The Banks of Red Roses

Oh, 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'd rather sport and play
With my Johnny on the banks of red roses

On the banks of red roses
My love and I sat down
He took out his tuning box
To play his lover tune
In the middle of the tune
His love got up and cried
Oh Johnny, lovely Johnny, will you be mine?

So they walked and they talked
Until they came upon a cave
Where the night before her darling
Had spent digging on her grave
Ah, the night before her darling
Had spent digging on her grave
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of red roses

Oh no, no, cried she
That grave's not meant for me
Oh yes, oh yes, my darling
That your bridal bed shall be
Yes, oh yes, my darling
Your bridal bed shall be
And he's made her to lie down on red roses

And 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
Who he made to lie down on red roses