Give me the roses while I live       (Listen to original song)

 

        D                                                     A                                     D

1. Wonderful things of folks are said, when they have passed away.                                                                                                                                              

                                                     A                           D

    Roses adorn the narrow bed, over the sleeping clay.

 

  G                             D                                           A

Give me the roses while I live, trying to cheer me on.

  D                                                   A                            D

Useless are flowers that you give, after the soul has gone.

 

     D                                                   A                                   D

2. Let us not wait to do good deeds, till they have passed away.

                                                                 A                                 D

    Now is the time to sow good seeds, while here on earth we stay. 

 

  G                             D                                           A

Give me the roses while I live, trying to cheer me on.

  D                                                   A                            D

Useless are flowers that you give, after the soul has gone.

 

               D                                                 A                        D

3. Kind words are useless when folks lie cold in a narrow bed.

                                                 

    Don't wait till death to speak kind words,

      A                                      D

    now should the words be said. 

 

  G                             D                                           A

Give me the roses while I live, trying to cheer me on.

  D                                                   A                            D

Useless are flowers that you give, after the soul has gone.

 

 

             Recorded  6/17/33 Camden, NJ

 

(orig. = capo 4th)      (The Carter Family)