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The Last Rose of Summer has a text by Thomas Moore (1807), set to a traditional Irish Melody. Thomas was a friend of Byron and Shelley. He wrote the song when he was at Jenkinstown Park in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Sir John Stevenson set the poem to its very popular and well-known melody. It has been widely sung by numerous well-known artists and played by various instrument groups and solo instruments. It has been included in shows and operas over the years. And wherever there are Irish people or lovers of Irish music is still as popular as it ever was. We considered that our collection of Folk Songs of the British Isles would not be complete without this beautiful song. So we hope you will join with us in our MusicSmiles  arrangement of one of the most famous and best-loved Irish folk songs . . .

The Last Rose of Summer
(Thomas Moore)
(2 beats Intro)

'Tis the last rose of summer
Left blooming alone,
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone!
No flower of her kindred,
No rosebud is nigh
To reflect back her blushes,
To give sigh for sigh.
(4 bars Interlude)

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one,
To pine on the stem,
Since the lovely are sleeping,
Go, sleep thou with them.
Thus kindly I scatter
Thy leaves o'er the bed,
Where thy mates of the garden
Lie scentless and dead.
(4 bars Interlude)

So soon may I follow,
When friendships decay,
From love's shining circle
The gems drop away.
When true hearts lie withered
And fond ones are flown,
Oh! who would inhabit
This bleak world alone?
(4 bars Postlude)

Like to sing it again?

Would you like to hear another Irish Folksong - The Minstrel Boy?

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