The Banks Of The Roses, Irish song lyrics and chords
Sean Cannon from the Dubliners does a great version of this. also recorded with Luke Kelly on vocals. It's a traditional Irish folk song. Recorded by The Dubliners. The strumming pattern is very basic, it's down up down up all the way through but you may want to vary it so it doesn't sound too boring. Recently recorded by Nathan Carter and in 2023 by Chasing Abbey who renamed it ''Of My Johnny'' ..
On[C] the banks of the roses me[G] love and I
sat[C] down.
And[F] I took out me[C] fiddle to[G] play me love a[C] tune,
In the[F] middle of the[C] tune,she[G] smiled and she[Am] said,
Oh me[C] Johnny Oh me[F]- Johnny dont you [G]leave[C] me.
[2]
When I was a young lad I heard me father say,
That he would rather see me dead,and buried in the clay,
Sooner be married to any run away,
By the lovely sweet banks of the roses.
[3]
Well now I am no run away and sure I'll let them know,
That I can take the bottle or leave it alone,
And if her daddy doesn't like me,he can keep his daughter at home,
And then Johnny will go roving with another.
[4]
And if ever I get married,will be in the month of May,
When the leaves they are Green,and the meadows they are gay,
And me and me true love will sit and sport and play.
By the lovely sweet banks of the roses.
sat[C] down.
And[F] I took out me[C] fiddle to[G] play me love a[C] tune,
In the[F] middle of the[C] tune,she[G] smiled and she[Am] said,
Oh me[C] Johnny Oh me[F]- Johnny dont you [G]leave[C] me.
[2]
When I was a young lad I heard me father say,
That he would rather see me dead,and buried in the clay,
Sooner be married to any run away,
By the lovely sweet banks of the roses.
[3]
Well now I am no run away and sure I'll let them know,
That I can take the bottle or leave it alone,
And if her daddy doesn't like me,he can keep his daughter at home,
And then Johnny will go roving with another.
[4]
And if ever I get married,will be in the month of May,
When the leaves they are Green,and the meadows they are gay,
And me and me true love will sit and sport and play.
By the lovely sweet banks of the roses.
Here are the guitar chords as played by Sean Cannon with The Dubliners.
On[E] the banks of the roses me[B] love and I
sat[E] down.
And[A] I took out me[E] fiddle to[B] play me love a[E] tune,
In the[A] middle of the[E] tune,she[B] smiled and she[E] said,
Oh me[C] Johnny Oh me Johnny dont you [B]leave[E] me.
On[E] the banks of the roses me[B] love and I
sat[E] down.
And[A] I took out me[E] fiddle to[B] play me love a[E] tune,
In the[A] middle of the[E] tune,she[B] smiled and she[E] said,
Oh me[C] Johnny Oh me Johnny dont you [B]leave[E] me.
Guitar chords in the key of G
On[G] the banks of the roses me[D] love and I
sat[G] down.
And[C] I took out me[G] fiddle to[D] play me love a[G] tune,
In the[C] middle of the[G] tune,she[D] smiled and she[Em] said,
Oh me[G] Johnny Oh me[C]- Johnny dont you [D]leave[G] me.
Key of D
On[D] the banks of the roses me[A] love and I
sat[D] down.
And[G] I took out me[D] fiddle to[A] play me love a[D] tune,
In the[G] middle of the[D] tune,she[A] smiled and she[Bm] said,
Oh me[D] Johnny Oh me[G]- Johnny dont you [A]leave[D] me.
On[G] the banks of the roses me[D] love and I
sat[G] down.
And[C] I took out me[G] fiddle to[D] play me love a[G] tune,
In the[C] middle of the[G] tune,she[D] smiled and she[Em] said,
Oh me[G] Johnny Oh me[C]- Johnny dont you [D]leave[G] me.
Key of D
On[D] the banks of the roses me[A] love and I
sat[D] down.
And[G] I took out me[D] fiddle to[A] play me love a[D] tune,
In the[G] middle of the[D] tune,she[A] smiled and she[Bm] said,
Oh me[D] Johnny Oh me[G]- Johnny dont you [A]leave[D] me.
Guitar chords in the key of Chasing Abbey
On the [Eb]banks of the [Bb]roses me love and I
sat[Eb]] down.
And[Bb] I took out me[G] fiddle to play me love a[Gm] tune,
In the middle of the[Cm] tune,she smiled and she[Bb] said,
Oh me Johnny Oh me Johnny dont you [C#]leave[Eb] me.
On the [Eb]banks of the [Bb]roses me love and I
sat[Eb]] down.
And[Bb] I took out me[G] fiddle to play me love a[Gm] tune,
In the middle of the[Cm] tune,she smiled and she[Bb] said,
Oh me Johnny Oh me Johnny dont you [C#]leave[Eb] me.
