The Dear Little Shamrock Lyrics And Chords
"The Dear Little Shamrock" is a traditional Irish patriotic ballad that celebrates the shamrock as a national symbol of Ireland and expresses deep pride in Irish heritage. Written by Andrew Cherry in the early 19th century, the song conveys themes of patriotism, identity, and unity.
Song Meaning and Themes
Notable Lyrics"There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle,
'Twas Saint Patrick himself, sure, that set it."
These lines highlight the shamrock’s religious and cultural significance in Ireland, linking it directly to Ireland’s patron saint and its spiritual roots.
Legacy and Cultural Significance
Song Meaning and Themes
- Symbol of Ireland:
The shamrock, a three-leafed plant, is closely associated with St. Patrick, who used it to explain the Christian concept of the Holy Trinity. In this song, it represents Ireland’s cultural and spiritual identity. - Patriotism and Pride:
The song conveys the narrator’s fierce pride in Irish heritage, using the shamrock as a metaphor for Ireland’s beauty, strength, and resilience. - Unity and Hope:
The song emphasizes that the shamrock, despite its small size, carries profound meaning and reflects the unity and hope of the Irish people, especially in times of struggle and hardship. - Emotional Connection:
The repeated references to the "dear little shamrock" reflect a deep, emotional attachment to Irish traditions, homeland, and culture.
Notable Lyrics"There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle,
'Twas Saint Patrick himself, sure, that set it."
These lines highlight the shamrock’s religious and cultural significance in Ireland, linking it directly to Ireland’s patron saint and its spiritual roots.
Legacy and Cultural Significance
- "The Dear Little Shamrock" is often performed during St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and other Irish cultural events.
- The song is beloved for its simple yet heartfelt expression of national pride, making it a staple in the Irish folk music repertoire.
- It serves as a reminder of the enduring cultural symbols that connect the Irish people to their history and homeland.
Written by Andrew Cherry and recorded by John McCormack and later by The Irish Rovers. The sheet music and tin whistle notes are included.
This song is quiet popular around St. Patrick's Day around the world. Other songs sang that day include
Hail Glorious St. Patrick Song by Irish folk group The Wolfe Tones.
This song is quiet popular around St. Patrick's Day around the world. Other songs sang that day include
Hail Glorious St. Patrick Song by Irish folk group The Wolfe Tones.
[G]There's a dear little plant that [D7]grows in our [G]Isle,
'Twas Saint Patrick himself sure that [D]set it;
And the[G] sun on his labour with[D7] pleasure did[G] smile,
And with dew from his[D7] eye often[G] wet it.
It [D7]shines thro' the bog thro' the brake, thro' the mireland,
And he [D]call'd it the dear little[A] Shamrock of [D]Ireland.
CHORUS The[G] dear little Shamrock, the[Am] sweet little[D7] Shamrock,
The [Em]dear little, [Am]sweet little[D7] Shamrock of[G] Ireland.
That dear little plant still grows in our land,
Fresh and fair as the daughters of Erin,
Whose smiles can bewitch, and whose eyes can command,
In each climate they ever appear in:
For they shine thro' the bog, thro' the brake, and the mireland,
Just like their own dear little Shamrock of Ireland. CHORUS
That dear little plant that springs from our soil,
When its three little leaves are extended,
Denotes from the stalk we together should toil,
And ourselves by ourselves be befriended.
And still thro' the bog, thro' the brake, and the mireland,
From one root should branch, like the Shamrock of Ireland.
'Twas Saint Patrick himself sure that [D]set it;
And the[G] sun on his labour with[D7] pleasure did[G] smile,
And with dew from his[D7] eye often[G] wet it.
It [D7]shines thro' the bog thro' the brake, thro' the mireland,
And he [D]call'd it the dear little[A] Shamrock of [D]Ireland.
CHORUS The[G] dear little Shamrock, the[Am] sweet little[D7] Shamrock,
The [Em]dear little, [Am]sweet little[D7] Shamrock of[G] Ireland.
That dear little plant still grows in our land,
Fresh and fair as the daughters of Erin,
Whose smiles can bewitch, and whose eyes can command,
In each climate they ever appear in:
For they shine thro' the bog, thro' the brake, and the mireland,
Just like their own dear little Shamrock of Ireland. CHORUS
That dear little plant that springs from our soil,
When its three little leaves are extended,
Denotes from the stalk we together should toil,
And ourselves by ourselves be befriended.
And still thro' the bog, thro' the brake, and the mireland,
From one root should branch, like the Shamrock of Ireland.
The dear little Shamrock sheet music score in G Major
The dear little shamrock lyrics
Here's the guitar chords for the key of D.
[D]There's a dear little plant that [A7]grows in our [D]Isle,
'Twas Saint Patrick himself sure that [A]set it;
And the[D] sun on his labour with[A7] pleasure did[D] smile,
And with dew from his[A7] eye often[D] wet it.
It [A7]shines thro' the bog thro' the brake, thro' the mireland,
And he [A]call'd it the dear little[E] Shamrock of [A]Ireland.
CHORUS The[D] dear little Shamrock, the[Em] sweet little[A7] Shamrock,
The [Bm]dear little, [Em]sweet little[A7] Shamrock of[D] Ireland.
Irish Songs From C-F
[D]There's a dear little plant that [A7]grows in our [D]Isle,
'Twas Saint Patrick himself sure that [A]set it;
And the[D] sun on his labour with[A7] pleasure did[D] smile,
And with dew from his[A7] eye often[D] wet it.
It [A7]shines thro' the bog thro' the brake, thro' the mireland,
And he [A]call'd it the dear little[E] Shamrock of [A]Ireland.
