Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral
That's An Irish Lullaby

Music File
Lesley Nelson

Information
Lyrics
The lyrics to Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral were written in 1913 by James Royce Shannon (1881-1946). It premiered in Chauncey Olcott's production of Shameen Dhu (Black-haired Jimmy). The song later became a hit for Bing Crosby who sang it in Going My Way (1944).

Chauncey Olcott was born in Buffalo, New York. He produced several shows about Ireland for the New York stage.

Over in Killarney,
Many years ago,
Me mither sang a song to me
In tones so sweet and low.
Just a simple little ditty,
In her good ould Irish way,
And I'd give the world if she could sing
That song to me this day.
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Hush, now don't you cry!
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
That's an Irish lullaby.


Oft, in dreams I wander
To that cot again,
I feel her arms a huggin' me
As when she held me then.
And I hear her voice a humin'
To me as in days or yore,
When she used to rock me fast asleep
Outside the cabin door.
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Hush, now don't you cry!
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
That's an Irish lullaby.


From Popular Irish Songs
See Bibliography for full information.