Rose Of Tralee
Christy Moore

Listen for a while
And I'll tell you the story
Of How I fell in love with The Rose Of Tralee

It was about five o'clock in the morning
I was only after gettin' off the mail boat.
I was walking down the North Wall
Minding me own business
With me suitcase under me arm
Sitting down every minute
'Til a voice behind me went
Hello, hello, hello
Where do you think you're going
At this hour of the morning?

I turned around
And who do you think was standin' behind me
Only the Rose of Tralee
And she wearin' a grand new blue Ban Gardaн's uniform
I thought she was a super
How's it going there Rose
Jasus girleen the last time I saw you
Was down below there in The Dome
Upstairs in the tent with Gaybo in the Pretty Polly
Tights
And all them beauty queens from
Tashkent, Istanbul, Bangkok and Liverpool
And...
How's she cuttin there Rose...
Can you account for your movements sez she
Ah Rose, there's no need to be like that
But I can give you all the movements you want
You'd better sharpen your pencil
You're goin' to be busy little woman
Christy's got a memory like a super-grass
I can remember things that never happened at all,

The first thing I can remember
Is the 7th of May 1945
At the back of Donnelly's Hollow
The night before
Pa Connolly drove the Roadstone lorry
Into the Seven Springs
And St. Brigid started rollin' out the Tintawn
Across the Curragh of Kildare
Then I woke up one morning
It was after gettin conscripted into the altar boys
I was ringin the bells and swingin the thurible
Sure the smell of the incense
Would remind you of the inside of an Arab's tent
And no sign of Ghaddafi nowhere
In those days Down in Newbridge Co. Kildare
An altar boy would get a pound for a funeral
Two pound for a wedding
And a good kick up in the arse
If he didn't put enough wine in the chaliceAt he early
Mass.
Ah!Ita Missa Est says Rose
Gloria Tibi Domine says I
I didn't know you had to have the Latin
To get into Templemore
I love to hear the old bit of Latin
The old Tridentine
Kyrie Eleison
I can't stand them Folk Masses
All them trendy priestsTrippin' over each other
To sing balladsAt half time in the Bingo
Sure the Nine First FridaysNever killed anyone

Well! The next thing I knew, Rose
I was servin' me time to be
A corner boy up in the Curragh Camp
I was trying to teach the sheep how to talk Irish
Then I got a job selling lambs balls to mushroom
Farmers
That couldn't afford horseshite
One day I was walkin' across the Curragh of Kildare
And I fell into an officer's mess
I ended up in the F.C.A.
Squarebashin' around the wet canteen
Until the commanding officer heard
That me Granny once confessed
To a fellow whose Sister's brother in law was
Married to a man whoseFirst cousin used to fill
Hot water bottles for Patrick SarsfieldBefore the
Battle of Clongorey
I had to go on the run.

Gubu Gubu *Gubu Gubu

I ran so fast thatI ended up in Paddington
A million miles away from The Land Of saints and
Scholars
I was

Diggin' Footins Scrapin' Pots
Pullin' cable Startin' Drotts
Boilin' Kettles Makin' Tea
Diggin' Deep Rose and Thrown Away

I was a disposable PaddyServin' me time to be a
Co-Pilot on a kango hammer in Shepherd's Bush
Doin' 86 MPH on a JCB down the Kilburn High Road
When the SPG flagged me down and held me under the PTA
Until I got away and went underground with the Green
Murphy
One Thursday night I was headin' down the Hammersmith
Broadway
I met a friend of mine from Ballaghadereenin the Co.
Roscommon
Who was a demolition expert - Georgian houses were his
Speciality
Any chance for a start?What would you know about
Demolition? (I've been well known to demolish a rake of
Large bottles)
Well, Monday mornin' came
Myself, Roger Sherlock, Liam Farrell, Martin Byrnes,

