The Rose Of Allendale Lyrics And Chords
The 5 string banjo chords for G Major are included. The rose of Allandale sheet music notes in Solfege Do Re Mi format now added. I have included three versions here, the first is in the key I sing in myself, D Major, the next version by The Corries in the key of G Major with the Dubliners version also in the key of G' . The first youtube video is Susan McCann who does a nice rendition with Sean Wilson. Susan covered one of my favorites Slievenam Song many years ago. Then The Corries [ lyrics ], and Sean Cannon of The Dubliners with vocals.The song was written in the 1930's by Charles Jefferys with the music from Sidney Nelson. The town of Allendale is in Northumberland England.The sheet music is included plus a pdf for downloading . The guitar chords are in chordpro.
The Rose Of Allendale Lyrics And Chords In D Major
The[D] morning was fair,the[G] sky's were[D] clear
No breath came o;re the[A] sea
When[D] Mare left her[G] highland[D] home
And[G] wandered[A] forth with[D] me
Though[A] flowere decked the[D] mountain side
And[G] fragrance[D] filled the[A] vale
By[D] far the sweetest[G] flower[D] there
Was the[G] rose of[A] Allen[D]dale
[Chorus]
Was[D] the rose of Allen[G]dale,was the[Bm] rose of Allen[A]dale
By[G] far the sweetest[D] flower there,was the[G] rose of [A7]Allen[D]dale
[2]
Where'er I wandered east or west,
Tho'faith began to lour
A solace still she was to me
In sorrow's lonely hour
When tempest lashed our lonely barque
And rent her shivering sail
One maiden form withstood the storm
'Twas the rose of Allendale
[3]
And when my fever'd lips were parched
On Afrie's burning sands
She whispered hopes of happiness
And tales of distant lands
My life has been a wilderness
Unbiest by fortune's gale
Had faith not linked my lot to hers
The rose of Allendale
The[D] morning was fair,the[G] sky's were[D] clear
No breath came o;re the[A] sea
When[D] Mare left her[G] highland[D] home
And[G] wandered[A] forth with[D] me
Though[A] flowere decked the[D] mountain side
And[G] fragrance[D] filled the[A] vale
By[D] far the sweetest[G] flower[D] there
Was the[G] rose of[A] Allen[D]dale
[Chorus]
Was[D] the rose of Allen[G]dale,was the[Bm] rose of Allen[A]dale
By[G] far the sweetest[D] flower there,was the[G] rose of [A7]Allen[D]dale
[2]
Where'er I wandered east or west,
Tho'faith began to lour
A solace still she was to me
In sorrow's lonely hour
When tempest lashed our lonely barque
And rent her shivering sail
One maiden form withstood the storm
'Twas the rose of Allendale
[3]
And when my fever'd lips were parched
On Afrie's burning sands
She whispered hopes of happiness
And tales of distant lands
My life has been a wilderness
Unbiest by fortune's gale
Had faith not linked my lot to hers
The rose of Allendale
The Rose of Allendale” is one of the loveliest Scottish ballads ever written.
Below you’ll find a complete arrangement for guitar with full chords for all verses, a gentle folk strumming pattern, and a fingerpicking intro + first verse (in D major).
🎶 The Rose of Allendale
Key: D Major
🌿 Fingerpicking Intro + Verse 1
Here’s a simple Travis-style fingerpicking pattern (thumb alternating bass + fingers pick melody notes).
Use this for the intro and first verse before moving to strumming.
Picking pattern:
Thumb (T) plays 4th → 3rd → 5th → 3rd strings
Fingers pluck melody strings (1st & 2nd) as written
D G D
e|-----2-------2-------2-------2-|-----3-------3-------2-------2-|
B|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|---0---0---0---0---3---3---3---|
G|-2-------2-------2-------2-----|-0-------0-------2-------2-----|
D|0-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------3-------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A D
e|-----0-------0-------0-------0-|-----2-------2-------2-------2-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
G|-2-------2-------2-------2-----|-2-------2-------2-------2-----|
D|-------------------------------|0-------------------------------|
A|0-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Continue this pattern through the first verse.
