"Painting the Roses Red" is a song featured in Disney's 1951 animated feature film, Alice in Wonderland, sung by the Queen of Hearts's card minons (specifically the Ace, Two, and Three of Clubs) when Alice first enters the garden. The cards try to explain to Alice why they are painting the roses red. The reason is that the Queen of Hearts likes the roses red and the Cards planted white roses, so they try to explain that the Queen will have them beheaded if they do not make them appear red.
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
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
Alice: Oh, pardon me
But Mister Three
Why must you paint them red?
[Speech]
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
[Speech]
Alice: Goodness!
Cards: Since this is the part we dread
We're painting the roses red
[Speech]
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!
Reprise (Who's Been Painting My Roses Red?)
The Queen of Hearts: Who's been painting my roses red?
Who's been painting my roses red?!
Who dares to paint with vulgar paint
The royal flower bed
For painting my roses red
Someone will lose his head
2 of Clubs: Oh no! Your Majesty, please! It's all his fault!
3 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!
[Speech]
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...
[Speech]
Queen of Hearts: SILENCE!!!