Tommy Sands - There Were Roses

There Were Roses (Tommy Sands)

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My song for you this evening, it's not to make you sad
Nor for adding to the sorrows of this troubled northern land,
But lately I've been thinking and it just won't leave my mind
I'll tell you of two friends one time who were both good friends of mine.

Allan Bell from Banagh, he lived just across the fields,
A great man for the music and the dancing and the reels.
O'Malley came from South Armagh to court young Alice fair,
And we'd often meet on the Ryan Road and the laughter filled the air.

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of the people
Ran together

Though Allan, he was Protestant, and Sean was Catholic born,
It never made a difference for the friendship, it was strong.
And sometimes in the evening when we heard the sound of drums
We said, ''It won't divide us. We always will be one.''

For the ground our fathers plowed in, the soil, it is the same,
And the places where we say our prayers have just got different names.
We talked about the friends who died, and we hoped there'd be no more.
It's little then we realized the tragedy in store.

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of the people
Ran together

It was on a Sunday morning when the awful news came round.
Another killing has been done just outside Newry Town.
We knew that Allan danced up there, we knew he liked the band.
When we heard that he was dead we just could not understand.

We gathered at the graveside on that cold and rainy day,
And the minister he closed his eyes and prayed for no revenge.
All of us who knew him from along the Ryan Road,
We bowed our heads and said a prayer for the resting of his soul.

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of the people
Ran together

Now fear, it filled the countryside. There was fear in every home
When a car of death came prowling round the lonely Ryan Road.
A Catholic would be killed tonight to even up the score.
''Oh, Christ! It's young O'Malley that they've taken from the door.''

''Allan was my friend,'' he cried. He begged them with his fear,
But centuries of hatred have ears that cannot hear.
An eye for an eye was all that filled their minds
And another eye for another eye till everyone is blind.

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of the people
Ran together

So my song for you this evening, it's not to make you sad
Nor for adding to the sorrows of our troubled northern land,
But lately I've been thinking and it just won't leave my mind.
I'll tell you of two friends one time who were both good friends of mine.

I don't know where the moral is or where this song should end,
But I wondered just how many wars are fought between good friends.
And those who give the orders are not the ones to die.
It's Bell and O'Malley and the likes of you and I.

There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of the people
Ran together

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Tommy
• Sands
• There
• Were
• Roses
• Anti
• Sectarian
• Irish
• Troubles
• Folk
• Music
• Ballad
• Peace
• Activist

[TheSandsie13]

this is a song that both sides should listen to. those of us who lived through the stupidity of "the troubles" wouldn't wish any of it on our worst enemies. i think all norhtern irish have at least one family member who either died in custody (spelling), was murdered by either sides paramilitary, or worse yet by the british army. lovely song thank you tommy. and thank you thevillagerake.

[TheVillageRake]

@TheSandsie13 and thank you for the heartfelt comment. This is without question the best song written about 'the troubles'.

For the ground our fathers plowed in, the soil, it is the same,

And the places where we say our prayers have just got different names.

'Just about sums up the craziness of it all.

Tommy Sands is an unsung hero - still very much involved in music and activism.

Peace.

[atticall01]

@meakd  what do you meant 'the so called other side'?

[lisaj62]

@TheVillageRake lovely - my favorite of favorites...sad troubles continue still...one day there will be roses and peace for all <3

[tdhbard2002]

This song is so important and so articulately put. It applies not only to the situation in Ireland, but to this world so full of extremism and intolerance. And another eye for another eye, til everyone is blind. Some of us see Tommy, maybe in time, we all can...

[meakd]

my best friends are from the "so called" other side

[TreehouseOnMars]

I first heard this in the 80's in El Paso. I have been trying to track it down since. Now the hell has come home. If you lived through the Troubles, please spare a prayer for Juarez.

[TheCountesscain]

i cried while listening to this.

[OPINIONATED1933]

The cycle ll continue till one side tis gone.

Thats the reality.

[Wurschtbrotful]

it's beautiful *-* .. even if i know this song from the school x'D