Rose of Tralee, The

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  • Teideal (Title): Rose of Tralee, The.
  • Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 853907.
  • Uimhir Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann (National Folklore of Ireland Number): none.
  • Uimhir Roud (Roud Number): 1978.
  • Uimhir Laws (Laws Number): none.
  • Uimhir Child (Child Number): none.
  • Cnuasach (Collection): Joe Heaney Collection, University of Washington, Seattle.
  • Teanga na Croímhíre (Core-Item Language): English.
  • Catagóir (Category): song.
  • Ainm an té a thug (Name of Informant): Joe Heaney.
  • Ainm an té a thóg (Name of Collector): Lucy Simpson.
  • Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): 04/12/1979.
  • Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
  • Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): private.
  • Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): unavailable.
  • Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.

It’s about the time when work was hard to find, and this poor man fell for this girl called Mary, I don’t know her second name, and just because they were very fond of each other, her parents made arrangements with the military to get him into the army and send him away to India to fight. And meantime, she died, and this is the song:

The fair moon was rising above the green mountain
The sun was declining beneath the blue sea
When I strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain
That stands in the beautiful vale of Tralee.
She was lovely and fair as the rose in the summer
Yet it was not her beauty alone that won me
Oh no, ’twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning
That made me love Mary, the rose of Tralee.

The cool shades of evening their mantle were spreading
And Mary, all smiling, sat listening to me
The moon through the valley her pale rays was shedding
While I won the heart of the rose of Tralee.
She was lovely and fair as the rose in the summer
Yet it was not her beauty alone that won me
Oh no, ’twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning
That made me love Mary, the rose of Tralee.

Goodbye, Mary darling, it’s now I must leave you
The ship it is ready and waiting for me
But if every I return to old Ireland once more, love,
I’ll marry you, Mary, the rose of Tralee.
She was lovely and fair as the rose in the summer
Yet it was not her beauty alone that won me
Oh no, ’twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning
That made me love Mary, the rose of Tralee.

In the far fields of India, mid war’s dreadful thunder
Her smile was a solace and comfort to me
But the cold chill of death tore our love asunder
And I’m lonely tonight for the rose of Tralee.
She was lovely and fair as the rose in the summer
Yet it was not her beauty alone that won me
Oh no, ’twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning
That made me love Mary, the rose of Tralee.

Notes

The authorship of this song is usually ascribed to E. (or C.) Mordaunt Spencer, with the musical setting by Charles W. Glover (1806-1863).