The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
There was a fair maiden lived in the north
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
She fell in love with her father's clerk
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
He courted her for a year and a day
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
Till her the young man did betray
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
She leaned her back against the thorn
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
And there two bonny boys she's born
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
She's taken out her little knife
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
And she's rubbed them of their life
Down by the Grennwood side - oh
There she walked by her father's wall
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
She saw her two bonny boys playing ball
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Oh bonny boys if you were mine
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
I'll dress you up in silk so fine
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Oh mother dear when we were dying
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
You did not treat us then so fine
Down by the Greewood side - oh
Now bonny boys come tell to me
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
What sort of life I'll have after dying
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Seven years of visions of blood
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
And seven years of hurt in the womb
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Seven years down in the mourning bell
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
And seven years in the flames of hell
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Welcome welcome visions of blood
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
And welcome welcome hurt in the womb
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Wecome down to the mourning bell
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
But God save me from the flames of hell
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Down by the Greenwood side
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
She fell in love with her father's clerk
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
He courted her for a year and a day
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
Till her the young man did betray
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
She leaned her back against the thorn
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
And there two bonny boys she's born
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
She's taken out her little knife
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
And she's rubbed them of their life
Down by the Grennwood side - oh
There she walked by her father's wall
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
She saw her two bonny boys playing ball
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Oh bonny boys if you were mine
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
I'll dress you up in silk so fine
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Oh mother dear when we were dying
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
You did not treat us then so fine
Down by the Greewood side - oh
Now bonny boys come tell to me
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
What sort of life I'll have after dying
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Seven years of visions of blood
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
And seven years of hurt in the womb
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Seven years down in the mourning bell
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
And seven years in the flames of hell
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Welcome welcome visions of blood
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
And welcome welcome hurt in the womb
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Wecome down to the mourning bell
Oh the rose and the linsey - oh
But God save me from the flames of hell
Down by the Greenwood side - oh
Down by the Greenwood side
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Down by the Greenwood Side Lyrics as written by Joan Sakel
Lyrics © S U I S A, COOPERATIVE SOC. OF MUSIC AUTHORS & PUBLISHERS
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