The Carter Family

Give Me The Roses While I Live

The Carter Family


Tom: D

      D                                   A                      D
    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
    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
    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.