Painting the roses red
We're painting the roses red
We dare not stop
Or waste a drop
So let the paint be spread
We're painting the roses red
We're painting the roses red

Oh, painting the roses red
And many a tear we shed
Because we know
They'll cease to grow
In fact, they'll soon be dead
And yet we go ahead
Painting the roses red

Painting the roses red
We're painting the roses red
Oh, pardon me
But Mister Three
Why must you paint them red?

The Queen she likes 'em red
If she saw white instead
She'd raise a fuss
And each of us
Would quickly lose his head
Since this is the part we dread
We're painting the roses red

Painting the roses red
We're painting the roses red
Don't tell the Queen what you have seen
Or say that's what we said
But we're painting the roses red
Yes, painting the roses red