Lyrics:

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 bonny lassie's hart,
He plunged it through and through the bonny lassie's heart
And he left her lying low among the roses.

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.