They call me The Wild Rose
But my name (be) Elisa Day
Why they call me it I do not know
For my name (be) Elisa Day

From the first day I (see) her I (know) she (be) the one
She (stare) in my eyes and (smile)
For her lips (be) the colour of the roses
That (grow) down the river, all bloody and wild

When he (knock) on my door and (enter) the room
My trembling (subside) in his sure embrace
He would be my first man, and with a careful hand
He (wipe) at the tears that ran (run) down my face

On the second day I (bring) her a flower
She (be) more beautiful than any woman I'd seen
I (say), "Do you know where the wild roses grow
So sweet and scarlet and free?"

On the second day he (come) with a single red rose
Said: "Will you give me your loss and your sorrow"
I (nod) my head, as I (lie) on the bed
He said, "If I show you the roses, will you follow?"

On the third day he (take) me to the river
He (show) me the roses and we (kiss)
And the last thing I (hear) was a muttered word
As he (kneel) above me with a rock in his fist

On the last day I (take) her where the wild roses grow
And she (lie) on the bank, the wind light as a thief
And I (kiss) her goodbye, said, "All beauty must die"
And (lean) down and (plant) a rose between her teeth