| Play/Download Music File Lesley Nelson |
|
|
|
|
| This Irish tune dates from the end of the 18th century. Its origins are in Limerick. It is also known as The Banks of the Red Roses.
According to The Traditional Ballad Index, in some versions Johnny takes his lover to a cave and kills her, burying her on the banks of the Roses. Though the titles are very similar, this is not related to The Banks of the Sweet Primroses, which is an English tune. |
On the banks of the Roses, My love and I sat down, And I took out my violin To play my love a tune, In the middle of the tune, Oh, she sighed and she said, O-ro, Johnny, lovely Johnny, Would you leave me? Oh, when I was a young man I heard my father say, That he'd rather see me dead And buried in the clay, Sooner than be married To any runaway, By the lovely sweet Banks of the Roses. Oh, then I am no runaway And soon I'll let them know, I can take a good glass Or can leave it alone; And the man that does not like me He can keep his daughter at home And young Johnny will go roving with another. And 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 I and my true love Can sit and sport and play On the lovely sweet Banks of the Roses. |
|
From
Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales See Bibliography for full information. |
|