"The Rose of Tralee" is a nineteenth-century Irish ballad about a woman called Mary, who because of her beauty was called The Rose of Tralee. The Rose of Tralee festival had been inspired by the ballad.
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The words of the song are credited to Edward Mordaunt Spencer and the music to Charles William Glover, but a story circulated in connection with the festival claims that the song was written by William Pembroke Mulchinock, a wealthy Protestant, out of love for Mary O'Connor, a poor Catholic maid in service to his parents.
Lyrics
The pale 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 of the summer, Yet 'twas 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 was listening to me; The moon through the valley her pale rays was shedding, When I won the heart of the Rose of Tralee. Though lovely and fair as the Rose of the summer, Yet 'twas 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 thunders, Her voice was a solace and comfort to me, But the chill hand of death has now rent us asunder, I'm lonely tonight for the Rose of Tralee. She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer, Yet 'twas 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 TraleePopular culture
The song was sung by John McCormack in the film Song o' My Heart (1930).
It was sung by the cast at the end of the play "Thirst" (1942) by Flann O'Brien.
In the film "The Luck of the Irish (1948 film)" the song is sung by Irish Tenor Jimmy O'Brien, who completes the song without missing a beat despite the outbreak of a brawl.
The song was used by the Ireland national rugby union team at the 1987 Rugby World Cup. It was a compromise choice instead of a national anthem, due to the political situation in Northern Ireland at the time.
The Rose of Tralee is referenced in the title track of Tom Waits' 1985 album Rain Dogs.
"Oh, how we danced with the Rose of Tralee Her long hair black as a raven"In the film "Auntie Mame," (1958), Brian O'Bannion (Robin Hughes) sings the first couplet of "The Rose of Tralee" as he finishes dressing to escort Mame (Rosalind Russell) to a black tie event to consider optioning the film rights of her autobiography to Warner Brothers.