The Rose Tree

Usually played with the Dashing White Sergeant throughout England and Scotland, its not played asa polka over here but rather as something between a march and a reel. I don't know a ceilidh band anywhere on Mainland Britain that would not have this tune in their repertoire.
Noel Jackson
Angels of the North

# Posted on November 10th 2002 by noelbats

Dance Tune Sets

Also widely used in Australia with Dashing White Sergent and White Cockade

# Posted on November 10th 2002 by alastair wilson

This also sounds a great deal like the "Lilted March" on Harry Bradley's "Bad Turns and Horseshoe Bends" - especially the second strain.

# Posted on July 19th 2005 by FyfferGuy

Does anyone have the lyrics that go along with this?

# Posted on September 13th 2005 by elizab

Cups and Saucers

It's called Cups and Saucers on Bobby Gardiner's album "The Clare Shout". He lilts the tune and runs it into the song "Cups and Saucers" (of the same tune). Maybe that is song eilzab is talking about.

# Posted on January 7th 2007 by 52Paddy

"Portláirge"

Ó do bhíosa lá i Portláirge,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um
Bhí fíon is punch ar chlár ann,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um
Bhi lán á tígh de mhnáibh ann,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um
Agus mise ag ól a sláinte,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um

Agus d’éaluigh bean ó Rath liom,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um
Agus triúr ó Thiobraid Árann,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um
Ní raibh a muintir sásta,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um
Ní rabhadar ach leath-shásta,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um

Agus d’éaluigh bean le spreas uaim,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um
’S ní raibh sí ró-dheas liom,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um
Bhí an triúr ó Thiobraid Árann,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um
Agus tháinig siad ar ais liom,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um

Ó raghadsa ón Charraig amárach,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um
Agus tabharfad cailin bréa liom,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um
Gabhfaimid trid an Bhearnan,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um
Ó thuidh go Thiobraid Árann,
Fall dow fall dee fall-lah dad-eye-um

I remember there were also lyrics for "The Rose Tree"...

# Posted on January 8th 2007 by ceolachan

"Portláirge"
http://www.celticartscenter.com/Songs/Irish/Portlairge.html

# Posted on January 8th 2007 by ceolachan

The Clancys and Makems sang this one...

# Posted on January 8th 2007 by ceolachan

The tune is also commonly used for the Child ballad "The False Knight on the Road", where the child answers the devil's riddles.

# Posted on January 27th 2007 by GaryAMartin

Four Hand Reel used The Flowers of Edinburgh for The False Knight on the Road. I wonder which came first? The Rose Tree was always played by the majority of Ceili Bands as part of the set of tunes for The Siege of Ennis

# Posted on May 7th 2008 by Free Reed

In D or D Mix...

As there are no Cs in the posted version it can be argued either way. In any case, G Major it is not. It's not a big deal, the notes are right, but if you want to search for tunes in a certain key, this doesn't come up in the right place.

# Posted on July 9th 2009 by muspc

This is my version of the song:

X: 1
T: Rose Tree
M: 2/4
L: 1/8
R: polka
K: Cmaj
e/d/|:cAGE| G/A/G/E/G A/B/| cB/c/dc/d/| edde/d/|
cAGE| G/A/G/E/G A/B/| cB/c/dc/d/|1edce/d/:|2edcc/d/||
|:edef |gagf/e/| d aaa/b/ |a dde/d/ |
cAGE| G/A/G/E/G A/B/| cB/c/dc/d/|1edcc/d/:|2edc2||

# Posted on July 10th 2009 by talltorpedo

Port Lairge

Thanks Ceolachan for the definitive post. I remember this one back in the sixties performed by the Clancy Brothers. At the time we used to also play it in a polka set - Port Lairge/the Girl I Left Behind - but I have no idea why this combination or who recorded them like this originally.

# Posted on July 11th 2009 by Bannerman