[musical intro] [chorus] Ah! May the red rose live alway To smile upon earth and sky Why should the beautiful ever weep? Why should the beautiful die? [verse1] Lending a charm to every ray That falls on her cheeks of light Giving the zephyr kiss for kiss And nursing the dewdrop bright [pre-chorus] Long may the daisies dance the field Frolicking far and near Why should the innocent hide their heads? Why should the innocent fear? [chorus] Ah! May the red rose live alway To smile upon earth and sky Why should the beautiful ever weep? Why should the beautiful die? [verse2] Spreading their petals in mute delight When morn in its radiance breaks Keeping a floral festival Till the night-loving primrose wakes [pre-chorus] Long may the daisies dance the field Frolicking far and near Why should the innocent hide their heads? Why should the innocent fear? [chorus] Ah! May the red rose live alway To smile upon earth and sky Why should the beautiful ever weep? Why should the beautiful die? [bridge] Lulled be the dirge in the cypress bough That tells of departed flowers Ah! that the butterfly's gilded wing Fluttered in evergreen bowers! [guitar solo] [verse3] Sad is my heart for the blighted plants Its pleasures are aye as brief They bloom at the young year’s joyful call And fade with the autumn leaf [chorus] Ah! May the red rose live alway To smile upon earth and sky Why should the beautiful ever weep? Why should the beautiful die?