Verse 1
The [D]morning was fair, the [G]skies were [D]clear,
No breath came o’er the [A]sea,
When [D]Mary left her [G]Highland [D]home,
And [G]wandered [A]forth with [D]me.
Though [A]flowers decked the [D]mountain side,
And [G]fragrance [D]filled the [A]vale,
By [D]far the sweetest [G]flower [D]there
Was the [G]Rose of [A]Allen[D]dale.
Chorus
Was [D]the Rose of Allen[G]dale,
Was the [Bm]Rose of Allen[A]dale,
By [G]far the sweetest [D]flower there
Was the [G]Rose of [A7]Allen[D]dale.
Verse 2
Where’[D]er I wandered [G]east or [D]west,
Though faith began to [A]lour,
A [D]solace still she [G]was to [D]me,
In [G]sorrow’s [A]lonely [D]hour.
When [A]tempests lashed our [D]lonely barque,
And [G]rent her [D]shivering [A]sail,
One [D]maiden form [G]withstood the [D]storm --
’Twas the [G]Rose of [A]Allen[D]dale.
→ Chorus
Verse 3
And [D]when my fevered [G]lips were [D]parched
On Afric’s burning [A]sands,
She [D]whispered hopes of [G]happiness
And [G]tales of [A]distant [D]lands.
My [A]life has been a [D]wilderness,
Un[G]blest by [D]fortune’s [A]gale,
Had [D]fate not linked my [G]lot to [D]hers,
The [G]Rose of [A]Allen[D]dale.
→ Final Chorus
🎸 Strumming Pattern
For verses (gentle ballad style, 3/4 time):
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↑
(count “1 2-and 3-and”)
For the chorus, you can open up slightly with:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑ ↓↑
(add a bit of lift — more “waltz” swing)
💡 Playing Tips
Use fingerpicking on Verse 1 for storytelling intimacy.
Move to soft strumming in Verse 2 and stronger strumming in Verse 3 + chorus.
End on a long, ringing D chord.
Below you’ll find a complete arrangement for guitar with full chords for all verses, a gentle folk strumming pattern, and a fingerpicking intro + first verse (in D major).
🎶 The Rose of Allendale
Key: D Major
🌿 Fingerpicking Intro + Verse 1
Here’s a simple Travis-style fingerpicking pattern (thumb alternating bass + fingers pick melody notes).
Use this for the intro and first verse before moving to strumming.
Picking pattern:
Thumb (T) plays 4th → 3rd → 5th → 3rd strings
Fingers pluck melody strings (1st & 2nd) as written
D G D
e|-----2-------2-------2-------2-|-----3-------3-------2-------2-|
B|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|---0---0---0---0---3---3---3---|
G|-2-------2-------2-------2-----|-0-------0-------2-------2-----|
D|0-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------3-------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------|
A D
e|-----0-------0-------0-------0-|-----2-------2-------2-------2-|
B|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
G|-2-------2-------2-------2-----|-2-------2-------2-------2-----|
D|-------------------------------|0-------------------------------|
A|0-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
Continue this pattern through the first verse.
Verse 1
The [D]morning was fair, the [G]skies were [D]clear,
No breath came o’er the [A]sea,
When [D]Mary left her [G]Highland [D]home,
And [G]wandered [A]forth with [D]me.
Though [A]flowers decked the [D]mountain side,
And [G]fragrance [D]filled the [A]vale,
By [D]far the sweetest [G]flower [D]there
Was the [G]Rose of [A]Allen[D]dale.
Chorus
Was [D]the Rose of Allen[G]dale,
Was the [Bm]Rose of Allen[A]dale,
By [G]far the sweetest [D]flower there
Was the [G]Rose of [A7]Allen[D]dale.
Verse 2
Where’[D]er I wandered [G]east or [D]west,
Though faith began to [A]lour,
A [D]solace still she [G]was to [D]me,
In [G]sorrow’s [A]lonely [D]hour.
When [A]tempests lashed our [D]lonely barque,
And [G]rent her [D]shivering [A]sail,
One [D]maiden form [G]withstood the [D]storm --
’Twas the [G]Rose of [A]Allen[D]dale.
