Pretty close to John Freeman. I learned it from the singing of Jamie Snider in the eighties, so I've probably changed it some over the years.

On the Banks of the Roses my love and I sat down
Pulled out my charmin' fiddle for to play my love a tune
In the middle of the tune, well, she sighed and she said
Oh my Johnny, Darlin' Johnny don't you leave me

When I was a young man I heard her father say
That he'd rather see his darlin' daughter buried in the clay
Sooner than be married to a worthless runaway
Down by the lovely banks of the roses

You know I am no runaway and soon I'll let them know
That I can take a bottle or can leave it all alone
If her daddy doesn't like me, he can keep his girl at home
And young Johnny will go rovin' with some other

If ever I get married 'twill be in the month of May
When the trees are in full blossom and the meadows they are gay
And me and me true love we'll sit and sport and play
All alone by the banks of the roses