Where does the tune come from?

How did you know about the original version about the flower versus the meaning about being wed at thy will? Thanks!!

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The lyrics originally are:

Rose, rose, rose, rose
Shalt I ever see thee red?
Aye, marry, that thou wilt
An thoult but stay

In this older version, the word "marry" is used in the archaic meaning of "indeed". The word "an" is old English for "if".

Clearly as language changes, people lost the old meaning of "marry" and so "red" becomes "wed" as it seems more logical if a marriage is the topic of conversation.

So the song was originally about a flower blooming, and if the singer paused a while, they might see it.

But songs (and language) change over time through the oral tradition. Thought you might be interested in an older version.