Raymond Roland Tony Rohr
We was paintin' a door
We gave her six coats and three coats more- that was
Just the undercoat
The ganger was fond of a tune-thursday never came too
Soon
We were gettin' five pounds a day and all we could ate
But it's an awful job Tryin' to eat all day
To make a long story short, Rose
I went lookin' for digs
I went up and knocked at the door, this big English
Woman comes out
Took one look at me and she went
Get away from my door sez she
There'll be absolutely no blacks nor paddies gettin' in
Here.'
So I let on I was a white South African
And I tried to join the British Army to better myself
I volunteered as sub-contractor buildin' houses with no
Doors nor handles on them
The recruiting officer says to me
'What ye bin doin' lately then, Paddy?

I was helpin' O'Brien to shift it Sir says I
Before that I was spreadin' the toxic all over the
Golden Vale
Helpin' Mr. Gallagher cover Stephen's Green in concrete
Sir
Helpin' Sam Stevenson block all the daylight out of
Dublin
Helpin' Dr. Smurfit relocate the Liffey
Helpin' Lord O'Reilly to count the golden beans
I was dolin' out the Diddly-Eye for Dr. Darragh
Puttin in the bugs for Cathaoirleach
Vacuum packin' T-Bone steaks for Larry Maith an Fear
Seekin' out the heart of the Green Core.
Bejasus Paddy you're overqualified for the British Army
I'm afraid I'll have to deport you out of England.
And he did... Total Exclusion


Here I am, RoseAr ais arнs
This is some welcome for a returned emmigrant
Cйad Mнle Fбilte my arse
With your pioneer pin and your fбinneAnd your white
Star for not cursing
Jaysus, it would be more in your line togive me a lift
In the squad car into town
And she did.

There wew were Cruisin' down Capel Street in the White
Squad
Looking for the Early Morning House
Will ye look Rose There's Paddy Slattery.
'You're welcome home, Christy', says Paddy
Big Slate!
'I suppose you and your girlfriend are looking for a
Drink'
Well, off came the cap. She flung it into the back seat
Of the squad
And in with her like a bat out a hell (left right, left
Right)
'I'll have a Brandy with a small drop of Port I never
Drink pints when I'm on duty'
Brandy and Port!
T'was like throwin' water into a barrel of sawdust
She lowered it up andof course... No wallet
Roll on the Holy Hour', says I
I'll see you tonight sez she 'twill be my twist'

Ladies and Gentlemen there I was outside the GPO waitin
For The most beautiful Kerry woman in the whole wide
World
Here she comes, Holy Mother of Sweet Divine Jesus in
Heaven would you ever look... Sashaying down
The Boulevardin her Doc's and her 501's
Hey Rose!... Over here...
'What's on your mind big fellah' says she to me
(I was wearin me platforms)
I wouldn't mind a bit of a dance, Rose
She took me to a discoin the Gardai club in Harcourt
Street
Le Baton Rouge... A tidy little spot up Harcourt
Street
Watch out for the quadruple parking, bald tyres and no
Tax discs
In there... Wall to wall moustaches, gay bikers on acid
Myself and the Rose of Tralee danced the night away
Until about five O'clock in the morning when says she
To me
'Fancy comin' back to my place then Lofty?'
Does a bear shite in the woods?
Away with us, me hangin out of her on the back of the
Honda50
Up through Rathmines and Rathgar into Ranelagh,

Pullin into the 24-7 open 9-11, 6 days a week
Two donor kebabs and the Leinster Leader
Up to her place thenTwo up, two down,
She pulled the cork out of the Blue Nun
And I got sick all over the Rottweiler
And she put some music onLovely new CD.,,, Daniel
Oh then fare thee well sweet Donegal
The Roses and Gweedore
Oh Rose. Oh Daniel
Ah Here, I suppose a rasher sandwichis out of the
Question?

