>June Tabor >Songs >The Banks of Red Roses
[ Roud 603 ; Master title: The Banks of the Roses; G/D 7:1444 ; Ballad Index Doe315 ; DT BANKROSE , BANKROS2 ; Mudcat 49637 , 171195 ; trad.]
Séamus Ennis sang The Bank of the Roseson the 1955 anthologyThe World Library of Folk and Primitive Music - Volume I: Ireland.
Duncan McPhee sang On the Bonny Banks o’ the Rosesto Peter Kennedy at Blairgowrie in 1955. This recordingwas included in 1994 on the Saydisc anthologySongs of the Travelling People.
Ruby Kelbie sangBanks o’ Red Rosesto Maurice Fleming at Blairgowrie in 1955. This recordingwas included in 2011 on the Greentrax anthologySongs and Ballads From Perthshire Field Recordings of the 1950s(Scottish Tradition24).
Dominic Behan sang The Banks of the Roseson the 1963HullabalooABC Television programme broadcast on 2November 1963.
Martyn Wyndham-Read sang Banks of the Roseson the 1966 Australian albumA Wench, a Whale and a Pint of Good Ale.The album’s sleeve notes commented:
An Irish traditional ballad sung by Martyn. Colm ÓLochlainn(Irish Street Ballads)prints a version learned from his mother.
Sarah Makem sangThe Banks of Red Roseson her 1968 Topic LPUlster Ballad Singer.This track was also included on Topic’s 70th anniversary anthology,Three Score and Ten.Sean O’Boyle commented in her album’s sleeve notes:
In contrast to the light and airy theme ofThe Banks of the Roses(Irish Street Ballads,No.80),Mrs. Makem’s song is a dark story of seductionand premeditated murder, on the lines ofThe Cruel Ship Carpenter,with which it should be compared.(English Folk Songs From the Southern Appalachians. Vol.1, pp317-327).See also E.F.S. Journal Vol.II, p254.The tune is Doh Mode Hexatonic.
Pete and Chris Coe learned The Banks of Red Roses from thesinging of Sarah Makem via her next-door neighbour.They recorded it in 1972 for their Trailer LPOpen the Door and Let Us In.In 2017, Pete Coe returned to this song on his CDThe Man in the Red Van.Their original album’s liner notes commented:
No motive is given for the murder, but unwanted pregnancy is apossible reason.
Lizzie Higgins sangThe Banks of Red Roseson her 1969 Topic LPPrincess of the Thistle.This recording was also included in 1998 on the Topic anthology ofsongs of love and amorous encounters,Who’s That at My Bed Window?(The Voice of the People Vol.10).
In Ireland and England this is a love song in which the wayward heroproduces a symbolic instrument, fiddle, tune-box, flute or even tuning fork,with which he serenades his girl. A version close to the English sets wascollected by Gavin Greig in North-east Scotland but the most popular versionin Scotland today has Johnny murdering his sweetheart. This change is probablythe result of fusion between the former song and a 19th centurybroadside ballad.
The Clutha sang The Banks o’ Red Rosesin 1971 on their Argo albumScotia!.Don Martin commented in the liner notes:
This beautiful song is still to be found in oral tradition in the North Eastof Scotland. It makes a considerably stronger emotional impact than the Irishsong, The Banks o’ the Roses,with which it forms an interesting contrast in styles.
Tom Gilfellon sang The Banks of Red Roseson his 1976 Topic albumIn the Middle of the Tunewhich got its name from a phrase in this song. He noted:
I plunge into The Banks of Red Roses, that swaggering, boastfulsong of the would-be super-lover which has, despite efforts to the contrary,remained one of my favourite songs of all time. I disclaim, however, all butthe most passing of resemblances to the hero of the piece.Liz and Stefan Sobell accompany me on cittern and dulcimer.
Paul and Linda Adams sang The Banks of Red Rosesin 1978 on their Fellside albumAmong the Old Familiar Mountains.
Mick Ryan sang The Banks of the Rosesin 1978 on his and Jon Burge’s albumFair Was the City.
