Lyrics

Confederate roses and thorns on the vine
That young man he took
What once had been mine
When I found them together
They couldn't be saved
Now Confederate roses grow wild on an unmarked grave
When we stood at the altar
I had lived half a life
And she was too young to be any man's wife
She had a wildness that I couldn't tame
All I had on her was my family name
I watched as she watched him
With her eyes burning wild
I knew I could never give her that smile
She was so restless so I pretended not to know
But it just kept at me
Lord, I couldn't let it go

Chorus
Confederate roses and thorns on the vine
That young man he took
What once had been mine
When I found them together
They couldn't be saved
Now Confederate roses grow wild on an unmarked grave

They found his young body
In a black river swamp
But they never found her
Though they searched for so long
The sheriff asked some questions
But I never took the stand
My sentence is living with this blood on my hands

Chorus