Red is the Rose (Cover) by Seth Staton Watkins

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Red is the Rose (Cover) by Seth Staton Watkins

St. Patrick's Day Show House/Livestream tickets: https://bluestrawberrystl.com/show/detail/757

Took a few tries to sing this one without tearing up. One of my favorite Irish ballads and the one I've been singing the longest, Red is the Rose is a melancholy, yet sweet song of love lost, a feeling so many know time and again. Though it pains us, love is worth the cost. So don't close your heart when grief takes its toll. The dawn of another day will always come to brighten the dark recesses of our embittered minds, and herald a renewed hope in all things.

This song is the Irish version of the famous Scottish tune Loch Lomond. It was performed as early as 1934 but was made famous by the oft referred to father of Irish music, Tommy Makem. Since then, many groups have covered it, The High Kings among them.

Lyrics:
Come over the hills, my bonnie Irish lass
Come over the hills to your darling
You choose the road, love, and I'll make the vow
And I'll be your true love forever.

Chorus
Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows
Fair is the lily of the valley
Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne
But my love is fairer than any.

'Twas down by Killarney's green woods that we strayed
When the moon and the stars they were shining
The moon shone its rays on her locks of golden hair
And she swore she'd be my love forever.

Chorus

It's not for the parting that my sister pains
It's not for the grief of my mother
'Tis all for the loss of my bonny Irish lass
That my heart is breaking forever.

Chorus (x2)