Red is the Rose
Nanci Griffith & the Chieftains
"An Irish Evening"
[Verse 1]
D Bm Em G
Come over the hills, my bonnie Irish lass
D Bm G A
Come over the hills to your darling
G D G Em
You choose the rose love, and I’ll make the vow
D G D G D
And I’ll be your true love forever
[Refrain]
D Bm Em G
Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows
D Bm G A
And fair is the lily of the valley
G D G Em
Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne
D G A7 D
But my love is fairer than any.
[Verse 2]
D Bm Em G
‘Twas down by Killarney’s green woods that we strayed
D Bm G A
When the moon and the stars they were shining
G D G Em
The moon shone its rays on her locks of golden hair
D G D G D
And she swore she’d be my love forever
[Refrain]
D Bm Em G
Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows
D Bm G A
And fair is the lily of the valley
G D G Em
Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne
D G A7 D
But my love is fairer than any.
[Verse 3]
D Bm Em G
It’s not for the parting of my sister Kate
D Bm G A
It’s not for the loss of my mother
G D G Em
It’s all for the loss of my bonnie Irish lass
D G A7 D
That is leaving old Ireland forever.
[Refrain]
D Bm Em G
Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows
D Bm G A
And fair is the lily of the valley
G D G Em
Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne
D G A7 D
But my love is fairer than any.
[Verse 4]
D Bm Em G
It’s not for the parting that my sister pains
D Bm G A
It’s not for the grief of my mother
G D G Em
‘Tis all for the loss of my bonnie Irish lass
D G A7 D
That my heart is breaking forever
[Refrain]
D Bm Em G
Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows
D Bm G A
And fair is the lily of the valley
G D G Em
Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne
D G A7 D
But my love is fairer than any.