The Heartbreaking Love Story Behind Bobby Vinton’s ‘Roses Are Red’

Some love stories begin with a simple verse scrawled into a yearbook. For Bobby Vinton, one such verse saved a career and changed pop music history. The year was 1962 and the song was Roses Are Red (My Love).

At the time, Vinton was a struggling bandleader signed to Epic Records. Two albums had flopped and the label was ready to let him go. They gave him one last chance to record a single. The song he needed was hiding in a discard pile of rejected material.

Composed by Al Byron and Paul Evans, the song had been cast aside. Vinton stumbled upon it and felt an instant connection. His first attempt, recorded in April 1962, was an R&B take. But Vinton was not satisfied. He secured permission to re-record it with a slower, more dramatic arrangement complete with strings and a vocal choir.

The re-recorded version became an unstoppable hit. On July 14, 1962, Roses Are Red (My Love) reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for four weeks. It also made history as Epic Records’ first number one single.

The song conquered charts around the world. It climbed to number one in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, and the United States, while making a significant impact in many other countries.

Critics and trade publications took notice. Billboard ranked the single at number four on its Top 100 Singles of 1962 and placed it at number 36 on the year-end Rhythm and Blues chart. Cash Box also recognized its staying power, listing it at number 17 on its Top 100 Chart Hits of 1962.

For Vinton, the song was more than a hit. It secured him a new contract as a solo recording artist and cemented his place in pop history. A forgotten tune had become a timeless classic.

Lyrics

Roses are red, my love
A long, long time ago
On graduation day
You handed me your book
I signed this way

Roses are red, my love
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, my love
But not as sweet as you

We dated through high school
And when the big day came
I wrote into your book
Next to my name

Roses are red, my love
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, my love
But not as sweet as you

Then I went far away
And you found someone new
I read your letter dear
And I wrote back to you

Roses are red, my love
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, my love
Good luck, may God bless you

Is that your little girl?
She looks a lot like you
Someday, some boy will write
In her book too

Roses are red, my love
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, my love
But not as sweet as you