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