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There Were Roses

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[Verse 1]
GMy song for you this evening is Cnot to Dmake you sGad,
Nor for adding to the soDrrows of our trouCbled northern Gland,
But lGately I've been thinking and it jCust wont Dleave my Gmind,
To tell you of two Dfriends one time, who were boCth good friends of miGne.
[Verse 2]
GAlan Bell from Benagh, he lived Cjust acDross the fGields,
A great man for the Dnusic and the Cdancing and the Greels,
O'MalGly came from South Armagh to courCt young ADlice fairG,
And we'd often meet on the DRyan Roan and the Claughter filled the aGir.
[Chorus]
GThere were CrosGes, CrosGes, there were CroseGs,
And the tears of the Dpeople ran toCgether.G  
[Verse 3]
GThough Alan he was Protesant and CSean was DCatholic Gborn,
It never made much Ddifference for the fCriendship it was Gstrong,
And sGometimes in the evenings when we Cheard the Dsound of Gdrums,
We said it wont divDide us we Calways will be Gone.
[Verse 4]
GFor the ground our fathers Cploughed in the Dsoil is just the Gsame,
And the places that we sDay our prayers have jCust got different Gnames,
We taGlked about the friends who died and we Choped there'd Dbe no Gmore,
It's little then we Drealised the Ctragedy in Gstore.
[Chorus]
GThere were CrosGes, CrosGes, there were CroseGs,
And the tears of the Dpeople ran toCgether.G  
[Verse 5]
GIt was on a Sunday morning when the Cawful Dnews came Ground,
Another killing Dhad been done just Coutside Newry GTown,
We knGew that Alan danced up there we Cknew he Dliked the Gband,
But when we heard that Dhe was dead we Cjust could not Gunderstand.
[Verse 6]
GWe gathered at the grave side on that Ccold and Drainy Gday,
And the minister he Dclosed his eyes and Cprayed for no reGvenge,
And aGll of us who knew him from aClong the DRyan GRoad,
We bowed our heads and we Dsaid a prayer for the Cresting of his Gsoul.
[Chorus]
GThere were CrosGes, CrosGes, there were CroseGs,
And the tears of the Dpeople ran toCgether.G  
[Verse 7]
GNow fear it filled the country side, there was fCear in Devery Ghome,
When the car of death came Dprowling round the lConely Ryan GRoad,
A CatGholic would be killed tonigh to Ceven Dup the Gscore,
Oh Christ it's younDg O'Malley that they'Cve taken from tGhe door.
[Verse 8]
GAlan was my friend he cried, he Cbegged them Dwith his Gfear,
But centuries of Dhatred have Cears that cannot Ghear,
An eyGe for an eye was Call that Dfilled their Gmind,
And an eye for aDnother eye till Ceveryone is Gblind.
[Chorus]
GThere were CrosGes, CrosGes, there were CroseGs,
And the tears of the Dpeople ran toCgether.G  
[Verse 10]
GSo my song for you this evening Cis not Dto make yoGu sad,
Nor for adding to the soDrrows of our trouCbled northern Gland,
But lGately I've been thinking and it jCust wont Dleave my Gmind,
To tell you of two Dfriends one time, who were boCth good friends of miGne.
[Verse 9]
GI dont know where the moral is or Cwhere the Dsong should Gend,
But I wonder just how Dmany wars are Cfought between good Gfriends,
And tGhoes that give the orders are Cnot the oDnes to diGe,
It's Bell and O'DMalley and the lCikes of you and GI.

All chords in this song (3)

The story behind the song

Tommy Sands' "There Were Roses" is a poignant Irish folk song that delves into the human cost of conflict. It tells the true story of two friends, a Protestant and a Catholic, whose bond transcends the political divides of their communities during The Troubles. The song laments the tragic loss of life, where "another killing had been done," suggesting that such violence ultimately impacts "the likes of you and I." Sands, a Northern Ireland songwriter, recorded his own version in 1985, after it was first released by Robbie O'Connell, Mick Moloney, and Jimmy Keane. It's a song that speaks to the shared sorrow and the deep personal impact of division.

AI-written from these sources:There Were Roses — Wikipedia ↗Tommy Sands — Wikipedia ↗

Story time

There Were Roses

There Were Roses

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There Were Roses

by Tommy Sands

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

[Verse 1]

G C D G

My song for you this evening is not to make you sad,

D C G

Nor for adding to the sorrows of our troubled northern land,

G C D G

But lately I've been thinking and it just wont leave my mind,

D C G

To tell you of two friends one time, who were both good friends of mine.

[Verse 2]

G C D G

Alan Bell from Benagh, he lived just across the fields,

D C G

A great man for the nusic and the dancing and the reels,

G C D G

O'Mally came from South Armagh to court young Alice fair,

D C G

And we'd often meet on the Ryan Roan and the laughter filled the air.

[Chorus]

G C G C G C G

There were roses, roses, there were roses,

D C G

And the tears of the people ran together.

[Verse 3]

G C D G

Though Alan he was Protesant and Sean was Catholic born,

D C G

It never made much difference for the friendship it was strong,

G C D G

And sometimes in the evenings when we heard the sound of drums,

D C G

We said it wont divide us we always will be one.

[Verse 4]

G C D G

For the ground our fathers ploughed in the soil is just the same,

D C G

And the places that we say our prayers have just got different names,

G C D G

We talked about the friends who died and we hoped there'd be no more,

D C G

It's little then we realised the tragedy in store.

[Chorus]

G C G C G C G

There were roses, roses, there were roses,

D C G

And the tears of the people ran together.

[Verse 5]

G C D G

It was on a Sunday morning when the awful news came round,

D C G

Another killing had been done just outside Newry Town,

G C D G

We knew that Alan danced up there we knew he liked the band,

D C G

But when we heard that he was dead we just could not understand.

[Verse 6]

G C D G

We gathered at the grave side on that cold and rainy day,

D C G

And the minister he closed his eyes and prayed for no revenge,

G C D G

And all of us who knew him from along the Ryan Road,

D C G

We bowed our heads and we said a prayer for the resting of his soul.

[Chorus]

G C G C G C G

There were roses, roses, there were roses,

D C G

And the tears of the people ran together.

[Verse 7]

G C D G

Now fear it filled the country side, there was fear in every home,

D C G

When the car of death came prowling round the lonely Ryan Road,

G C D G

A Catholic would be killed tonigh to even up the score,

D C G

Oh Christ it's young O'Malley that they've taken from the door.

[Verse 8]

G C D G

Alan was my friend he cried, he begged them with his fear,

D C G

But centuries of hatred have ears that cannot hear,

G C D G

An eye for an eye was all that filled their mind,

D C G

And an eye for another eye till everyone is blind.

[Chorus]

G C G C G C G

There were roses, roses, there were roses,

D C G

And the tears of the people ran together.

[Verse 10]

G C D G

So my song for you this evening is not to make you sad,

D C G

Nor for adding to the sorrows of our troubled northern land,

G C D G

But lately I've been thinking and it just wont leave my mind,

D C G

To tell you of two friends one time, who were both good friends of mine.

[Verse 9]

G C D G

I dont know where the moral is or where the song should end,

D C G

But I wonder just how many wars are fought between good friends,

G C D G

And thoes that give the orders are not the ones to die,

D C G

It's Bell and O'Malley and the likes of you and I.

About There Were Roses Chords by Tommy Sands

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