Roses and Thorns - Michael Martin Murphey, Ryan Murphey

I asked the old bandito

What should I do to get her back

She’s been taken by a bad man

His ways are wrong, his heart is black

Should I try to make a rescue

Or wait until he sets her free

The old bandito looked in the distance

Drank his tequila and said to me

There are no roses without thorns

Here in this desert where I was born

Between pain and duty all men are torn

There are no roses without thorns

Then I asked the old bandito

What if I win her back someday

What should I do to try to keep her

What should I do to make her stay

Boy, please heed my answer

For there can be but only one

When you win her from your rival

The struggle has just begun

There are no roses without thorns

Here in this desert where I was born

Between pain and duty all men are torn

There are no roses without thorns

I fought for her and won her

From my rival I set her free

But every night it haunts me

What the bandito said to me

Boy, if you fight for her and you win her

Just remember if you do

You must try your best to hold her

Without binding her to you

There are no roses without thorns

Here in this desert where I was born

Between pain and duty all men are torn

There are no roses without thorns

No, no, no

No, no, no

No, no, no, no

No, no, no

No, no, no

Roses without thorns

No, no, no

Roses without thorns