This is the first song I intentionally wrote for the woman who was going to become my wife (as opposed to “Basherta”, which was unconsciously written for her.)
Roses Are Red
© 2001 words & music by Eric Schrager
My friends have been embarrassing me all day today,
They’re all treating me like I’m a hopeless case.
They keep asking “What’s her name?”
I know they’re wond’ring who’s to blame
For this stupid smile that’s plastered to my face.
A few days ago I was so tired and bored of my life,
All the colors had dulled down to shades of gray.
But then you took me by surprise,
What have you done, girl, to my eyes?
I’m seeing Technicolor, rich and bright as day.
I can’t remember when things ever looked this way…
I woke up this morning and I saw that roses are red,
And then I noticed violets are blue.
For the first time it occurred to me that sugar is sweet,
And deep down I know it’s all because of you…
Yes, deep down I know it’s all because of you.
Girl, when you crossed my path, I had no thought of romance,
It was the last thing I believed I’d ever find.
Now look where this has led—
I’m writing mash notes in my head!
And the worst part of it all is I don’t mind.
I hadn’t realized that I was color-blind…
But this morning I woke up and saw that roses are red,
And then I noticed violets are blue.
It was a pleasant shock when I found out that sugar is sweet,
Though I have a hunch it’s not as sweet as you…
No, I have a hunch it’s not as sweet as you.
(Instrumental Break)
I must have lost my mind when we went walking last night—
Did I get drunk without a drop of wine?
I just turned to look at you,
And the next thing that I knew
Your soft full warm lips were touching mine.
My senses came alive and liked it fine…
And in the morning I woke up and saw that roses are red,
And then I noticed violets are blue.
For the first time it occurred to me that sugar is sweet,
But there’s nothing in this world as sweet as you…
And in the morning I woke up and saw that roses are red,
And then I noticed violets are blue.
For the first time it occurred to me that sugar is sweet,
But there’s nothing in this world as sweet as you…
No, there’s nothing in this world as sweet as you.
Notes
The story behind this one starts at a dinner my then-girlfriend and I were having at my parents’ house, along with two of my parents’ friends. A charming couple, the husband mentioned during the evening how he had wooed his wife with little love notes, including the classic “Roses are red / Violets are blue / Sugar is sweet / And so are you.”
While I smiled and laughed, inwardly I was cringing at the corniness of the gesture. (No offense intended to either of them–they were really lovely folks.) Roses are red? Seriously? I remember thinking. Is there any way on earth for a grown man to use those lines that wouldn’t be absolutely ridiculous?
And then, in the very next instant: Well, that sounds like a dare…
The answer to my self-made dare was this song, which was very much dedicated to my lady. Notwithstanding the countrified, Eagles flavor, my bandmates in Spiny Norman liked it enough that we ended up playing it.
Drake Oranwood 