Róisín Dubh (Black Rose): A Rock Legend

Tell me the legends of long ago

When the kings and queens would dance

In the realm of the black rose

Play me the melodies I want to know

So I can teach my children, oh

Pray, tell me the story of young Cúchulainn

How his eyes were dark, his expression sullen

And how he'd fight and always won

And how they cried when he was fallen

Oh, tell me the story of the queen of this land

And how her sons died at her own hand

And how fools obey commands

Oh, tell me the legends of long ago

Where the mountains of Mourne come down to the sea

Will she no come back to me

Will she no come back to me

Oh, Shenandoah, I hear you callin'

Far away, you rollin' river

Roll down the mountain side

All around the bloomin' heather

Go, Lassie, go

Oh, tell me the legends of long ago

When the kings and queens would dance

In the realms of the black rose

And play me the melodies so that I might know

And I can tell my children, oh

My róisín dubh is my one and only true love

It was a joy that Joyce brought to me

While William Butler waits

And Oscar, he's goin' Wilde

Ah sure, Brendan, where have you Behan?

Lookin' for a girl with green eyes

My dark Rosaleen is my colleen

That Georgie knows Best

But Van is the man

Starvation once again

Drinkin' whiskey in the jar, oh

Synge's Playboys of the western world

Ah Shaw, Sean, I was born and reared there

Where the mountains of Mourne come down to the sea

It's such a long, long way from Tipperary