Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush

Subject: Red Rosey Bush
From: Hip
Date: 05 Apr 01 - 09:14 PM

Hi, I've been looking for the lyrics for a song I keep hearing on "The Andy Griffith Show". It goes..."I wish I was a red rosey bush...on the banks of the sea. And every time my true love would pass, she would pluck a rose off of me". I can't find the title at all. Any info? Thanks, Hip

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 03:28 AM

Looks like this is a dual search - Click here for the other thread. If anybody finds the lyrics, please make sure the other requester knows about it. The "Red Rosy Bush" in the Digital Tradition apparently isn't the song in question.
There's a song called "Red Rosy Bush" on Frank Hamilton's CD, but I can't find the album just now. Anybody got it?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: THE RED ROSY BUSH^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 04:13 AM

Here 'tis. I'm surprised I couldn't find this one in a songbook.
-Joe Offer-

---

THE RED ROSY BUSH
(traditional)

I wish I was a red rosy bush
By the banks of the sea
And every time my true love would pass by
She could pick a rose off of me

I wish I was in some lonesome hollow
Where the sun don't ever shine
If your heart belongs to another
Then it can't ever be mine

I wish I had a golden box
To keep my true love in
I'd take her out and I'd kiss her twice
Then I'd put her back again.

I wish I was a red rosy bush
By the banks of the sea
And every time my true love would pass by
She could pick a rose off of me


(transcribed from "Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall" - Harry Belafonte Singers, recorded May 2, 1960)

@love
filename[ REDROSY2
JRO
^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: Hip
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 12:49 PM

Thanks Joe! Just what i've been looking for. Talk about fast! Thanks again, Hip

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: Sorcha
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 01:04 PM

Tune? It scans like it could be a variant of "Cindy"--the "get along home, Cindy, Cindy/take a bite of me" one....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: DougR
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 03:59 PM

John Gary also had this song on a RCA Victor album ("The Nearness of You," I think) in the 1960s.

DougR

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Apr 01 - 09:17 PM

I think this is the "Red Rosey Bush" that Jo Stafford recorded on Sings American Folk Songs. I love her voice and I've thought often about buying her folk song CD, but it's full-price and looks like it's only about 30 minutes long.
Is there more information on htis song, or more verses? It seems to have a lot in common with other songs, but I can't tie it to any particular series of songs.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: ADD Version: Red Rosey Bush
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 06:45 PM

I broke down and ordered Jo Stafford Sings American Folk Songs from CAMSCO. It's a short CD, only twelve songs, but Jo's singing is beautiful Her rendition of "Red Rosey Bush" is about the same as Belafonte's.
-Joe Offer-

THE RED ROSEY BUSH
(traditional)

Wish I was a red rosey bush
On the banks of the sea
Every time my true love would pass
He'd pick a rose off of me

Wish I lived in a lonesome holler
Where the sun don't ever shine
If your heart belongs to another
Then it can't ever be mine

Wish I had a golden box
To keep my true love in
I'd take him out and I'd kiss him twice
Then I'd put him back again.


(as sung by Jo Stafford, Jo Stafford Sings American Folk Songs

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 07:57 PM

I wish I was a little sparrow,
Or that I had wings to fly,
I'd go in search of my false lover,
When he little thought, I'd be close by.

I wish I was a little swallow,
etc.

I wish I was a ripe red apple,

I wish I was once a sailing,

I wish I had a glass of brandy,

I wish I was on some stormy ocean,

I wish I were on some tall mountain,

Many versions.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 08:14 PM

Therein lies my confusion, Q. I think I'd group the verses you cite with Fair and Tender Ladies, which in itself is a confusion. I think this song is different, but related. They also express unhappiness with love, and most express wishes to be something other than what the singer is.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 09:22 PM

Joe, I wouldn't want to classify them either. It would take a good song sleuth to (attempt to) work out their chronology and distribution. The "I wish" ideas are simple, and how they are inter-related is a puzzlement. And there are floater verses. I just looked in two books, and there are a lot more.
Perhaps if there was a list of them with sources, then one could make up his own relationships. As more are found, they could be added to the list.

Subject: Lyr Add: RED ROSY BUSH (trad North Carolina)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 10:20 PM

Here's another version, from Betty Smith: Songs Traditionally Sung in North Carolina (Folk-Legacy FSA-53 [LP], 1975).

            RED ROSY BUSH

"These are some love lyrics from the Southern mountains, most of which I learned from the singing of Leon Bibb years ago. I added a 'zipper' verse to it because I thought that such a beautiful melody deserved to last a little longer."--Smith

I wish I was some red rosy bush
On a bank by the sea,
And every time my true love passed by
He would pick a rose off of me.

I wish I had a golden box
To keep my true love in.
I'd take him out and I'd kiss him twice,
Then I'd put him right back again.

And if I lived in some lonesome holler
Where the sun would never shine,
And if my love loved another,
Then he never would be mine.

Oh, don't you see yon lonesome dove?
It flies from vine to vine.
He's mourning for his own true love,
Just as I do mourn for mine.

I wish I was some red rosy bush
On a bank by the sea,
And every time my true love passed by
He would pick a rose off of me.

~Masato

Subject: Lyr Add: RED ROSY BUSH
From: masato sakurai
Date: 19 Apr 03 - 10:22 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 12:11 AM

http://www.the-waltons.com/season1.html#The_Love_Story

It appears to have been written by Jerry Goldsmith
THE LOVE STORY (18 Jan 1973)
Writer: Earl Hamner
Director: Lee Philips
Music: Jerry Goldsmith

http://us.imdb.com/Credits?0068149

Other music credits for the first season are given to:
Alexander Courage (some episodes)
Jerry Goldsmith (theme) (some episodes)
Arthur Morton (I) (some episodes)

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 12:21 AM

JO Stafford recorded it several decades before 1973. Did a fine job with it, too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 13 - 12:45 PM

We sang this in High School in the mid 60s. All I could remember of it was the first verse. I sing it to my rose bushes all the time. Glad to see the rest of the song in print.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: GUEST,Andy Griffith
Date: 26 Mar 13 - 02:48 PM

Andy Griffith sings the first two verses...the episode would have been in 1961 or 1962. I believe the episode was called Three's a Crowd"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Red Rosey Bush
From: GUEST,eldergirl
Date: 22 Jul 13 - 12:05 AM

My mother had a sheet music copy of this song, credited as 'Canadian folk song'. First heard it on the Black & White Minstrel Show in 1962 or thereabouts, sung by John Boulter I believe. Mum fell in love with the song and had to learn it, so I learnt it by default, being quite young at the time. Lovely tune. I know nothing more about it tho'.