There Were Roses

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