| Music File Barry Taylor |
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Thomas Moore (1779-1852) wrote these lyrics for Bendemeer's Stream. Around 1900 Percy French wrote the lyrics by which the tune is better known - The Mountains of Mourne. These words were in Moore's Lalla Rookh Part 1 (1817) for which he was paid 3,000 pounds - a record at the time.
For a complete list of tunes by Thomas Moore at this site see the Contemplator's Short Biography of Thomas Moore. |
There's a bower of roses, by Bendemeer's Stream, And the nightingale sings 'round it all the day long. In the time of my childhood 'Twas sweet like a dream, To sit by the roses And hear the bird's song. That bow'r and its music I ne'er can forget, But of when alone In the bloom of the year I think, "Is the nightingale singing there yet?" Are the roses still bright by the calm Bendemeer?" No, the roses soon withered that hung o'er the wave, But the blossoms were gathered While freshly they shone, And the dew was distilled On the flowers, that gave All the fragrance of summer - when summer is gone. Thus memory draws from delight ere it dies, An essence that breathes of it many a year. Thus, bright to my soul as 'twas then to my eyes, Is that bow'r on the banks of the calm Bendemeer. |
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From
Folk Songs of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales Second verse From Songs of Ireland Jerry Silverman See Bibliography for full information. |
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