→ Chorus
Verse 3
And [D]when my fevered [G]lips were [D]parched
On Afric’s burning [A]sands,
She [D]whispered hopes of [G]happiness
And [G]tales of [A]distant [D]lands.
My [A]life has been a [D]wilderness,
Un[G]blest by [D]fortune’s [A]gale,
Had [D]fate not linked my [G]lot to [D]hers,
The [G]Rose of [A]Allen[D]dale.
→ Final Chorus
🎸 Strumming Pattern
For verses (gentle ballad style, 3/4 time):
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↑
(count “1 2-and 3-and”)
For the chorus, you can open up slightly with:
↓ ↓↑ ↓↑ ↓↑
(add a bit of lift — more “waltz” swing)
💡 Playing Tips
Use fingerpicking on Verse 1 for storytelling intimacy.
Move to soft strumming in Verse 2 and stronger strumming in Verse 3 + chorus.
End on a long, ringing D chord.
G major sits beautifully for singing “The Rose of Allendale” and gives a warmer, folkier tone on guitar.
Below is the full song transposed to G major, with a fingerpicking pattern for Verse 1, chords for all verses and chorus, and a strumming pattern that fits its waltz (3/4) rhythm.
🎶 The Rose of Allendale
Key: G Major (Capo 0)
🌿 Fingerpicking Intro + Verse 1
Use a gentle Travis / arpeggio style to open.
Picking pattern (3/4 time):
Thumb alternates bass (6th–4th), fingers pluck melody strings (2nd–1st).
Play T–i–m–T–i–m for each chord.
G C G
e|-----3-------3-------3-------3-|-----0-------0-------3-------3-|
B|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|---1---1---1---1---0---0---0---|
G|-0-------0-------0-------0-----|-0-------0-------0-------0-----|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|3-------------------------------|
E|3-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
D G
e|-----2-------2-------2-------2-|-----3-------3-------3-------3-|
B|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
G|-2-------2-------2-------2-----|-0-------0-------0-------0-----|
D|0-------------------------------|0-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|3-------------------------------|
Continue this pattern softly through the first verse.
Verse 1
The [G]morning was fair, the [C]skies were [G]clear,
No breath came o’er the [D]sea,
When [G]Mary left her [C]Highland [G]home,
And [C]wandered [D]forth with [G]me.
Though [D]flowers decked the [G]mountain side,
And [C]fragrance [G]filled the [D]vale,
By [G]far the sweetest [C]flower [G]there
Was the [C]Rose of [D]Allen[G]dale.
Chorus
Was [G]the Rose of Allen[C]dale,
Was the [Em]Rose of Allen[D]dale,
By [C]far the sweetest [G]flower there
Was the [C]Rose of [D7]Allen[G]dale.
Verse 2
Where’[G]er I wandered [C]east or [G]west,
Though faith began to [D]lour,
A [G]solace still she [C]was to [G]me,
In [C]sorrow’s [D]lonely [G]hour.
When [D]tempests lashed our [G]lonely barque,
And [C]rent her [G]shivering [D]sail,
One [G]maiden form [C]withstood the [G]storm --
’Twas the [C]Rose of [D]Allen[G]dale.
→ Chorus
Verse 3
And [G]when my fevered [C]lips were [G]parched
On Afric’s burning [D]sands,
She [G]whispered hopes of [C]happiness
And [C]tales of [D]distant [G]lands.
My [D]life has been a [G]wilderness,
Un[C]blest by [G]fortune’s [D]gale,
Had [G]fate not linked my [C]lot to [G]hers,
The [C]Rose of [D]Allen[G]dale.
→ Final Chorus
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz Feel)
Keep it lilting and flowing — think of a gentle sway rather than a march.
Basic pattern (for verses):
↓ (bass) – ↓↑ – ↓↑
(count “1 2-and 3-and”)
For chorus (more open):
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↑ ↓↑
Let the chords ring out more fully here.
💡 Playing Tips
Use fingerpicking on Verse 1 for storytelling intimacy.
