[Verse 1]
Johnny’s trippin’ through the briar, oot his heed,  
Bottle in his grip, aye, he’s lost in the need.  
The moon’s o’erhead, stars are far away,  
He’s singin' to the night, nae care for the day.  


[Chorus]
Ballads in the briar, 
steeped in regret,  
Johnny’s voice is crackin’, but nae finished yet.  
Singin’ to the sky, nae angels reply,  
A love that’s drifted, still wonderin’ why.  
Ballads in the briar, 
steeped in regret,  
Oh he's not finished yet (not finished yet)


[Verse 2]
Thorns in his coat, the wind’s got him beat,  
He thought he'd find peace, but it’s nae that sweet.  
The whisky’s run dry, but his heart’s still a mess,  
Every word he spits, just a drunken confess.  

[Chorus]
Ballads in the briar, 
steeped in regret,  
Johnny’s voice is crackin’, but nae finished yet.  
Singin’ to the sky, nae angels reply,  
A love that’s drifted, still wonderin’ why.  
Ballads in the briar, 
steeped in regret,  
Oh he's not finished yet (not finished yet)


[Bridge]
“C’mon back tae me, lad,” Johnny slurs to the breeze,  
His words drift away, tangled in the trees.  
The briar pulls tighter, lost in the glow,  
He’s fallin’ apart, but cannae let go.  


[Chorus]
Ballads in the briar, 
steeped in regret,  
Johnny’s voice is crackin’, but nae finished yet.  
Singin’ to the sky, nae angels reply,  
A love that’s drifted, still wonderin’ why.  
Ballads in the briar, 
steeped in regret,  
Oh he's not finished yet (not finished yet)

[Big Finish]
So he’ll bide in the briar, ‘neath the cold moon’s light,  
A toast tae the past, and love lost in the night.  
But Johnny’s still singin', even when it’s too late,  
In the thorns o' the briar, big mans prickly fate.