The Rose of Allendale - Lyrics, Chords, Origin and Recording
Capo at 5th Fret
Apparently a lot of people think that the Rose of Allendale is a traditional song from Scotland or Ireland, but in fact neither of these things is true. Allendale is in fact a village in the English county of Northumberland. And the song isn't traditional in that we know that the words were written by Charles Jeffreys and the music by Sidney Nelson in the 1840s. Having said that, it does seem to have undergone some 'organic change' down the years as it was performed by numerous people. There are some slight variations of both the lyrics and the music. But what a cracking song...
The moon was bright and the night was clear
No breeze came over the sea
When Mary left her highland home
And wandered forth with me
The flowers be-decked the mountainside
And fragrance filled the vale
But by far the sweetest flower there
Was the Rose of Allendale
Oh Rose of Allendale
Sweet Rose of Allendale
By far the sweetest flower there
Was the Rose of Allendale
Where e'er I wandered east or west
Though fate began to lour
A solace still was she to me
In sorrow's lonely hour
When tempests lashed our lonely barque
And rent her quivering sail
One maiden's form withstood the storm
'Twas the Rose of Allendale
Sweet Rose of Allendale
Sweet Rose of Allendale
One maiden's form withstood the storm
'Twas the Rose of Allendale
And when my fever'd lips were parched
On Afric's burning sands
She whispered hopes of happiness
And tales of distant lands
My life has been a wilderness
Unblessed by fortune's wheel
Had fate not linked my love to hers
The Rose of Allendale
Sweet Rose of Allendale
Sweet Rose of Allendale
Had fate not linked my love to hers
The Rose of Allendale
