Rose of Tralee

2014
11.13

Another from Jon’s Oxford days and he recalls it being “Sung by Joe Ryan, legendary landlord of the Half Moon (and many other Oxford pubs) and a wonderful singer in his own right.” This is one of those songs with more to it than meets the eye. This Wiki link gives two possible authors for this and this Mudcat thread builds on the possibility of the second via Vin Garbutt’s sleeve notes for his recorded version. Following one of the links at the bottom of the Wiki page gives you this, which seems sure of itself, if a little too melodramatic to be entirely plausible. You might have expected a little more of the detail to make the song were this chain of events true, or am I getting a bit cynical in my research.

 

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20 Responses to “Rose of Tralee”

  1. John Wigley says:

    Ridiculously good (& I would still think that, reguardless of the bucket load of Sam Smith’s finest)

  2. Jane Ramsden says:

    Cynical? Let’s just say, there was way too much in the full story of true love to fit into a song. Still, Jon did the slimmer version much justice!

    As I was listening to John Tams’ Definitive Collection a couple of days ago, I immediately thought of Sweet Rose of Allendale… then I read the Mudcat thread and found others were ahead of me again!

  3. John Wigley says:

    Listening to it again sober and actually enjoying it even more. Really good performance Mr B.

  4. muzza says:

    Rose of Tralee……A beautiful song………as is “Rose of Allendale”(although Rose of Allendale words are a teeny bit melodramatic…but a great song to sing)

  5. Diana says:

    A really old and delightful if sentimental song – I remember it from my childhood.

  6. muzza(S.E.England) says:

    Muzza’s daughter says(under instruction)…………
    omit the third verse and you have a sweet song….leave it in and the tone becomes so tragic.

    My dad says…..has anybody found an odd sock in their washing? (he didn’t explain!!!!)

  7. Jane Ramsden says:

    Hello again, Muzza’s daughter!

    The family resemblance is so uncanny, I will have to call you Muzzette. But I did say under ‘A Chat With Your Mother’ that the single sock might be your father’s distinguishing, if not his most distinguished, identifying feature. Sort of a Cinderfella, really, though it is not my place to explain the Zen of Sock to a man’s daughter. A father should retain a little mystery methinks!

    But ref the odd one in the wash, if you see my avatar right, that might be a clue as to where it has gone….

  8. muzza(S.E.England) says:

    How did Jane get a copy of my dad’s school photo to use as an avatar?

  9. Diana says:

    That’s a bit cheeky, I shouldn’t let him read that message. How is he, improving I hope.

  10. Muzza+10days (NW Surrey-UK) says:

    Wowsa………I note that I was incapacitated a year ago (I’m now on ‘bonus days’ in addition to my allotted 3score years and 10)and one cheeky offspring added comments on my behalf…….I agree with her comments………I wish I could remember where that sock went. (under Jane’s hat by all accounts!)

  11. Muzza+375days (NW Surrey-UK) says:

    Wowsa…… that should be +375 bonus days approx (faculties failing)..Listening to song again to calm me down………….excellleeeeeennt.

  12. Pewter says:

    “The chill hand of death has now rent us asunder” line first made me think it could be the last lament of a man on his deathbed, who is miles away from his true love – until I followed the wiki link which confirms that it was poor Mary that had died. A bravura performance from Jon; a perfect 3 minute folk song. Good to see Muzza+375 up so early – seizing the day!

  13. Diana says:

    Still a beautiful romantic song sung well by Jon.

  14. Old Muzza (NW Surrey-UK) says:

    Hey Linda……….here I am with a carnation in my Lapel waiting for the old crew to turn up.Did you get a reply from Janey/Diana/Pewter/Phil…………….and the good news is I managed to get my entry for the Islington folk Club Trad2mad competition accepted …they finally tracked it down…….There I am sitting in my own WW1 trench..singing ‘Home lads home’….and one of the other fellas(good voice) and song just stands in front of his kitchen sink

  15. Old Muzza (NW Surrey-UK) says:

    A link to trad2mad….via my effort of course

  16. Linda says:

    Beautifully sung…

    @Muzza good luck with your entry enjoyed your singing of Home lads home very apt at this time of year……(nice to have you back)

  17. Old Muzza(NW Surrey-UK) says:

    Ref my Video above….gremlins got me right at the end….I sang last line…’.Rising’ of the sun instead of ‘setting’

  18. Jane (Maryland, US) says:

    Two lovely poignant songs for the price of one — one familiar (Rose of Tralee) and one I’d never heard before. Thanks for posting it, Muzza!

    Simon’s link at “this” is broken, but I think this is the sad story he refers to
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100724093801/http://www.roseoftralee.ie/catalog/popup_story.php

  19. OldMuzza(NWSurrey UK) says:

    Hi Jane (Maryland)….thank you for the link……The Rose of Tralee is such a lovely song and the story does make it a bit sad…….I hope that you are learning the words and singing these songs each day

  20. OldMuzza(NW Surrey UK) says:

    Whoa…..ref Pewter’s comment in 2012 I hadn’t realised that there was a third (sad) verse….I think I’ll stick to just the two….lovely song though!

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