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)