A Red, Red Rose may have been inspired by the concept of deep time put forward a few years earlier by geologist James Hutton in his "Theory of the Earth" in 1789 . Hutton and Burns were contemporaries, and would have mixed in similar circles in Edinburgh. A Red, Red Rose "A Red, Red Rose" is a 1794 song in Scots by Robert Burns based on traditional sources. The song is also referred to by the title "Oh, My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose", "My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose" or "Red, Red Rose" and is often published as a
A Red, Red Rose dating from around 1770, "The Horn Fair Garland", a copy of which is thought to exist bearing an inscription "Robine Burns aught this buik and no other". A poem in this collection, "The loyal Lover's faithful promise to his Sweet-heart on his going on a long journey" also contains similar verses such as "Althou' I go a thousand miles" and "The day shall turn to night, dear love/And the rocks melt in the sun". The lyrics of the song are simple but effective. "My luve's like a red, red rose/That's newly sprung in June" describe a love that is both