Red Hot Chili Peppers: Monarchy of Roses Meaning

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   #1 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Aug 23rd 2014 !⃝

   Really people?, Communism?, damn American chauvinism at his finest. This song is clearly about the Tudor Dinasty of england and the War of the Roses.
   "Several of my best friends wear, the colours of the crown", The War of the Roses was an english civil war so probably his "friend" was loyal to the other opposite house of the conflict.
   "And mary wants to raise it up", Mary I of England daughter of Henry VII continuing her father's rule.
   "The holy tears of Ireland", Henry VIII proclamed himself King Of Ireland and the Tudors tried to conquer it.
   
   Geez people read some world history, not everything is about the big red communist monster coming to engulf your precious and perfect "America".

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   anonymous

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   Nov 27th 2011 !⃝

   My theory is it's inspired directly from the thirty-year conflict in the mid 15th century for the throne of England: the War of Roses.
   
   The "crimson tide" would be the blood spilled in the conflict or the blood in the seas. "The promise of a clean regime" would literally mean the hopes of a king to restore order. "The colors of the crown" would mean the two main factions of the war: the white rose House of York and the red rose House of Lancaster. Mary could be the Queen of Scotland Mary of Gueldres who was an ally of Lancaster. The song title and main line "Monarchy of Roses" would therefore be a direct reference to the above-mentioned houses and the roses they represented. The "Holy tears of Ireland" could be a reference to Richard of York's post as its Lieutenant and how the war spilled over into the nation. The "cross of the former queen" could refer to the previous queen or her symbol the fleur de lis.
   
   I first took it for a straight-up reference to Catholicism, but the "Monarchy" stood out like a sore thumb.
3. scotia_drew_shields

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   Jul 11th 2018 !⃝

   It's a comment on "Empire".
   
   First off, notice that the melody is strikingly similar to the traditional American folksong "Oh Susanna", the Peppers, using their tact as musicians layer the melody over some darker and funkier sounding music though.
   
   So, yeah, I agree that the song is commenting even scoffing at government or form of rule but not just communism, think capitalism first and foremost; Anthony has always sung about social injustice and "American Inequality".
   
   Joe Rogan used the term Monarchy to mockingly tag the American government and it's corporate owners in a certain podcast.
   
   In the second bridge when Anthony sings "Sheri build it up Teri..." that's like the so called right and left (democrats repulicans what have you) that we are supposed to believe regulate one-another actually being in cahoots to keep the people in a perpetual state of fear and mistrust serving the owners of the country and (the world).
   
   Bottom line to me is it's a witty protest song under the disguise of ambiguity so it could be a single and hit the airwaves by a mature band commenting on the state of social affairs.
   They're sofucked up they have been and are getting on the world stage, in the corporate world and in the financial world all in the name of greed and macho power hoarding.
4. anonymous

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   Feb 25th 2012 !⃝

   The crimson tide is another reference to a woman's period or menstral cycle. A monarchy of roses refers to "the war of the roses". where two royal families warred. Der....

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
5. anonymous

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   Jan 21st 2012 !⃝

   The song is about the strugle of the irish crimson tide is a reference to bloody sunday. Build it up tear it down means build your town we will tear it down south v north its really brilliant I probably could of wrote the lyrics will on ganja it is the best song I have ever heard long live the rhcp xx.
6. anonymous

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   Jan 20th 2012 !⃝

   I see it completely different. I think it's about his life story of realationships he's had with women.
7. anonymous

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   Dec 26th 2011 !⃝

   its about ME Tom the guy who's life you messed up, and it comes as no surprise to me the sheer stupidity of the comments here, the one about communism made me roflmao so hard, its better than any joke really bro you should get a full time job regurgitating scat then you could support your family doing what you do best ^_^

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8. anonymous

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   Oct 6th 2011 !⃝

   I believe that the song is about the spread of Communism. "The crimson tide is flowing through your fingers as you sleep" is an obvious referral to the Red Army and their quiet campaign to spread Communism. "The promises of a clean regime are promises we keep" is satirical, for it claims that Communists make empty promises and say they keep them.
   
   "The calicos of Pettibone where cultures come to clash." George Pettibone and two other men were avid supporters of the Socialist Party in Idaho, and bias against them caused them to be implicated in the murder of an ex-governor. Therefore, the Socialist Party and America's democracy clashed then.
   
   Even the title, "Monarchy of Roses," references that roses are red (again, Communist colors) and how Communism can look beautiful (like roses), but roses have thorns, and it can be ugly underneath. Mary references Marx, and how he wanted to "build it up," or spread Communism. I'm taking a wild guess here, but "Sherry" may mean to reference "publi'shers'", how they critique the government and lead to the downfall of the government.
   
   The rest of the song speaks for itself, although, again, I'm not sure about the reference to Ireland, either.
   
   "Several of my best friends" "wear the colors of this town" and "know the secrets of this town" means that many people know about the unfair things in the town, but they cannot say anything about it, and continue to wear the Communist colors.
   
   "We all want the rose you know" means that everyone wants a piece of power. "Show us love before you go" is satirical as well, for as people try to scam their way up, they push people off of the ladder, and the line says in a nice way that the singer will push the person off of the ladder.
9. anonymous

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   Oct 6th 2011 !⃝

   I think it's an anglo-phile song, about supporting us in maintaining freedom and democracy in the face of terrorist threats, but also how good looking the English women are! which is another reason to be on our side:) bit sexist really but I'll forgive them because they are so handsome and talented.

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10. anonymous

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    Sep 18th 2011 !⃝

    It's about the Anglo-American empire and the way some want to tear it down and say enough is enough.
    
    What with its wars-for-resources, taxes and austerity on its citizens, and so on.
    
    At least that's how I see it.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

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