Banks of the Roses Lyrics

Finally, one place where you can find ALL of the Banks of the Roses lyrics by Nick Cave. See the line you could never quite figure out on your own? All of our Nick Cave, Banks of the Roses lyrics have been recreated with the original spellings, grammar and meanings. Notice also in some instances Banks of the Roses footnotes and Nick Cave lyrics details that never made it to the Nick Cave CD cover, featuring Banks of the Roses lyrics.

Banks of the Roses Lyrics

by Nick Cave

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