The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond - "Red Is The Rose"

"Red Is The Rose"

The Irish variant of the song is called "Red Is the Rose" and is sung with the same melody but different (although similarly themed) lyrics. It was popularized by Irish folk musician Tommy Makem. Even though many people mistakenly believe that Makem wrote "Red is the Rose", it is a traditional Irish folk song.

The chorus of "Red Is the Rose" is:

Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows

And fair is the lily of the valley

Clear are the waters that flow from the Boyne

But my love is fairer than any

This version was also reworked by the Scottish Musician Alastair McDonald, who set it by Loch Lomond, too. This chorus was:

Red is the rose, that sae bonnie and brightly grows

And white blooms the lily sae bonny

And clear is the watter that flows down Lomonds braes

But my lass is fairer than a' they (Although, some may argue whether he says "fairer" or "famer")