Trad. Recorded by The Dubliners
On[C] the banks of the roses me[G] love and I
sat[C] down.
And[F] I took out me[C] fiddle to[G] play me love a[C] tune,
In the[F] middle of the[C] tune,she[G] smiled and she[Am] said,
Oh me[C] Johnny Oh me[F]- Johnny dont you [G]leave[C] me.
[2]
When I was a young lad I heard me father say,
That he would rather see me dead,and buried in the clay,
Sooner be married to any run away,
By the lovely sweet banks of the roses.
[3]
Well now I am no run away and sure I'll let them know,
That I can take the bottle or leave it alone,
And if her daddy doesn't like me,he can keep his daughter at home,
And then Johnny will go roving with another.
[4]
And if ever I get married,will be in the month of May,
When the leaves they are Green,and the meadows they are gay,
And me and me true love will sit and sport and play.
By the lovely sweet banks of the roses.
