On The Banks Of The Roses

O when I was a young man, I heard my mother say

That she'd rather see me dead aye and buried in the clay

Than to see me get married to any runaway

By the lovely sweet banks of the roses

On the banks of the roses, my love and I sat down

I took out my fiddle for to play my love a tune

In the middle of the tune, O she sighed and she said

O Johnny, lovely Johnny, Would you leave me

O when I was a young man, I heard my father say

That he'd rather see me dead, aye and buried in the clay

Sooner than be married to any runaway

By the bonny sweet banks of the roses

On the banks of the roses, my love and I sat down

I took out my fiddle for to play my love a tune

In the middle of the tune, O she sighed and she said

O Johnny, lovely Johnny, Would you leave me

O well then I am no runaway and soon I'll let them know

I can take a good glass or leave it alone

And the man that doesn't like me, he can leave his daughter at home

And young Johnny will go roving with another

On the banks of the roses, my love and I sat down

I took out my fiddle for to play my love a tune

In the middle of the tune, O she sighed and she said

O Johnny, lovely Johnny, Would you leave me

If ever I get married, twill be in the month of May

When the leaves they are green and the meadows

They are gay

And me and my true love we will sport and play

By the bonny sweet banks of the roses

On the banks of the roses, my love and I sat down

I took out my fiddle for to play my love a tune

In the middle of the tune, O she sighed and she said

O Johnny, lovely Johnny, Would you leave me