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"Painting the Roses Red" is a song featured in Disney's 1951 animated feature film, Alice in Wonderland, sung by the Queen of Hearts' card soldiers (specifically the Ace, Two, and Three of Clubs) when Alice first enters the garden. The cards try to explain to Alice that they are painting the roses red because the Queen likes those and they planted white ones by mistake. Unfortunately for them, the Queen catches on to their ruse due to a single poorly painted rose, and has them beheaded anyway.

The song is also featured in various episodes of Alice's Wonderland Bakery. Whenever the card soldiers are ordered by the Queen of Hearts to paint the roses red, they sing the song as they paint.

Lyrics[]

Cards: 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

Ooh, 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
Alice: Oh, pardon me,
But Mister Three,
Why must you paint them red?

Cards: Huh? Oh!
Three: Well, the fact is, Miss,
We planted the white roses by mistake,
And...

Cards: The Queen she likes 'em red
If she saw white instead,
Two: She'd raise a fuss
Ace: And each of us
Cards: Would quickly lose his head

Alice: Goodness!

Cards: Since this is the thought we dread
We're painting the roses red

Alice: Oh, dear! Then let me help you!

Alice: Painting the roses red
All: 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
Alice: Yes, painting the roses red
Two: Not pink
Ace: Not green
Alice: Not aquamarine
All: We're painting the roses red!

The Queen of Hearts: Who's been painting my roses red?
Who's been painting my roses red?!
Who dares to taint with vulgar paint
The royal flower bed?
For painting my roses red
Someone will lose his head!
3 of Clubs: Oh no! Your Majesty, please! It's all his fault!
2 of Clubs: Not me, Your Grace, the Ace! The Ace!
Queen of Hearts: You?
Ace of Clubs: No! Two!
Queen of Hearts: The Deuce, you say?
2 of Clubs: Not me, the Tres!

Queen of Hearts: THAT'S ENOUGH!!! OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!!

Cards: They're going to lose their heads
For painting the roses red
It serves them right
They planted white
But roses should be red
Oh, they're going to lose their heads...

Queen of Hearts: SILENCE!!!

Alice: 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

White Rabbit and Mad Hatter: Painting the roses red
We're painting the roses red

Alice: Oh, pardon me
But Mister Three
Why must you paint them red?

White Rabbit and Mad Hatter: The Queen she likes 'em red
If she saw white instead,
Mad Hatter: She'd raise a fuss
White Rabbit: And each of us
would quickly lose his head

Alice: Goodness!

White Rabbit and Mad Hatter: Since this is the part we dread
We're painting the roses red

Alice: Oh, Dear! Then red shall be. All together now.

Alice: Painting the roses red
All: 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
Alice: Yes, painting the roses red
White Rabbit: Not pink
Mad Hatter: Not green
Alice: Not aquamarine
All: We're painting the roses red!

Videos[]


v - e - d
Alice in Wonderland logo 2011
Media
Films: Alice in Wonderland (video/soundtrack)

TV Series: Adventures in Wonderland (Episode List) • A Poem Is...Alice's Wonderland Bakery (Episode List)
Shorts and Specials: A Lesson in Appreciating DifferencesDonald in Mathmagic LandWriting Magic with Figment and Alice in WonderlandOne Hour in WonderlandOperation Wonderland
Books: Wonderland
Video Games: Kingdom HeartsKingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts 358/2 DaysKingdom Hearts coded Kingdom Hearts χ Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ/Union χ2000 gameAlice no Paint AdventureKinect: Disneyland AdventuresHidden WorldsDisney Magical WorldDisney UniverseDisney's Villains' RevengeDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Sorcerer's ArenaDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney All-Star RacersDisney All-Star Party
Music: Alice and the Mad Tea PartyAlice and the TrialAlice and the White RabbitLittle Nipper Giant Storybook Record Album
Cancelled projects: 1933 film1939 film

Disney Parks
Alice's Curious LabyrinthAlice in WonderlandClub VillainDisney Animation BuildingIt's a Small WorldMad Tea PartyMickey Mouse RevueStorybook Land Canal Boats

