English rose is a description, associated with English culture, that may be applied to a naturally beautiful woman or girl who is from or is associated with England.
The description has a cultural reference to the national flower of England, the rose,[1] and to its long tradition within English symbolism.
The term "English rose" is found in Merrie England (1902), a comic opera written by Basil Hood. He describes a garden where "women are the flowers" and in which "the sweetest blossom" or "fairest queen" is "the perfect English rose".[2] The words are performed by a tenor in the role of Sir Walter Raleigh (1554–1618), in the presence of a May Queen, but regarding his secret love (purely within the opera), a member of the household of Elizabeth I.
At the Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, Elton John performed a new version of his 1974 hit, "Candle in the Wind", which began with the adapted lyrics, "Goodbye England's rose...".[3]
"Last of the English Roses" is a 2008 song by singer/songwriter Pete Doherty from his album Grace/Wastelands. English Rose is the name of the 2019 debut album by singer/songwriter Connie Constance; its first song is also titled "English Rose".
Look up English rose in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
I thought it was very important to project it from a nation's standpoint. I wanted to make it sound like a country singing it. From the first couple of lines i wrote [which began "Goodbye England's Rose"], the rest sort of fell into place.
She’s a true English rose known and loved by millions of film and fashion fans around the world"