That's how I met up with The Roseof Tralee


  Purchase "Rose Of Tralee"   Purchase Entire Album   Email Video to Friends   Play Youtube "Rose Of Tralee" Video   Play Spotify "Rose Of Tralee" Song   View Wikipedia "Rose Of Tralee" Entry   Receive Emails for Future Christy Moore Lyrics

Email:

  Link to "Rose Of Tralee"   Share on Facebook, Twitter, and more
  See Recommended Lyrics For You

Loading...

Lyrics by Christy Moore

  A Letter To Syracuse   A Pair Of Brown Eyes   Aisling   All For The Roses   All I Remember   Among The Wicklow Hills   Anne Lovett   Avondale   Back Home In Derry   Barrowland   Beeswing   Belfast Brigade   Biko Drum   Black Is the Colour   Blackjack County Chains   Bridget's Pill   Bridget's Pill   Bright Blue Rose   Burning Times   Butterfly (so Much Wine)   China Waltz   City Of Chicago   Cliffs Of Dooneen   Cold Blow   Companeros   Cry Like A Man   Delerium Tremens   Delirium Tremens   Don't Forget Your Shovel   Don't Forget Your Shovel   Duffy's Cut   Dunnes Stores   El Salvador   Fairytale of New York   Folk Tale   Follow Me Up To Carlow   Giuseppe   Go, Move, Shift   Gortatagort   Grannies Dustbin Lid   Hard Cases   Hey Paddy   Hiroshima Nagasaki Russian Roulette   How Long   James Larkin   January Man   Joe Mccann   John O'Dreams   Joxer goes to Stuttgart   Lakes Of Ponchartrain   Lakes Of Pontchartrain   Lawless   Lightning Bird Wind River Man   Lisdoonvarna   Listen   Mandolin Mountain   Messenger Boy   Metropolitan Avenue   Missing You   Mullaghmore   Nancy Spain   Natives   No Time For Love   North And South Of The River   On A Single Day   One Last Cold Kiss   Only Our Rivers Run Free   Ordinary Man   Petit Pays   Quiet Desperation   Raggle Taggle Gipsy   Rambling Robin   Reel In The Flickering Light   Ride On   Rory's Gone   Sacco & Vanzetti   Sacco & Vanzetti   Scallcrows   Section 31   Shine On You Crazy Diamond   Smoke & Strong Whiskey   Smoke and Strong Whiskey   So Do I   Someone To Love   Sonny   Sonny's Dream   Sonny's Dream   St. Brendans Voyage   Streets Of London   Sweet Music Roll On   The Auld Triangle   The Ballad Of Ruby Walsh   The City Of Chicago   The Craic Was Ninety In The Isle Of Man   The Curragh Of Kildare   The Dark Eyed Sailor   The Disappeared (Los Desaparecidos)   The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face   The Hackler From Grouse Hall   The Lark In The Morning   The Lost Tribe of the Wicklow Mountains   The Night Visit   The People's Own M.p.   The People's Own M.p.   The Pipers Path   The Reel In The Flickering Light   The Streets Of London   The Time Has Come   The Voyage   They Never Came Home   Tim Evans   Veronica   Weekend In Amsterdam   Weela Waile   Welcome To The Cabaret   Whiskey In The Jar

