The Rose of Allendale Lyrics
Foster & AllenMusic Video
The Rose of Allendale
The moon was fair, the skies were clear
No breath came over the sea
When Mary left her highland home
And wandered forth with me
The flowers picked mountainside
And fragrance filled the vale
By far the sweetest flower there
Was the Rose of Allendale
Sweet Rose of Allendale
Sweet Rose of Allendale
By far the sweetest flower there
Was the Rose of Allendale
Where e'er I ventured east or west
Though fate began to lour
A solace still was she to me
In sorrow's lonely hour
When tempests lashed our gallant barque
And rent her shivering sail
One maiden's form withstood the storm
Was the Rose of Allendale
Sweet Rose of Allendale
Sweet Rose of Allendale
One maiden's form withstood the storm
Was the Rose of Allendale
And when my fever'd lips were parched
On burning African sand
She whispered naught of happiness
And tales of distant lands
My life has been a wilderness
Unblessed by fortune's game
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
Song Details
Composer: Sidney Nelson (1800–1862) - English composer.
Lyricist: Charles Jefferys (1807–1865) - English music publisher and composer of songs.
Song Brief: The song tells the story of a sailor or traveler who has weathered many storms and crossed many lands. He concludes that through all his hardships, nothing was as beautiful or as constant as his "Rose"—a girl from Allendale.
📖 Glossary:- Allendale: A place name used in the song, often understood as a poetic or symbolic setting rather than a specific location.
- Rose: A common symbol in folk songs representing beauty, love, and admiration. In this context, it refers to the woman at the heart of the ballad.
- Lour: An older English verb meaning to look threatening, to darken, or to appear gloomy.
- Barque: A sailing ship, usually with three or more masts, traditionally used for long sea voyages.
- Rent: In older nautical language, “rent” means tore, ripped, or split apart — usually by force of wind or storm.
- Shivering sail: A sail that is shaking, flapping, or trembling violently in the wind because the ship is struggling to hold its course.
- Naught: “nothing” or “not at all.”
- Unblessed by fortune's game: In older song language, fortune refers to fate or luck, and fortune’s game suggests the unpredictable way life can rise or fall.
So the phrase means: “When life did not go well for me” or “When luck was not on my side.”
Genre: Folk Ballad
Covers: Mary Black, The Dubliners, Paddy Reilly, The Corries, Neil Byrne & Ryan Kelly, Barleycorn, Susan McCann, Tommy Flemming, Lisa McHugh, Gina Joyce.
Featured Artists: Foster & Allen
💿 Album: After All These Years
Released: April 30, 2007
Country: Ireland / UK
Format: CD, Digital Album
Label: DMG TV
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