Bobby Darin wrote this song "Eighteen Yellow Roses" for the mother of actress Sandra Dee. Darin met Dee in 1960 when they were shooting a movie together in Portofino, Italy, called Come September. Darin was smitten, and decided it was best to get in her mother's good graces. Every day of the 4 week shoot, he sent Dee's mother 18 yellow roses - this was portrayed in the movie Beyond The Sea with Darin saying, "You always make sure the mama dog likes you before you go near her puppy." Darin and Sandra Dee eloped later that year, and were married until 1967.
Eighteen yellow roses came today
Eighteen yellow roses in a pretty bouquet
When the boy came to the door
I didn't know what to say
But, eighteen yellow roses came today.