My song for you this evening
Is not to make you sad
Nor for adding to the sorrows
Of this troubled northern landBut lately, I've been thinking
And it just won't leave my mind
I'll tell you about two friends one time
Who were both good friends of mineIsaac, he was Protestant
And Sean was Catholic born
But it never made a difference
For the friendship, it was strongAnd sometimes in the evening
When they heard the sound of drums
They said, they won't divide us
We will always be as oneThere were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of a people ran together
It was on a Sunday morningWhen the awful news came 'round
Another killing had been done
Just outside Newry town
We knew that Isaac danced up thereWe knew he liked the band
But when we heard that he was dead
We just could not understand
Now fear, it filled the countrysideThere was fear in every home
When late at night, a car came
Prowling 'round the Ryan Road
A Catholic would be killed tonightTo even up the score
Oh Christ, it's young Macdonald
They have taken from the door
There were roses, rosesThere were roses
And the tears of a people ran together
Isaac was my friend, he cried
He begged them with his tearsBut centuries of hatred
Have ears that do not hear
An eye for an eye
That was all that filled their mindsAnd another eye for another eye
Till everyone was blind
Now I don't know where the moral is
Or where the song should endBut I wonder just how many wars
Are fought between good friends
And those who give the orders
Are not the ones to dieIt's Scott and young Macdonald
And the likes of you and I
There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of a people ran together