Related Songs

  The Rose of Tralee - Frank Patterson  The Rose of Tralee - John Mcdermott  The Rose of Tralee - Bing Crosby  The Rose Of Tralee - Roger Whittaker  Rose of Tralee - Daniel O'Donnell  Rain Dogs - Waits Tom  Rain Dog - Niykee Heaton  Rain Dogs - Tom Waits  Boston Rose - Wolfe Tones  Back the Dogs (Dancing Down Rock) - Eddi Reader  There's Nothing That I Haven't Sung About...  PLASTIC PADDY - Eric Bogle  Notturno, Camden Lock - Modena City Ramblers  Bottlez - T-Pain  Rose Clouds Of Holocaust - Death In June  Rose Clouds Of Holocaust - Nachtmystium  In the Name of the Rose - Avalon  Golgotha - Embodyment  Black Rose - Lecrae  Dying Rose - Cleopatra  Abilene Rose - Marty Robbins  Abaline Rose - Marty Robbins  Ghost Of A Rose - Blackmore's Night  Rose Of Allendale - Mary Black  The Rose of Memphis - Rodney Crowell  Rose Ann of Charing Cross - Frank Sinatra  Rose - Cynthia Alexander  Rose of Alabama - Bobby Horton  Speed Kills - The Smashing Pumpkins F/  Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose - Jimmy Dean  Lady Rose - Mungo Jerry  Rose On The Grave - Tarot  Love Is A Rose - Linda Ronstadt  San Antonio Rose - Patsy Cline  My Rose - Enchantment  Like A Rose On The Grave Of Love - Xandria  Oh Harley (The Saltimbanques)...  Pretty Pink Rose - Bowie David  Pretty Pink Rose - DAVID BOWIE  Georgia Rose - Queen Latifah  Goodnight Rose - Ryan Adams  A Rose Is A Rose - Edwards Meredith  My Sweet Rose - Rachel Stamp  Pretty Pink Rose - Adrian Belew  Pretty Pink Rose - Adrian Belew  Irish Rose - O.A.R.  Speed Kills - Smashing Pumpkins  Only a Rose - Mario Lanza  The Only a Rose - Mario Lanza  Gypsy Love Song (Slumber On, My Little...  Only a Rose - Jeanette MacDonald  Virginia Rose - Fernando Ortega  Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Miley Cyrus  To Drown A Rose - Death In June  Rose Gold - Pentatonix  Rose Marie - Andy Kaufman  Rosalie - Vera Lynn  Sweet Rose - Matt Costa  A Rose By Any Other Name - Teena Marie  Rose of England - Nick Lowe  Rose Of Aberdeen - Simon and Garfunkel  Rose of Jericho - Liam Titcomb  Rose Of Sharon - Joan Baez  Rose Of Bethlehem - Selah  Memories Of Rose - Superman Is Dead  Rose of Sharon - Camel  Rose Of Pain - X Japan  Rose Of Sharon - Xiu Xiu  rose of england - The Last Resort  Rose Of Aberdeen - Simon & Garfunkel  Rose Of England - Chris De Burgh  Rose Of Cimarron - Emmylou Harris  Rose Of Pain - X-japan  Rose of Rainbows - The Mother Hips  Rose Of Sharyn - Killswitch Engage  Bed Of Rose - Kenny Rogers  Rose Of Cimarron - Poco  Rose Of Aberdeen - Paul Simon  Rose Of Bethlehem - Steve Green  Rose Of Jericho - Brigitte DeMeyer  Sign Of Rose - Die Vision  Rose Of Sharon - Clay Kevin  Rose Of Sharon - Eliza Gilkyson  Rose Of Martyrdom - Zed Yago  Speed Kills - The Smashing Pumpkins  A Bit Of Earth-reprise - Secret Garden  Sea Rose - Cold Fairyland   Exotica Rose - Marc Almond  Yellow & Rose - James Taylor  Red Rose from the Blue Side of Town...  Nothing's Prettier Than Rose Is...  