CHORUS The[D] dear little Shamrock, the[Em] sweet little[A7] Shamrock,
The [Bm]dear little, [Em]sweet little[A7] Shamrock of[D] Ireland.
Irish Songs From C-F
This is the front cover of The Dear Little Shamrock sheet music that was published in 1908
PADDY MacNAMARA'S BAND - Irish Party Album
Ireland, the second largest island of the British Isles, has folk music which is a living tradition in western Europe. It is music with some vigor, particularly in its dance music. Because of its extended contact with the folk music of England and the large-scale emigration of the Irish to the USA in the 19th century, Irish folk music is of particular significance in the study of the origins and spread of English-language folk songs on the North American continent.
Songs (both Irish and English) and dance music form the two main categories of Irish folk music. There is also a handful of purely instrumental airs, some descriptive, others elaborated from dance tunes, which are played purely for listening purposes rather than for dancing or marching. In ancient Ireland the cultivation and practice of music was an exclusively oral art and no system of musical notation was used. Consequently, no specimens of the music performed are available.
Interest in Irish folk music was intensified at the beginning of the 20th century. when it appeared that industrialization was killing it. Efforts were made to collect and record native songs before they vanished forever. Thousands of songs have now been collected in Ireland and England. The grand total for the world must be hundreds of thousands, for every country has its folk songs, reflecting all aspects of national life and crystalizing national expression.
This CD features Paddy MacNamara's band captured live at the Emerald Isle in Dublin in 1982. The band treated listeners to a real Irish party with rousing renditions of traditional favorites including "It Was Only An Irishman's Dream," "Dear Little Shamrock," "St. Patrick's Day," "Molly Malone" and, of course, the internationally recognized "Danny Boy." Also known as "Londonderry Air," the tune of "Danny Boy" has been arranged for practically every instrument: for violin and piano by Fritz Kreisler; for strings, horn and also for choir by Percy Grainger. Stanford used the melody in his first Irish Rhapsody and at least five sets of words have been written to it. In the performance by Paddy MacNamara's band, "Danny Boy" is lifted to a wonderful climax with convincing sensitivity.
Track List.
MACNAMARA'S BAND
BLACK VELVET BAND
IT WAS ONLY AN IRISHMAN'S DREAM
LITTLE TOWN IN THE OULD COUNTY DOWN
WHERE THE RIVER SHANNON FLOWS
JIGS
KATHLEEN
DEAR LITTLE SHAMROCK
ST. PATRICK'S DAY
IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR THE IRISH
DANNY BOY
WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING
MY WILD IRISH ROSE
GOODBYE JOHNNY
WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING
TOO-RA-LOO-RA-LOO-RAL, THAT'S AN IRISH LULLABY (SHANNON)
MOLLY MALONE
The IriSH ROVER
MOTHER MACHREE
UNG/BALLOLCOT
IRSHEEN DURKIN
HOME BOYS HOME
FINE GIRL YOU ARE
REELS
Ireland, the second largest island of the British Isles, has folk music which is a living tradition in western Europe. It is music with some vigor, particularly in its dance music. Because of its extended contact with the folk music of England and the large-scale emigration of the Irish to the USA in the 19th century, Irish folk music is of particular significance in the study of the origins and spread of English-language folk songs on the North American continent.
Songs (both Irish and English) and dance music form the two main categories of Irish folk music. There is also a handful of purely instrumental airs, some descriptive, others elaborated from dance tunes, which are played purely for listening purposes rather than for dancing or marching. In ancient Ireland the cultivation and practice of music was an exclusively oral art and no system of musical notation was used. Consequently, no specimens of the music performed are available.
Interest in Irish folk music was intensified at the beginning of the 20th century. when it appeared that industrialization was killing it. Efforts were made to collect and record native songs before they vanished forever. Thousands of songs have now been collected in Ireland and England. The grand total for the world must be hundreds of thousands, for every country has its folk songs, reflecting all aspects of national life and crystalizing national expression.
This CD features Paddy MacNamara's band captured live at the Emerald Isle in Dublin in 1982. The band treated listeners to a real Irish party with rousing renditions of traditional favorites including "It Was Only An Irishman's Dream," "Dear Little Shamrock," "St. Patrick's Day," "Molly Malone" and, of course, the internationally recognized "Danny Boy." Also known as "Londonderry Air," the tune of "Danny Boy" has been arranged for practically every instrument: for violin and piano by Fritz Kreisler; for strings, horn and also for choir by Percy Grainger. Stanford used the melody in his first Irish Rhapsody and at least five sets of words have been written to it. In the performance by Paddy MacNamara's band, "Danny Boy" is lifted to a wonderful climax with convincing sensitivity.
Track List.
MACNAMARA'S BAND
BLACK VELVET BAND
IT WAS ONLY AN IRISHMAN'S DREAM
LITTLE TOWN IN THE OULD COUNTY DOWN
WHERE THE RIVER SHANNON FLOWS
JIGS
KATHLEEN
DEAR LITTLE SHAMROCK
ST. PATRICK'S DAY
IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR THE IRISH
DANNY BOY
WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING
MY WILD IRISH ROSE
GOODBYE JOHNNY
WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILING
TOO-RA-LOO-RA-LOO-RAL, THAT'S AN IRISH LULLABY (SHANNON)
MOLLY MALONE
The IriSH ROVER
MOTHER MACHREE
UNG/BALLOLCOT
IRSHEEN DURKIN
HOME BOYS HOME
FINE GIRL YOU ARE
REELS