Entertainment: Alice and the Queen of Hearts: Back to WonderlandCinderellabration: Lights of RomanceMickey's Gift of DreamsMickey's Magical Music WorldMickey presents: “Happy Anniversary Disneyland Paris”Once Upon a MouseOne Man's DreamSoryo Kobu
Restaurants: March Hare RefreshmentsCheshire Cafe
Parades: Celebrate A Dream Come True ParadeDisney's Dreams On Parade: Moving OnDisney's Magical Moments ParadeDisney's Party ExpressDisney Carnivale ParadeDisney Magic on ParadeDisney on ParadeDisney Stars on ParadeDreaming Up!Dreams.... And Shine Brighter!Festival of Fantasy ParadeHappiness is Here ParadeMain Street Electrical ParadeMickey's New Year's Eve ParadeMickey's Rainy Day ExpressMove It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street PartySpectroMagicWalt Disney's Parade of Dreams
Fireworks: Believe... There's Magic in the StarsCelebrate the MagicDisney in the StarsDisney EnchantmentOnce Upon a TimeRemember... Dreams Come TrueWonderful World of AnimationWorld of ColorWondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney's Easter WonderlandDisney's Spring PromenadeMinnie's Little Spring TrainHippity Hoppity SpringtimeUsatama on the Run!
Summer: Mickey's WaterWorks
Halloween: Disney's Maleficious Halloween PartyDisney's Not So Spooky SpectacularDisney Villains Wicked GatheringFrightfully Fun ParadeHappy HallowishesHouse of De Vil-lainsInferno Dance PartyIt's Good to be Bad with the Disney VillainsJack Skellington’s Villainous GatheringRe-Villains! Halloween ParadeVillains GroveVillains Mix and MingleVillains Night Out!
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy ParadeDisney's White Holiday ParadeMickey's Most Merriest Celebration

Characters
Alice in Wonderland: AliceDinahAlice's SisterMad HatterMarch HareDormouseWhite RabbitCheshire CatThe DoorknobDodoToucanHawkCaucus Race AnimalsTweedle Dee and Tweedle DumThe Walrus and the CarpenterCurious OystersBill the LizardFlowers of WonderlandCaterpillarHammer and Pencil BirdsMome RathsCard SoldiersQueen of HeartsKing of HeartsFlamingosHedgehogsBread-and-ButterfliesRocking HorseflyGlasses BirdMirror BirdHorn DucksUmbrella VulturesShovel BirdCage BirdAccordion Owl

Alice's Wonderland Bakery: AliceHattie HatterFergie the White RabbitRosa CorazónQueen of HeartsTweedle Do and Tweedle Don'tMilly
Other: Mary AnnHumpty Dumpty

Objects
Drink Me BottleEat Me CookiesWhite Rabbit's Watch
Locations
WonderlandThe ExteriorFish DinnersWhite Rabbit's HouseShorelineThe Meadow of Living FlowersThe MushroomThe Mad Hatter's HouseThe Queen of Hearts' CastleWonderland MazeTulgey WoodEnglandLondon
Songs
Alice in Wonderland: Alice in WonderlandIn a World of My OwnI'm LateSailor's HornpipeThe Caucus RaceHow Do You Do and Shake HandsThe Walrus and the CarpenterOld Father WilliamSmoke the Blighter OutAll in the Golden AfternoonAEIOU‘Twas BrillingThe Unbirthday SongVery Good AdvicePainting the Roses RedDodgsonlandOcean of TearsSimon SaysWhooooo Are Youuuuu?

Alice's Wonderland Bakery: Theme SongThe Baking Song
Deleted: Beyond the Laughing SkyBeautiful SoupBeware the JabberwockI'm OddThe Lobster QuadrilleGavotte of the CardsEntrance of the ExecutionerWhen the Wind is in the EastSo They SayEverything Has a UsenessDream CaravanSpeak Roughly to Your Little BoyIf You'll Believe in Me

Deleted Concepts and Characters
JabberwockyAnthropomorphic "Drink Me" BottleThe Gryphon and the Mock TurtleThe Lion and the UnicornThe Executioner1933 film1939 film
See Also
Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland
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