Banks Of The Roses Lyrics - Nick Cave & The Bad Seed

A traditional song which was a likely inspiration for Where The Wild Roses Grow. Nick's song is also available. 

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 down 

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