On the banks of red roses my love and I sat down
And I took out my fiddle for to play my love a tune
In the middle of the tune oh she sighed and she said
Oh, my Johnny, lovely Johnny would you leave me?

Oh, when I was a young girl I heard my mother say
That I was a foolish lass and easy led astray
And before I would work I would sooner sport and play
With my Johnny on the banks of red roses

Well, he took her to his lodge and he treated her to tea
Saying drink my dearest Molly and come along with me
Saying drink my dearest Molly and come along with me
To the sweet and lovely banks of red roses

Well, they walked and they talked till they came unto a cave
Where Johnny all the day had been digging up a grave
Where Johnny all the day had been digging up a grave
For to leave his lassie low among the roses

Then he took out his penknife, it was both long and sharp
And he plunged it right into his own dear Molly's heart
And he plunged it right into his own dear Molly's heart
And he left her lying low among the roses

Learned from the singing of Johnny Moynihan on De Danann's second LP, " Selected Jigs, Reels & Songs ". I've never seen it released on CD.