Ian Robb and Hang the Piper sang The Banks of Red Rosesin 1979 on their Folk-Legacy albumIan Robb and Hang the Piper.Ian noted:
This is an Ulster version of a song found more commonly, but in lesssubstantial form, in Scotland. I have taken the liberty of singing it theScottish way, with a chorus, as I think it functions as a sort of“flash-back” reminder of the motive for murder. I guess I havebeen watching too many crime movies!
Learned from more people than I could number, but I believe thistext comes from Sarah Makem, via Johnny Moynihan.
Maureen Jelks sang Banks o’ Red Roseson her 1988 albumFirst Time Ever.
June Tabor sangThe Banks of Red Roseson her 1988 albumAqaba.
Swan Arcade sang The Banks of the Rosesin 1990 on their CDFull Circle.
Susie Allan sang The Banks of Red Roseson her 1998 albumTipsy Courting.She noted:
The moral of this sad story is that before agreeing to go for a walk by ariver with a man, you should try very carefülly to judge if he intends to killyou. I learned this song from Maureen Jelks’First Time Ever,one of my favourite albums.
Corrina Hewat sang Banks o’ Red Roseson the 1998 anthologyScottish Love Songs.
Alasdair Roberts sang On the Banks of Red Rosesin 2005 on his CDNo Earthly Man.He noted:
This murder ballad is from the singing of Ella Ward of Edinburgh,recorded in 1954. Ella learnt the song from the Scottish folkloristHamish Henderson, who in turn learnt it from a blind singer from Elgin calledBlin Jimmy. Blin Jimmy learnt it from the young daughter of a tinker who camecollecting songs. Some versions of the song feature a violin instead of a‘tuning box’, as is found here.
Cyril Tawney sang Banks of the Roseson his 2007 posthumous CDThe Song Goes On.
Peter and Barbara Snape sang Banks of Red Roseson their 2008 CDTake to the Green Fields.Barbara Snape noted:
A story about the devious nature of men both young and old. This version isfrom Stephanie, the great granddaughter of Sarah Makem, a notable Ulster balladsinger and collector of songs. Sarah Makem died in 1983, leaving her childrenand grand children a rich collection of material and a singing tradition thatthey have carried around the world.
Niamh Boadle sang The Banks of the Rosesin 2010 on her CDWild Rose.
Jon Boden sang Banks of Red Rosesas the 26 July 2010 entry of his projectA Folk Song a Day.He noted in the project’s blog:
This is one of a number of songs that I used as a template when I firststarted singing—learning each of June Tabor’s ornaments pretty much notefor note. I’ve probably strayed a bit from it now but it’s a very good way ofassimilating technical tricks of the trade.
Nuala Kennedy sang The Banks of the Rosesin 2012 on her Compass CDNoble Stranger.She noted:
An old favourite of mine, with an incredibly spooky image in the last verse.The piece played by Iain [Macleod] in the break comprises two parts of thebeautiful pipe march, The Skylark’s Ascension by piper Archie Lindsayof South Uist, Scotland. Written after a memorable night culminating in thesighting of a vast flock of skylarks taking to the sky in the early light ofdawn, it seemed the perfect bedfellow for the dark happenings yet upliftingmelody of the song.
Francy Devine sangBanks o Reid Roseson his 2014 albumMy Father Told Me.He noted:
I always liked the melody of this song but was never keen on versions thatended up with the woman being stabbed and put her in a grave, allegorical ornot. John Bentham, of Loughborough and Tigerfolk, Long Eaton, then gave mea recording of his own rendition of Leicester singer Geoff Halford’s version.Now in his eighties, Halford got the song from Belle Stewart and it instantlyappealed. I instinctively sang the song in Scots.
Johnny Campbell sang Banks of the Roseson his 2017 albumAvalon.
Pete Coe sang The Banks of Red Rosesin 2017 on his CDThe Man in the Red Van.He commented in his liner notes:
I went to Ireland in the mid 60s, joined up with a group of singers andlearned this song from one of them who came from Belfast and told me he wasSarah Makem’s next door neighbour. He’d learned this dark ballad from her and,recently I added a couple more verses from Scottish Travellers passed on to meby Pete Shepheard. Much to my shame, I can’t remember the name of the singerwho gave me the song originally, and, much to my regret, I never did meetSarah Makem who became my favourite traditional singer.
