Black Rose
D Anderson 2016 ©

Hello dear Rose, I've come home for a while
I've been wounded in battle but can still raise a smile
As I've fought for this moment for two long hard years
With your face in my head and your voice in my ears

Did you ever forgive me for going away
I remember you cried as you begged me to stay
But the crops had all failed and our money was spent
I thought being a soldier would help pay the rent

Chorus
So I took the kings shilling, cleaned up my old gun
In an act of bravado, not easily undone
They promised us victory and medals galore
So I left Rose behind, went off to the war
And somewhere forgot what the hell I was fighting for

My Rose stands in the distance, alone by the gate
Are my eyes playing tricks, she looks ghostly and faint
I walk up to the house, strangely silent and bare
And the neighbours come out and they all stand and stare

And they tell me they thought I had died long ago
Such a time without news, how could anyone know
And they tell me how my Rose tried to live with the pain
How she took to go walking alone in the rain

Chorus
So I took the kings shilling, cleaned up my old gun
In an act of bravado, not easily undone
They promised us victory and medals galore
So I left Rose behind, went off to the war
And somewhere forgot what the hell I was fighting for

And they tell how she worsened, when no word was sent
How she fought with her demons but they were hellbent
They say, Rose went out one last time in the rain
That she took to the cliffs and was not seen again

And although I still see her, I know that she's gone
For the neighbours see nothing and don't hear her song
But here she is tugging the sleeve of my coat
She wants me to follow her back to the boat

So we stand on the deck, hard pressed to the rail
I can tell that she's cold as her skin is so pale
And I watch as the deckhand casts off the ropes
They crashed down on the quayside along with my hopes


Of a life by her side on the isle that we loved
Where we walked the wild shoreline with the stars up above
But the war drums are calling and now I can't stay
This ship carries me off to a grave far away

Where I'll take the kings shilling and fire my old gun
In reckless bravado, with heroes unsung
Where victory rings hollow in mud, blood and gore
So come on dear Rose let's go back to the war
Where hopefully I'll die for there's nothing worth fighting for

So come on dear Rose
Show me something worth fighting for