Lyr Req: Shamrock & the Rose (from Fair Isle Folk)

25 Nov 02 - 02:11 PM (#834770)
Subject: Lyr Req: Fair Isle Folk - 'Shamrock & the Rose'
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

I am aware the The Fair Isle Folk's song "Shamrock and the Rose" (from their 1988 Dolphin recording, now believed unavailable) is also on the "The Great Irish Folk Collection (Vol. 2)", but I'd like to obtain the lyrics to it if possible.

---

25 Nov 02 - 10:16 PM (#835069)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fair Isle Folk - 'Shamrock & the Rose'
From: George Seto - [e-mail]

Might be this song from the 1880s, written by Wm. J. Allen. Found at the Library of Congress

Will post the words after I go through these TIFs.

---

25 Nov 02 - 10:55 PM (#835099)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE ROSE AND SHAMROCK
From: George Seto - [e-mail]

I think I have it sorted out:

THE ROSE AND SHAMROCK
(William J. Allen)

I love my native country and I am not to blame
And there should be no reason why you should not do the same,
The Englishman loves England and true friendship combined,
When Englishmen and Irishmen, their hands and hearts will join.
 

Chorus:
When the Rose and the Shamrock in love are entwined
And England and Ireland in friendship combined,
Then we can show when our flag is unfurl'd,
That England and Ireland can face all the world.
 

The Russian Bear is growling, but we heed not his growls,
And if they are not careful, they'll soon be turn'd to howls,
With a million men in fighting don't make us feel afraid
While we've our Connaught rangers and the gallant Ninth Brigade
 

When bold Napoleon Bonaparte the world to conquer tried,
He went well on 'till Pat and John, at attacked side by side
With Wellington up on the land, and Nelson on the sea;
This mighty man they conquer'd and Great Britain still was free

---

25 Nov 02 - 10:58 PM (#835102)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fair Isle Folk - 'Shamrock & the Rose'
From: Sorcha

Thank you George. I was losing my mind...........(which is really not to difficult.......grin)

---

25 Nov 02 - 11:17 PM (#835119)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fair Isle Folk - 'Shamrock & the Rose'
From: George Seto - [e-mail]

e-mail sent.

You're welcome, Sorcha!

I've tried several times. This time, I tried it in Google as "shamrock" in the ALL the words block and "rose" in the EXACT PHRASE block.

I'll have to try it again some time.

---

26 Nov 02 - 09:21 AM (#835382)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fair Isle Folk - 'Shamrock & the Rose'
From: GUEST,I don't think so... sorry guys

If you obtain the CD "The Great Irish Folk Collection (Vol. 2) (Dolphin)", the song starts as:

"One day, when I walked, through a garden of flow'rs...
When nature, through her beauty, bestowed,"

(I'm not sure about this last line)

and I am thinking it's related possibly to the 1928 film, also titled "Shamrock and the Rose."

Chris

---

26 Nov 02 - 10:42 AM (#835447)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fair Isle Folk - 'Shamrock & the Rose'
From: masato sakurai

I haven't heard the song. Possibly it is the one written by Pete St. John (his song list is HERE). A bit of info is given HERE (on The Whole Shabang):

After a chance meeting with one of Ireland's greatest songwriters, Pete St. John, the band and St. John developed a strong friendship that resulted in St. John writing some great songs for the band.
Among the most popular of those is "Michael Collins," "Shamrock and The Rose," and the title track from the band's first album, "Dreamers and Believers."

~Masato

---

06 Dec 02 - 04:16 PM (#842581)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fair Isle Folk - 'Shamrock & the Rose'
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

I haven't heard Pete St. John. All I know is that three current members of Celtic Mist were in Fair Isle Folk in the 1980s - Shay Eustace, Patsy McEvoy and Séan Butler. If these three knew Pete, then we have one and the same song. Thanks, Masato, for that lead. "Shamrock and the Rose" was the title of a 1988 album by the Fair Isle Folk; it is hard to get nowadays.

---

09 Feb 03 - 12:00 AM (#885888)
Subject: Lyr Add: SHAMROCK AND THE ROSE (Fair Isle Folk)
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

THE SHAMROCK AND THE ROSE... (Fair Isle Folk, 1987)

One day as I walked through a garden of flowers,
For nature her beauty bestowed
And among the green bushes I wandered my way
I noticed a shamrock and rose

For the flowers were all blooming and shouting away
In a low and deep tone of their own
And the shamrock was pleading its own country's cause
To the rose in a heartbroken tone:

"If my love of you were treasure,
Forgive me this pleasure:
I stood by your side; I defeated your foes
Then why should you slight me – I've proven all flight me"
Said Ireland's green shamrock to England's red rose

"They say you are weary of my discontent
They say that your sympathy's strong
But 'cause you were cold for one hour on this earth
For the ages of wrong you have done...

"If my love of you were treasure
Forgive me this pleasure:
I stood by your side; I defeated your foes
Then why should you slight me – I've proven all flight me"
Said Ireland's green shamrock to England's red rose

"O lo that the thousands in exile today
It's no better there than here
Who gave their lifeblood and where are they today?
E?????ed from the land of their birth...

"If my love of you were treasure
Forgive me this pleasure:
I stood by your side; I defeated your foes
Then why should you slight me – I've proven all flight me"
Said Ireland's green shamrock to England's red rose

---

12 Aug 12 - 09:20 PM (#3389396)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shamrock & the Rose (from Fair Isle Folk)
From: GUEST

I am 70 years old and I remember my grandmother teaching us this song. She was raised in a convent in Kinsale, during the Famine years. No modern songwriter can take credit for writing this song.

---

06 Sep 22 - 07:11 PM (#4152167)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shamrock & the Rose (from Fair Isle Folk)
From: GUEST

Love this So much like my Wife and I. Stay safe reader A+

---