Shift to soft strumming from Verse 2 onward.
Add light hammer-ons on G (hammer 0→2 on A string) for Irish flavor.
End on a long, ringing G chord.
Included below are the chord shapes for the 5 string banjo chords in G Major.
Below is the full song transposed to G major, with a fingerpicking pattern for Verse 1, chords for all verses and chorus, and a strumming pattern that fits its waltz (3/4) rhythm.
🎶 The Rose of Allendale
Key: G Major (Capo 0)
🌿 Fingerpicking Intro + Verse 1
Use a gentle Travis / arpeggio style to open.
Picking pattern (3/4 time):
Thumb alternates bass (6th–4th), fingers pluck melody strings (2nd–1st).
Play T–i–m–T–i–m for each chord.
G C G
e|-----3-------3-------3-------3-|-----0-------0-------3-------3-|
B|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|---1---1---1---1---0---0---0---|
G|-0-------0-------0-------0-----|-0-------0-------0-------0-----|
D|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|3-------------------------------|
E|3-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
D G
e|-----2-------2-------2-------2-|-----3-------3-------3-------3-|
B|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
G|-2-------2-------2-------2-----|-0-------0-------0-------0-----|
D|0-------------------------------|0-------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------|3-------------------------------|
Continue this pattern softly through the first verse.
Verse 1
The [G]morning was fair, the [C]skies were [G]clear,
No breath came o’er the [D]sea,
When [G]Mary left her [C]Highland [G]home,
And [C]wandered [D]forth with [G]me.
Though [D]flowers decked the [G]mountain side,
And [C]fragrance [G]filled the [D]vale,
By [G]far the sweetest [C]flower [G]there
Was the [C]Rose of [D]Allen[G]dale.
Chorus
Was [G]the Rose of Allen[C]dale,
Was the [Em]Rose of Allen[D]dale,
By [C]far the sweetest [G]flower there
Was the [C]Rose of [D7]Allen[G]dale.
Verse 2
Where’[G]er I wandered [C]east or [G]west,
Though faith began to [D]lour,
A [G]solace still she [C]was to [G]me,
In [C]sorrow’s [D]lonely [G]hour.
When [D]tempests lashed our [G]lonely barque,
And [C]rent her [G]shivering [D]sail,
One [G]maiden form [C]withstood the [G]storm --
’Twas the [C]Rose of [D]Allen[G]dale.
→ Chorus
Verse 3
And [G]when my fevered [C]lips were [G]parched
On Afric’s burning [D]sands,
She [G]whispered hopes of [C]happiness
And [C]tales of [D]distant [G]lands.
My [D]life has been a [G]wilderness,
Un[C]blest by [G]fortune’s [D]gale,
Had [G]fate not linked my [C]lot to [G]hers,
The [C]Rose of [D]Allen[G]dale.
→ Final Chorus
🎸 Strumming Pattern (3/4 Waltz Feel)
Keep it lilting and flowing — think of a gentle sway rather than a march.
Basic pattern (for verses):
↓ (bass) – ↓↑ – ↓↑
(count “1 2-and 3-and”)
For chorus (more open):
↓ ↓↑ ↓ ↑ ↓↑
Let the chords ring out more fully here.
💡 Playing Tips
Use fingerpicking on Verse 1 for storytelling intimacy.
Shift to soft strumming from Verse 2 onward.
Add light hammer-ons on G (hammer 0→2 on A string) for Irish flavor.
End on a long, ringing G chord.
Included below are the chord shapes for the 5 string banjo chords in G Major.
The rose of Allandale sheet music notes in Solfege Do Re Mi format
Below is the sheet music for The Rose Of Allendale in the key of G Major.
| rose-of-allendale-piano-sheet-music-with-chords.pdf |
Below is the ebook list of Irish Folk Songs with guitar chords
in 3 keys. Price €8.90 and I'll email the ebook after purchase .
The chords are suited to ukulele, banjo or mandolin also.
Martin
in 3 keys. Price €8.90 and I'll email the ebook after purchase .
The chords are suited to ukulele, banjo or mandolin also.
Martin
