“I'll Be With You When the Roses Bloom Again”

Description

The soldier must leave his sweetheart; as she pins a rose on his breast, he promises, "I'll be with you when the roses bloom again." He is killed in battle; and can only ask that the captain inform his sweetheart

Supplemental text

I'll Be With You When the Roses Bloom Again
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

When the Roses Bloom Again

From Harvey H. Fuson, Ballads of the Kentucky Highlands, p. 123.
"From singing of Irene Good, Cyclone, Kentucky."

They were roaming in the gloaming by the river,
Just a soldier and his sweetheart brave and true.
"Oh, your heart need not be sighing, if I'm not among the dying,
I'll be with you when the roses bloom again."

    Chorus
"When the roses bloom again by the river,
And robin redbreast sings a sweet refrain,
I'll be with you, sweetheart mine, if I'm not among the dying,
I'll be with you when the roses bloom again."

(2 additional stanzas)

Notes

According to Spaeth, _A History of Popular Music in America_ (p. 315), Cobb & Edwards were also the authors of "Mamie," listed as "an outstanding hit of 1901."

This sounds like a Civil War song, but given the era when Cobb and Edwards worked together, one must assume it was inspired by the Spanish-American War. - RBW

I place Joines & Evans's recording "Budded Roses" here, but with misgivings; for one thing, it makes no mention of the man being a soldier. But the story fits well enough that, for want of an alternative, I place it here. Ditto Snow, who probably learned his version from Charlie Poole. - PJS

Cross references

• cf. "The Dying Soldier (Erin Far Away I)" [Laws J6] (plot) and references there
• cf. "Down Among the Budded Roses" (some lyrics)

Recordings

• [Richard] Burnett & [Leonard] Rutherford, "I'll Be With You When the Roses Bloom Again" (Columbia 15122-D, 1927; rec. 1926; on BurnRuth01, KMM)
• Cramer Boys [Carver Boys], "I'll Be With You When the Roses Bloom Again" (Broadway 8180, rec. 1929)
• Cross & McCartt, "When the Roses Bloom Again" (Columbia 15143-D, 1927)
• Vernon Dalhart, "I'm Be With You When the Roses Bloom Again" (Columbia 15054-D, 1926; rec. 1925)
• Paul Joines & Cliff Evans, "Budded Roses" (on Persis1)
• Harry Macdonough, "I'll Be With You When the Roses Bloom Again" (CYL: Edison 8276, 1903)
• Blind Jack Mathis, "When the Roses Come Again" (Columbia 15344-D, 1929)
• Lester McFarland & Robert A. Gardner, "When the Roses Bloom Again" (Brunswick 111/Vocalion 5027, 1927; Supertone S-2028, 1930)
• Walter Scanlan "I'll Be With You When the Roses Bloom Again" (Edison 52063, 1927)
• Kilby Snow, "Budded Roses" (on KSnow1)
• Ernest V. Stoneman, "When the Roses Bloom Again" (matrix # GEX 496-A recorded 1927 and issued 1927-1928 as: Herwin 17741, Gennett 6044 [as by Ernest V. Stoneman and his Graysen County Boys, Champion 1522 [as by Uncle Jim Seany], Challenge 244/Supertone 9255/Silvertone 5001/Silvertone 8155/Silvertone 25001 [as by Uncle Ben Hawkins]) (matrix #7224-1 recorded 1927 and issued as Banner 1993/Domino 3964/Regal 8324/Oriole 946 [as by Sim Harris], 1927; Homestead 16498 [as by Harris])
• [Wilmer] Watts & [Frank] Wilson, "When the Roses Bloom Again" (Paramount 3006, 1927)
• Weaver & Wiggins [pseud. for Wilmer Watts & Frank Wilson], "When the Roses Bloom Again" (Broadway 8112, c. 1931)

References

1. Fuson, p. 123, "When the Roses Bloom Again" (1 text)
2. Cambiaire, p. 96, "When the Wild Roses Bloom Again Beside the River " (1 text)
3. MHenry-Appalachians, pp. 138-139, "When the Roses Bloom Again beside the River" (1 text)
4. ST RcIBWYWt (Partial)
5. Roud #2871
6. BI, RcIBWYWt