There Were Roses - Tommy Sands
[1]
My [C] song for you this evening is [F] not to [G] make you [C] sad,
Nor for [C] adding to the [G] sorrows of our [F] troubled northern [C] land,
But [C] lately I've been thinking, and it [F] just wont [G] leave my [C] mind,
To [C] tell you of two [G] friends of mine, who were [F] both good friends of [C] mine.
[2]
[C] Alan Bell from Benagh, [F] he lived just [G] across the [C] fields,
A [C] great man for the [G] music and the [F] dancing and the [C] reels,
[C] O'Malley came from South Armagh, to [F] court young [G] Alice [C] fair,
And [C] we'd often meet on the [G] Ryan Road and the [F] laughter filled the [C] air.
[Chorus]
[C]There were [F] ros[C]es,[F] ros[C]es,There were [F] ros[C]es,
And the [C] tears of the [G] people [F] ran to[C]gether.
[3]
Though [C] Alan he was Protestant, and [F] Sean was [G] Catholic [C] born,
It [C] never made much [G] difference, for the [F] friendship it was [C] strong,
And [C] sometimes in the evenings when we [F] heard the [G] sound of [C] drums,
We [C] said it wont [G] divide us, we [F] always will be as [C] one.
[4]
For the [C] ground our fathers ploughed in, the [F] soil is [G] just the [C] same,
And the [C] places where we [G] say our prayers have [F] just got different [C] names,
We [C] talked about the friends who died, and we [F] hoped there'd [G] be no [C] more,
It's [C] little then we [G] realised the [F] tragedy in [C] store.
[Chorus]
[5]
It was [C] on a Sunday morning when the [F] awful [G] news came [C] down,
[C] Another killing had been [G] done just [F] outside Newry [C] Town,
We [C] knew that Alan danced up there, we [F] knew he [G] liked the [C] bands,
But [C] when we heard that he was [G] dead, we [F] could not [C] understand.
[6]
We [C] gathered at his grave side [F] on that [G] cold and rainy [C] day,
And the [C] minister he [G] closed his eyes and [F] prayed for [C] no revenge,
And [C] all of us who knew him, from [F] along the [G] Ryan [C] Road,
We [C] bowed our heads and we [G] said a prayer, for the [F] resting of his [C] soul.
[7]
Now [C] fear it filled the country side, [F] there was [G] fear in every [C] home,
When the [C] car of death came [G] prowling round the [F] lonely Ryan [C] Road,
A [C] Catholic would be killed tonight, to [F] even [G] up the [C] score,
Oh [C] Christ it's young [G] O'Malley, that they've [F] taken from the [C] door.
[8]
[C] Alan was my friend he cried, he [F] begged them [G] with his [C] fear,
But [C] centuries of [G] hatred have [F]ears that cannot [C] hear,
An [C] eye for an eye, was [F] all that [G] filled their [C] mind,
And [C] another eye for [G] another eye, till [F] everyone is [C] blind.
[Chorus]
[9]
I [C] don’t know where the moral is or [F] where this [G] song should [C] end,
But I [C] wonder just how [G] many wars are [F] fought between good [C] friends,
And [C] those that give the orders are [F] not the [G] ones to [C] die,
It's [C] Bell and [G] O'Malley and the [F] likes of you and [C] I.
[Chorus]
(Added by Rodger, Bangor Ukes 2025)
1
My C song for you this evening is F not to G make you C sad,
Nor for C adding to the G sorrows of our F troubled northern C land,
But C lately I've been thinking, and it F just wont G leave my C mind,
To C tell you of two G friends of mine, who were F both good friends of C mine.
2
C Alan Bell from Benagh, F he lived just G across the C fields,
A C great man for the G music and the F dancing and the C reels,
C O'Malley came from South Armagh, to F court young G Alice C fair,
And C we'd often meet on the G Ryan Road and the F laughter filled the C air.
Chorus
CThere were F rosCes,F rosCes,There were F rosCes,
And the C tears of the G people F ran toCgether.
3
Though C Alan he was Protestant, and F Sean was G Catholic C born,
It C never made much G difference, for the F friendship it was C strong,
And C sometimes in the evenings when we F heard the G sound of C drums,
We C said it wont G divide us, we F always will be as C one.
4
For the C ground our fathers ploughed in, the F soil is G just the C same,
And the C places where we G say our prayers have F just got different C names,
We C talked about the friends who died, and we F hoped there'd G be no C more,
It's C little then we G realised the F tragedy in C store.
Chorus
5
It was C on a Sunday morning when the F awful G news came C down,
C Another killing had been G done just F outside Newry C Town,
We C knew that Alan danced up there, we F knew he G liked the C bands,
But C when we heard that he was G dead, we F could not C understand.
6
We C gathered at his grave side F on that G cold and rainy C day,
And the C minister he G closed his eyes and F prayed for C no revenge,
And C all of us who knew him, from F along the G Ryan C Road,
We C bowed our heads and we G said a prayer, for the F resting of his C soul.
7
Now C fear it filled the country side, F there was G fear in every C home,
When the C car of death came G prowling round the F lonely Ryan C Road,
A C Catholic would be killed tonight, to F even G up the C score,
Oh C Christ it's young G O'Malley, that they've F taken from the C door.
8
C Alan was my friend he cried, he F begged them G with his C fear,
But C centuries of G hatred have Fears that cannot C hear,
An C eye for an eye, was F all that G filled their C mind,
And C another eye for G another eye, till F everyone is C blind.
Chorus
9
I C don’t know where the moral is or F where this G song should C end,
But I C wonder just how G many wars are F fought between good C friends,
And C those that give the orders are F not the G ones to C die,
It's C Bell and G O'Malley and the F likes of you and C I.
Chorus
Added by Rodger, Bangor Ukes 2025