Nothing's Prettier Than Rose Is - Charley Pride  There Is No Rose Of Such Virtue - Sting  My Wild Irish Rose - Daniel O'Donnell  Two Little Orphans - Daniel O'Donnell  The Rose of England - Oysterband  San Antonio Rose - Asleep At The Wheel  Greenfly and the Rose - Robert Calvert  The Greenfly and the Rose - Robert Calvert  Ivory Rose - Kathy Mar  One Red Rose - Frank Sinatra  Love Is A Rose To Me - Waite John  A Rose Is A Rose - M  Tokyo Rose - Riot  A Rose Is a Rose - Meredith Edwards  Cherokee Rose - Corey Smith  Wolf Rose - Death In June  One Rainy Wish - Brian May  Black Rose of Texas - Dave Alvin  Forever Like the Rose - Seals And Crofts  My Wild Irish Rose - Al Jolson  Rose Marie - Nelson Eddy  [Excerpt] - Jeanette MacDonald  Rose Marie - Jeanette MacDonald  Love Is A Rose to Me - John Waite  Wild Mountain Rose - Conway Twitty  Song About A Rose - Pearls Before Swine  Fable of the Rose - Frank Sinatra  The Fable of the Rose - Frank Sinatra  Winter Rose - Fairground Attraction  Winter Rose - Fairground Attraction  Rose Garden - Nick Jonas And The Administration  One Rainy Wish - Jimi Hendrix  Tokyo Rose - UK Subs  Tokyo Rose - U.K. Subs  The White Rose Of Athens - Nana Mouskouri  Desert Rose - Tall Tales and the Silver Lining  Thorn In My Heart - Bob Wills  A Rose Is A Rose - Susan Ashton  The Greenwood Side - Joan Baez  Down By The Greenwood Side - Nana Mouskouri  Belfast Rose - Craig Herbertson  Rosemary Rose - kinks  A Single Crimson Rose - Amie Comeaux  Undertow - Coyote Grace  Forever Like the Rose - Seals & Crofts  Roses Of Picardy - Bobby Darin  San Antonio Rose (Intermission) - Patsy Cline  Rosemary Lane - Bellowhead  Red Rose for Gregory - Gregory Isaacs  Petal From A Faded Rose - Wilma Burgess  Rose Rose I Love You - Frankie Laine  Rose Rose I Love You - Frankie Laine  Rose, Rose I Love You - Frankie Laine  Black Rose - Sad Café  Black Rose - Sad Caf\u00e9  Lovely Rose Of Clare - Daniel O'Donnell  One White Rose - Jean Shepard  Yellow Rose - Alannah Myles  Winter Rose - Matt Goss  Rosewalk Winter Garden - The Music  ONE RAINY WISH - Hendrix Jimi  Generic In Love - J Roddy Walston & The Business  Generic In Love...  Sweet Was My Rose - Velvet Glove  Lady Rose - Superman Is Dead  Ghost Of A Rose - Blackmore's Night  Roses of Picardy - Como Perry  Rose Robert - Of Montreal  Yellow And Rose - James Taylor  New San Antonio Rose - Bing Crosby  Anna Rose - Vienna Teng  Rainbow in the Rose [Live] - Kip Winger  Rainbow in the Rose - Kip Winger  A Petal from a Faded Rose - George Morgan  Petal from a Faded Rose - George Morgan  Love & Roses - Sponge  Neon Rose - Mel Tillis  Rose Marie - Slim Whitman  Kiss From A Rose - Ali Slaight  Kiss From A Rose - April Divine  Kiss from a Rose - Emmerson Nogueira  1880 Or So - Television  The Briar And The Rose - Waits Tom  Hey Rose - Girlyman  Rose Tattoo - Dropkick Murphys  Rambling Rose - Perry Como  Ramblin' Rose - Jerry Lee Lewis  Ramblin' Rose - Bobby Vinton  San Antonio Rose - Harry James  San Antonio Rose...  San Antonio Rose - Ricky Skaggs  San Antonio Rose - Jim Hendricks  San Antonio Rose - Rocky Hernández  San Antonio Rose - Chet Atkins  San Antonio Rose - Joe Maphis  San Antonio Rose - Floyd Cramer  San Antonio Rose - Moe Bandy  San Antonio Rose - Les Paul  San Antonio Rose - Bob Wills  San Antonio Rose - Ivory Joe Hunter  San Antonio Rose - Jim Nabors  San Antonio Rose - Tak Shindo  San Antonio Rose - The Four Lovers  San Antonio Rose - Ralph Sharon  San Antonio Rose - The Sons of the Pioneers  San Antonio Rose - The Willis Brothers  San Antonio Rose - The Mills Brothers  San Antonio Rose - Emmons/Pennington  San Antonio Rose - Lloyd Green