Sweet Rosie O'Grady
The Freddy Williams FourWithin a charming cottage near the place that saw my birth
There dwells the sweetest little flower that ever grew on earth
This flower is known as Rosie, 'tis her lovely christian name
But had she any other name, I'd love her just the same
Sweet Rosie O'Grady, my beautiful Rose
She's my little lady, that everyone knows
And when we are married, how happy we'll be
I love sweet Rosie O'Grady and Rosie O'Grady loves me
(She loves me...)
I never shall forget the day she promised to be mine,
As we sat telling love tales with a happiness divine.
Upon her finger then I placed a small engagement ring,
While in the trees, the little birds, this love song seemed to sing!
Sweet Rosie O'Grady, my beautiful Rose
She's my little lady, that everyone knows
And when we are married, how happy we'll be
I love sweet Rosie O'Grady and Rosie O'Grady loves me
I love sweet Rosie O'Grady and Rosie O'Grady loves me
Rosie O'Grady loves me
Song Details
Songwriter: Maude Nugent - successful vaudeville singer and composer, born in Brooklyn, New York City on January 12, 1873 and died on June 3, 1958.
The original lyrics of the song can be found below.
Brief: The lyrics tell the story of Rosie O'Grady, a sweet and captivating young woman who captures the heart of the narrator.
The song was a huge hit, with the sheet music selling over a million copies in 1896, and went on to become the waltz ballad of the era.
James Joyce, an Irish novelst and poet was one of the most influential authors of the 20th century. He has a number of musical references scattered throughout his works and Sweet Rosie O'Grady is referenced in two of them:
☘ A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, where the song is used to explore Stephen Dedalus's intellectual and emotional struggles.
☘ Finnegans Wake - appears among the many musical allusions woven into the narrative.
Genre: Waltz Ballad
Covers: Bing Crosby, The Shannon Quartet, Killarney Singers, Kevin McDermott, Barry O'Dowd & The Shamrock Singers.
Featured Artists: The Freddy Williams Four
Album: Best Of Barbershop
Released: 2001
Country: UK
Format: CD, Album
Label: Hallmark Music & Entertainment
Sweet Rosie O'Grady - Original Lyrics
Just down around the corner of the street where I reside,
There lives the cutest little girl that I have ever spied;
Her name is Rose O'Grady and, I don't mind telling you,
That she's the sweetest little Rose the garden ever grew.
Sweet Rosie O'Grady, my dear little Rose,
She's my steady lady, most ev'ryone knows.
And, when we are married, how happy we'll be;
I love sweet Rosie O'Grady, and Rosie O'Grady loves me.
I never shall forget the day she promised to be mine,
As we sat telling love tales in the golden summer time.
'Twas on her finger that I placed a small engagement ring,
While in the trees, the little birds this song they seemed to sing!
Sweet Rosie O'Grady, my dear little Rose,
She's my steady lady, most ev'ryone knows.
And, when we are married, how happy we'll be;
I love sweet Rosie O'Grady, and Rosie O'Grady loves me.
