The Rose of Tralee is a nineteenth-century Irish love song; that much is clear. The authorship, however, has been disputed. A 2019 article written for Tralee Today explains some recent research that gives proper credit to its original author:
“The disputed Poem ‘Smile, Mary My Darling’ was sent by [Tralee poet William Mulchinock] to British Composer Stephen Ralph Glover in the early 1840s. Glover with help from his brother Charles and poet colleague Spencer took ‘Smile, Mary My Darling’ and adapted it into ‘The Rose of Tralee’ to set it to Music.”
Mulchinock had written the poem for Mary O’Connor, a maid who worked in his family home. Although his family disapproved of the match, apparently he had gone so far as to propose marriage to her, when disaster struck. Mulchinock was accused of killing a man during a riot (though it appears to have been accidental), and fled to India for some time. When he returned to Ireland (having been pardoned), the story goes that he was just too late: Mary had died. Although he married another woman and had a family, he continued to grieve for Mary, and over the years he added to his poem. Some of the later lines are:
In the far fields of India, 'mid wars 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.
Mulchinock died in 1864 and was buried beside Mary O’Connor.
The song, as published by Glover and Spencer, continued to be popular over the years. It was used in films (as early as 1929), and was recorded by stars such as Bing Crosby. Those old enough to remember the golden age of television variety shows might enjoy this version by Andy Williams and Maureen O’Hara.
Lyrics
(Note: Often just the first two stanzas are sung,
sometimes with a repeat of the last few lines.)
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 Tralee
Video Links
Connie Foley (male voice with what sounds like an accordion)
Joe Lynch (male voice with stringed instrument)
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