There Were Roses

My song for you this evening, it's not to make you sad
Not for adding to the sorrows of our troubled Northern land
But lately, I've been thinking, and it just won't leave my mind
I'll tell you of two friends one time, who were both good friends of mine

Isaac he was protestant, and Sean was catholic born
But it never made a difference, for their friendship it was strong
And sometimes in the evening when we heard the sound of drums
They said, "It won't divide us, we will always be as one"

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of the people ran together

It was on a Sunday morning, when the awful news came 'round
Another killing had been done just outside Newry Town
We knew that Isaac danced up there, we knew he liked the band
When we heard that he was dead, we just could not understand

Now fear it filled the countryside, there was fear in every home
When late at night a car came, prowling 'round the Ryan Road
A catholic would be killed tonight to even up the score
Oh Christ, it's young MacDonald, they have taken from the door

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of the people ran together

"Isaac was my friend he cried", he begged them with his tears
But centuries of hatred have ears that do not hear
An eye for an eye, that was all that filled their minds
And another eye for another eye, 'til everyone was blind

Now, I don't know where the moral is, or where this song should end
But I wonder just how many wars are fought between good friends
And those who give the orders are not the ones to die
It's Scott and young MacDonald, and the likes of you and I

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of the people ran together

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of the people ran together