Cover art for When the Roses Bloom Again by Billy Bragg and Wilco

When the Roses Bloom Again

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Nov. 29, 20131 viewer7K views

When the Roses Bloom Again Lyrics

They were strolling in the gloaming
Where the roses were in bloom
A soldier and his sweetheart brave and true
And their hearts were filled with sorrow
For their thoughts were of tomorrow
As she pinned a rose upon his coat of blue

Do not ask me, love, to linger
For you know not what to say
For duty calls your sweetheart's name again
And your heart need not be sighing
If I be among the dying
I'll be with you when the roses bloom again

When the roses bloom again beside the river
And the mockingbird has sung his sweet refrain
In the days of auld lang syne
I'll be with you sweetheart mine
I'll be with you when the roses bloom again

With the rattle of the battle
Came a whisper soft and low
A soldier who had fallen in the fray
I am dying, I am dying
And I know I have to go
But I want to tell you before I pass away
There's a far and distant river
Where the roses are in bloom
A sweetheart who is waiting there for me
And it's there I pray you take me
I've been faithful, don't forsake me
I'll be with her when the roses bloom again

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About

This song bio is unreviewed
Genius Annotation

This song, found in Woody Guthrie’s lyric archive, was initially thought to be his work and was recorded for the original Mermaid Avenue album. However, the lyrics were subsequently found to be by Will D. Cobb, written in 1901.
Billy Bragg and Wilco’s recording was eventually released on a cover-mounted CD included with an issue of The Oxford American magazine.
It’s now available on Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 3.

Credits
Acoustic Guitar
Keyboards
Pedal Steel Guitar
Lap Steel Guitar
Mastering Engineer
Release Date
November 29, 2013
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