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Based on an actual event in County Down, this song by Tommy Sands highlights the human side of the tragic situation in the North of Ireland.

Incidents such as the one described are an all too common occurrence in a country where the natural right to sovereignty is impeded by the presence of a foreign army of occupation.

lyrics

My song for you this evening, it's not to make you sad
Nor for adding to the sorrows of our troubled northern land
But lately I've been thinking and it just won't leave my mind
I'll tell you of two friends one time who were both good friends of mine

Isaac Scott from Benagh he lived just across the fields
A great man for the music and the dancing and the reels
McDonald came from South Armagh to court young Agnes fair,
And we'd often meet on the Ryan Road and laughter filled the air.

Refrain
There were roses, roses
There were roses
And the tears of a people ran together

Now Isaac he was Protestant and Sean was Catholic born
But it never made a difference, for the friendship it was strong
And sometimes in the evening when we heard the sound of drums
We said it won't divide us, we always will be one

For the ground our fathers plowed in the soil it is the same
And the places that we say our prayers have just got different names,
We talked about the friends who died and hoped there'd be no more I
t was little then we realized the tragedy in store.

It was on a Sunday morning when the awful news came round
Another killing had been done just outside Camlough Town
We knew that Isaac danced up there, we knew he liked the band
But when we heard that he was dead we just could not understand

We gathered at the graveside on a cold and rainy day
The minister he closed his eyes and for no revenge he prayed
And all of us who knew him from along the Ryan Road
We bowed our heads and we said a prayer for the resting of his soul.

Now fear it filled the countryside, there was fear in every home
When late at night a car came prowling round the Ryan Road
A Catholic would be killed tonight to even up the score
Oh Christ it's young McDonald they have taken from the door

“But Isaac was my friend” he cried, he begged them with his tears
But centuries of hatred have ears that cannot hear
An eye for an eye it was all that filled their mind
And another eye for another eye ‘til everyone is blind.

Now I don't know where the moral is or where this song should end
But I wonder just how many wars are fought between good friends
And those who give the orders They are not the ones to die
It's Scott and young McDonald and the likes of you and I

Words and music by Tommy Sands (Elm Grove Music)

credits

from There Were Roses, released January 19, 2022
Mick Moloney: harmony vocals, guitar
Robbie O’Connell: vocals, guitar
Liz Carroll: fiddle
Saul Broudy: harmony vocals, harmonica

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all rights reserved

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Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, and Jimmy Keane image

Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, and Jimmy Keane

Since 1984, Mick Moloney, Robbie O'Connell, and Jimmy Keane have been delighting audiences with their unique blend of Irish music and song, both traditional and contemporary. An evening with this trio is an experience that covers much musical ground and is not easily forgotten. ... more

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