Ah! may the red rose live alway,
To smile upon earth and sky!
Why should the beautiful ever weep?

Why should the beautiful die?
Lending a charm to ev'ry ray
That falls on her cheeks of light,

Giving the zephyr kiss for kiss,
And nursing the dew drop bright
Ah! may the red rose live alway,

To smile upon the earth and sky!
Why should the beautiful ever weep?
Why should the beautiful die?


Long may the daisies dance the field,
Frolicking far and near!

Why should the innocent hide their heads?
Why should the innocent fear?
Spreading their petals in mute delight

When morn in its radiance breaks,
Keeping a floral festival
Till night loving primrose wakes

Long may the daisies dance the field,
Frolicking far and near!
Why should the innocent hide their heads?

Why should the innocent fear?

Lulled be the dirge in the cypress bough,

That tells of departed flowers!
Ah! that the butterflys gilded wing
Fluttered in evergreen bowers!

Sad is my heart for the blighted plants
Its pleasures are aye as brief
They bloom at the young years joyful call,

And fade with the autumn leaf:
Ah! may the red rose live alway,
To smile upon earth and sky!

Why should the beautiful ever weep?
Why should the beautiful die?