Cranky Yankee, thanks for your information. I just wanted to know because when I sing a song I like to know what the words mean. With the phrase "blood red roses" I had a mystery, they didn't seem to mean literally blood red roses, unless its a carry over from an old pruning song, but instead signify something else. I wanted to know what that might be. I thinks it's interesting that there are several theories. Even that is information. Thanks to all who have written and are thinking about this question.