Rose’s are blue and
Violet’s are red -
I’ve seen them on the line.
Hill has been described as the a filmatographic version of British saucy seaside postcard humour.
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So what is the origin of those lines?
In 1590, Sir Edmund Spenser wrote the epic poem, The Faerie Queene, which covers 7 books. Book 3 contains the lines:
It was upon a Sommers shynie day,
When Titan faire his beames did display,
In a fresh fountaine, farre from all mens vew,
She bath’d her brest, the boyling heat t’allay;
She bath’d with roses red, and violets blew,
And all the sweetest flowres, that in the forest grew.
The line was used again in works which followed until In 1784 Joseph Ritson published a collection of English nursery rhymes for children that included the following:
The rose is red, the violet’s blue
The honey’s sweet, and so are you.
Thou art my love and I am thine;
I drew thee to my Valentine:
The lot was cast and then I drew,
And Fortune said it shou’d be you
Many believe that the familiar “roses are red, violets are blue” originated from Ritson’s poem.
That nursery rhyme is no longer only a poem for children.
It has spawned flirtatious lines to use while dating, dirty jokes to laugh about with friends, corny poems, Valentine’s Day messages and even song lyrics.
Who remembers the 1962 song Roses are Red (My Love) by Bobby Vinton:
A long, long time ago
On graduation day
You handed me your book
I signed this way
"Roses are red, my love
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, my love
But not as sweet as you"
We dated through high school
And when the big day came
I wrote into your book
Next to my name
"Roses are red, my love
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, my love
But not as sweet as you"
Then I went far away
And you found someone new
I read your letter dear
And I wrote back to you
"Roses are red, my love
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, my love
Good luck, may God bless you"
Is that your little girl?
She looks a lot like you
Someday, some boy will write
In her book too
"Roses are red, my love
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, my love
But not as sweet as you"
So which is it:
😢
😂
👎
See and hear it by clicking on:
Those were the days when a set could consist of some boxes and stepladders.
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Some poetic examples:
Flirtatious:
Roses are red, violets are blue, is it hot in here? Or is it just you?
Roses are red, violets are blue, wine costs less than a dinner for two.
Roses are red, violets are blue, I just want to hook-up with you!
Roses are red, violets are blue, I’ve never met anyone as sexy as you.
Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m heading to bed. Would you like to join too?
Roses are red, violets are blue, jalapeños are hot and so are you!
Roses are red, white, pink, and yellow. By golly, I am one lucky fellow!
Roses are red, violets are blue, if I were you, I would want me too.
Roses are red, violets are violet, here’s my number cutie, go ahead and dial it.
Children:
Roses are red, violets are blue, I heard you pick your boogers… ew!
Roses are red, violets are blue, you look like a monkey and you smell like one too!
Roses are red, violets are blue, I can’t rhyme… apple!
Roses are red, violets are blue, one ripped condom was what caused you.
Family and Friends:
Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m not hungover, I just have the flu.
Roses are red, Facebook is blue, we have no mutual friends… who the hell are you?
Roses are red, I have a phone, but no one texts me, so I’m forever alone.
Roses are red, violets are blue, I was the favorite child until they had you.
Roses are red, violets are blue, my coffee is bitter, just like you.
Roses are red, violets are blue, you’re crazy but I still love you.
Roses are grey, violets are grey, you are grey, I’m a dog.
Roses are red, pizza sauce is too, I ordered a large but I’m not sharing with you.
Roses are red, violets are red, everything’s red, holy crap the yard is on fire!
Roses are red, violets are blue, if I had a brick, I would throw it at you.
Roasts and Insults:
Roses are red, violets are blue, I’d rather be alone than dating someone like you.
Roses are red, violets are blue, I can always find someone better than you.
Roses are red, violets are blue, you thought this would be a love poem but the joke is on you.
Roses are red, violets are blue, so happy I realized I can do better without you.
Roses are red, violets are blue, garbage gets dumped and now you do too.
Roses are red, that much is true, but violets are purple, not freaking blue.
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