Band of Burns sang Banks of Red Rosesin January 2017 at Union Chapel in London. A concert recording was releasedin the following year on their CDLive at the Union Chapel.
Lyrics
Ruby Kelbie sings Banks o’ Red Roses
When I wis a wee thing an easy led astray,
Before I would work I would raither sport and play,
Before I would work I would raither sport and play
Wi my Johnny on the banks among red roses.
On the banks of red roses my love and I sat doon,
He took oot his charm box to play his love a tune.
In the middle o the tune his love sat doon and cried,
“O my Johnny, O my Johnny dinnae leave me!”
He took oot his charm box an played his love a tune.
In the middle o the tune his love broke doon and cried,
In the middle o the tune his love broke doon and cried,
“O my Johnny, O my Johnny dinnae leave me!”
He took oot his pocket knife and hit being long and sharp,
And he drew it through and through his bonnie lassie’s heart.
He drew it through and through his bonnie lassie’s heart
And he left her lying low amang the red roses.
Sarah Makem sings The Banks of Red Roses
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 rather sport and play
With my Johnny on the banks of red roses.
For he took her to his lodge and he treated her to tea,
Saying, “Drink my dearest Mary and come along with me,”
Saying, “Drink my dearest Mary and come along with me
To the bonny, bonny banks of red roses.”
On the banks of red roses my love and I sat down
And he pulled out his charm flute and played his lass a tune.
In the middle of the tune well the bonny lassie cried,
“Ara Johnny, lovely Johnny would you leave me?”
Well, they walked and they talked til 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 pulled out a pen knife, it was both long and sharp,
And he plunged it right into his own dear Mary’s heart.
And he plunged it right into his own dear Mary’s heart
And he left her lying low among the roses.
Lizzie Higgins sings The Banks of Red Roses
When I was a wee thing I heard my mother say,
“Before I would work I would rather sport and play,
Before I would work I would rather sport and play
With my Johnny down among the red roses.”
Johnny took out his tune-box to play his love a tune.
In the middle of the tune, she stood up and cried,
“Oh Johnny dear, oh Johnny dear, it’s dinna leave me noo
In the bonny, bonny banks beneath the roses.”
Bur Johnny took out a knife; it was long, thin and sharp.
He’s plunged it right into bis bonny Mary’s hart,
He’s plunged it right into bis bonny Mary’s hart
And he left her lying low beneath the roses.
June Tabor sings The Banks of Red 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.
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.
(repeat first verse)
Francy Devine sings Banks o Reid Roses
I am a rovin’ fiddler an I roam frae toon tae toon,
Ma soldier licht is fiddlin an I’ll ne’er settle doon.
I play at aa the dances where they’re jigging tae ma tunes,
Aye, its every evenin’ I’ve anither true love.
Och, its when I meet a bonnie lass, it’s “Come awa wi me,
Frae yer faither an yer mither, I will set ye free.
I will roll you in my airms tho a-sleepin ye may be
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o reid roses.”
By the banks o reid rose, ma love an I sat doon
An I took oot ma fiddle for tae play ma love a tune.
In the middle o the tune, och, she cried an she said,
“Och, Johnnie, lovely Johnnie, dinnae leave me.”
“Weel, before I left ma hame, sir, ma faither he did say,
He’d rather see me deid, aye an buried in the clay,
Than tae see me mairried tae ony runaway
Or a lad that’s naething bit a fiddling rover.
“Och, weel I’m no a runaway an I will hae ye know,
I can haud ma liquor, lass, or leave it alane.
An if yer parents dinnae like it they can leave their dochter hame
An young Johnnie he’ll go rovin wi anither.”
Weel, I’m putting on ma boots noo an I’ll tak up ma pack
I’ll tuck awa ma fiddle an I’ll put it on ma back,
I’m gonna tak ma leave noo an swagger on ma way
Bade fare weel tae the banks o reid roses.
