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 Cú Chulainn
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 calling
Far away you rolling river
Roll down the mountain side
On down on down, go Lassie go

Oh 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 so I might know
So 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 going Wilde

Ah sure, Brendan where have you Behan?
Looking for a girl with green eyes
My dark Rosaleen is my only colleen
That Georgie knows Best

But Van is the man
Starvation once again
Drinking whiskey in the jar-o
Synge's Playboy of the Western World

As Shaw, Sean I was born and reared there
Where the Mountains of Mourne come down to the sea
Is such a long, long way from Tipperary