The Rose of Tralee - Chords, Lyrics and Origins

Origins

The Rose of Tralee was very likely written in the middle of the nineteenth century, although the final verse may be a later addition.  It feels like a victorian parlour song.  Tralee is in Country Kerry, in the south-west of Ireland.  There is a story about the origin of the Rose of Tralee here.  Although difficult to prove or disprove, it certainly provides a fitting back-story to this most romantic of songs.  You can make your own choice about whether the Rose of Tralee is cliched and over-syrupy or beautifully lyrical.

Chords

A                                     D                         A
The pale moon was rising above the green mountain,

        E7                A             B7                     E7
The sun was declining beneath the blue sea;

              A                                              D                   A
When I strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain,

         E7                   A              E7              A
That stands in the beautiful Vale of Tralee.

               F#m           A                D                 C#7
She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,

         F#m                            D               C#7   F#m
Yet 'twas not her beauty alone that won   me;

E7  A                                         D               A
Oh no, 'twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning,

          E7                    A              E7               A
That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

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 sat listening to me;
The moon through the valley her pale rays were shining
When I won the heart of 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.

On the far fields of India, mid war's bloody thunder,
Her voice was a solace and comfort to me,
But the cold hand of death has now torn us asunder
I'm lonely tonight for my 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.