Red is the Rose Lyrics:
5 Reasons to Love this Song

Red is the Rose lyrics tell the tale of a blossoming love that ends in sadness as the two lovers are separated.  Many believe that the song is about one of the lovers emigrating apart from the other, a topic that inspires plenty of Irish songs and stories.

This lovely song is not originally Irish, but is sung to the same haunting melody as a 19th century Scottish tune: The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond.

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.

Just want the complete lyrics? You can jump immediately to ALL of the lyrics to Red is the Rose here, plus a couple of our favorite performances of the song.

Interested in a few more facts and ideas?  Keep reading for some fascinating information about this beloved "Irish" ballad.

Things to Know About Red is the Rose Lyrics

Here are some fun facts about Red is the Rose.  Hopefully they will entice you to sing along next time you hear it!

1. This classic Irish song is not originally Irish. It comes from a well-known Scottish song called The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond, which dates back to at least the 19th century. Red is the Rose lyrics express the Irish variation, and are sung to the same traditional melody.
2. The song become popular on a global scale thanks to Tommy Makem, who is sometimes known as the Godfather of Irish Music. Tommy Makem did record the song and perform it widely, but he is not the songwriter as some claim.
3. In fact, the earliest recording of Red is the Rose dates all the way back to 1934. The song was sung by Josephine Beirne and George Sweetman, cementing it in history as a traditional Irish folk song.
4. Many major artists have since recorded the song. Red is the Rose has been sung by The High Kings and The Chieftains, among many others. Famously, the Irish tenor Anthony Kearns also sang a recorded a version of the song at the John F. Kennedy Library in honor of JFK's mother, who was also named Rose
5. Many modern versions of the song have an incomplete ending. Misheard "Read is the Rose" lyrics over time confuse the story. The original version reveals that the man doesn't miss his mother or his sister as much as his lover, who has left Ireland forever.

Red is the Rose 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)

Songwriter:Tommy Makem

Melody Loch Loman R. Burns

Our Favorite Performance

Please enjoy this rich and engrossing performance by the Irish Tenors.

Another Version - Which Do You Like Better?

And here is a beautiful a capela version by the High Kings.

Want More Irish Song Lyrics?

It is probably obvious - at Irish Expressions, we love Irish songs!  The music of the Emerald Isle brings people together, telling stories that touch every human emotion.

Learning the lyrics and singing these songs gives us a deeper sense of connection with Ireland, wherever in the world we happen to be!

To help you build your own personal Irish songbook, we have over the years created many downloadable, share-able Irish games, puzzles, recipes, song lyrics, quizzes, and much, much more.

Want them right now?  Keep reading to learn about "Your Irish Expressions Playbook."

More Fun With Irish Expressions

Congratulations on learning more about the Emerald Isle and discovering what we like to call your "Irish Side."  You may be thinking "I'd love to actually VISIT Ireland but that's really not in the cards right now.  What am I supposed to do with the stuff I just learned?"

Well never fear!  Since 2009 we have collected all of the best printable, shareable resources we could find, to help you put your new knowledge of Ireland to good use.  We've put them all together in a single download we call "Your Irish Expressions Playbook," which contains over 50 pages of games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, travel guides and much, much more.

Purchase them ALL for one small price, print as many copies as you like and share them with your friends - with no limitations!   But order soon - we are already adding to the Playbook for future editions and this price will not last long. 

Oh, want one more reason to order right away?  If you buy YOUR copy of the Playbook now, you will be allowed to upgrade to any new future edition for FREE.

ORDER YOUR IRISH EXPRESSIONS PLAYBOOK HERE

ENJOYING IRISH EXPRESSIONS?  PLEASE SHARE US WITH OTHERS!