When I was a wee thing and easy led astray
It's before I would work, I would rather sport and play
It's before 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 fiddle and began to play a tune
And when the tune was ended his love broke down and cried
"Oh Johnny, darling Johnny, never leave me"

He took out his pocket knife and it was long and sharp
And he plunged it through and through the bonnie lassie's heart
He plunged it through and through the bonnie lassie's heart
And he let her lying low on the roses

(repeat first verse)