Rose, Rose, I love you with an aching heart What is your future?, now we have to part Standing on the jetty as the steamer moves away Flower of Malaya, I cannot stay
Make way, oh, make way for my Eastern Rose Men crowd in dozens everywhere she goes In her rickshaw on the street or in a cabaret "Please make way for Rose" you can hear them say
All my life I shall remember Oriental music and you in my arms Perfumed flowers in your tresses Lotus-scented breezes and swaying palms
Rose, Rose I love you with your almond eyes Fragrant and slender 'neath tropical skies I must cross the seas again and never see you more 'way back to my home on a distant shore
(All my life I shall remember) (Oriental music and you in my arms) (Perfumed flowers in your tresses) (Lotus-scented breezes and swaying palms)
Rose, Rose I leave you, my ship is in the bay Kiss me farewell now, there's nothin' to say East is East and West is West, our worlds are far apart I must leave you now but I leave my heart
Rose, Rose I love you with an aching heart What is your future?, now we have to part Standing on the jetty as the steamer moves away Flower of Malaya, I cannot stay