The Last Rose of Summer

Today I'm bringing you something special, it's 'The Last Rose of Summer' in my garden.

We used to gather round my Grandmother's piano in the front room for family sign-a-longs... All the old favourites would come out such as "Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do...", My Old Man said follow the van, and don't dilly dally on the way...." and my favourite 'The Last Rose of Summer.'

 

Originally written by Irish Poet Thomas Moore in 1805 the words have stayed with me to this day. Beethoven, Mendlessohn and Ernst all composed music based on the poem, I'm not sure whose music we were singing along to, but I do know that to this day, I always look out for my last rose of summer in the garden!

 

 

The lyrics are pretty sad! I don't scatter the rose petals over the garden, but rather leave to enjoy for as long as possible, as a reminder of the summer and as a way of looking forward to the new rosebuds after winter!

 

'Tis the last rose of summer,

Left blooming alone;

All her lovely companions

Are faded and gone;

No flower of her kindred,

No rosebud is nigh,

To reflect back her blushes,

Or give sigh for sigh.

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one!

To pine on the stem;

Since the lovely are sleeping,

Go, sleep thou with them.

Thus kindly I scatter,

Thy leaves o'er the bed,

Where thy mates of the garden

Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow,

When friendships decay,

And from Love's shining circle

The gems drop away.

When true hearts lie withered,

And fond ones are flown,

Oh! who would inhabit

This bleak world alone?

The Last Rose with Andre Rieu his orchestra, choir and the sopranos Suzan Erens (Holland), Carmen Monarcha (Brazil) and Carla Maffioletti (Brazil) in Kerkrade HollandComposers: Music: Thomas Moore, 1779-1852From: The Flying Dutchman 2004

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nc55QYn970
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nc55QYn970">last rose</a>

All typos for the pleasure of those who enjoy finding!