Traditional & Folk Songs with lyrics & midi music www.traditionalmusic.co.uk 
Banks of the Roses (2) 
Banks of the Roses (2) 
When I was a wee thing, I heard my mother say That I was meant for rambling and would easy go astray And before that I would work, I would rather sport and play With my Johnny on the banks of red roses 
On the banks of red roses, my love and I sat doon He took out his tuning box to play his love a tune In the middle of the tune, his love got up and cried Oh Johnny, lovely Johnny, would you leave me? 
So they walked and they talked until they came upon a cave Where the night before her darling had spent digging on her grave Aye, the night before her darling had spent digging on her grave On the bonnie, bonnie banks of red roses 
Oh no, oh no, cried she, that grave's not meant for me Yes, oh yes, my darling, that your bridal bed shall be Yes, oh yes, my darling, that your bridal bed shall be And he's made her to lie down on red roses 
And all on his way homeward, his heart was filled with fear Every maid he came upon, he thought it was his dear Yes, every maid he came upon, he thought it was his dear Who he made to lie down on red roses 
Recorded by Jean Redpath. Probable source : Hamish Henderson. also by Buffy Ste Marie on Many a Mile DT #513 
SOF