Roses Are Red
Timeless Affection: A Nostalgic Tale of Love's Sweetness
Lyrics
A long, long time ago
A reference to a distant past
On graduation day
Refers to a significant day, likely the completion of education
You handed me your book
The speaker received a book from someone
I signed this way
The speaker signed the book in a particular manner
Roses are red, my love
Beginning of a romantic declaration using traditional poetic lines
Violets are blue
Continuation of traditional poetic imagery
Sugar is sweet, my love
Comparing the sweetness of sugar to the sweetness of the person addressed
But not as sweet as you
Emphasizing the exceptional sweetness of the person
We dated through high school
Recollection of a period of romantic involvement during high school
And when the big day came
Refers to an important event or milestone
I wrote into your book
The speaker wrote something in the book belonging to the addressee
Next to my name
Specifying the location of the inscription
Roses are red, my love
Repetition of the earlier romantic declaration
Violets are blue
Continuation of traditional poetic imagery
Sugar is sweet, my love
Reiteration of comparing sweetness, emphasizing the person's sweetness
But not as sweet as you
Emphasizing the exceptional sweetness of the person
Then I went far away
Speaker moved away from the addressee
And you found someone new
The addressee found a new romantic partner
I read your letter dear
The speaker received and read a letter from the addressee
And I wrote back to you
The speaker responded by writing back to the addressee
Roses are red, my love
Repetition of the romantic declaration with a slight variation
Violets are blue
Continuation of traditional poetic imagery
Sugar is sweet, my love
Comparing sweetness again, conveying blessings and good wishes
Good luck God bless you too
Wishing good luck and blessings to the addressee
Is that your little girl
Enquiry about a child's resemblance to the addressee
She looks a lot like you
Observation about the child's resemblance to the addressee
Someday some boy will write
Prediction about a future event involving the child
In her book, too
Potential inscription in the child's book in the future by someone else
Roses are red, my love
Repetition of the romantic declaration
Violets are blue
Continuation of traditional poetic imagery
Sugar is sweet, my love
Comparing sweetness again, reiterating the exceptional sweetness of the person
But not as sweet as you
Emphasizing the exceptional sweetness of the person
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