BANKS OF THE ROSES
(learned from Charlie "Brown" Artman in the 1960s)
By 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, ah, she sighed and she cried,
Oh, Johnny, lovely Johnny, never leave me!
When I was a young girl, I heard my father say,
I'd rather see you dead and a-buried in the clay
Sooner than to see you go with any runaway,
By the lovely sweet Banks of the Roses.
Well then, I am a runaway and soon I'll let them know
That I can take a good glass or leave it well alone
And the man that doesn't like me he can keep his girls at home
And young Johnny will go roving with another.
If ever I get married 'twill be in the month of May,
When all the trees are budding and the meadows bright and gay
And me and my true love will run and sport and play,
On the lovely sweet Banks of the Roses.
(from miriam berg's folksong collection)