Banks Of The Roses (Traditional Version) Lyrics

When I was a wee thing, I heard my mother sayThat I was meant for rambling and would easy go astrayAnd before that I would work, I would rather sport and playWith my Johnny on the banks of red rosesOn the banks of red roses, my love and I sat downHe took out his tuning box to play his love a tuneIn the middle of the tune, his love got up and criedOh Johnny, lovely Johnny, would you leave me?So they walked and they talked until they came upon a caveWhere the night before her darling had spent digging on her graveAye, the night before her darling had spent digging on her graveOn the bonnie, bonnie banks of red rosesOh no, oh no, cried she, that grave's not meant for meYes, oh yes, my darling, that your bridal bed shall beYes, oh yes, my darling, that your bridal bed shall beAnd he's made her to lie down on red rosesAnd all on his way homeward, his heart was filled with fearEvery maid he came upon, he thought it was his dearYes, every maid he came upon, he thought it was his dearWho he made to lie down on red roses