“An Irish Lullaby,” often known as “Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,” is a popular song with Irish-American roots rather than being a traditional Irish folk song. It was written in 1913 by James Royce Shannon (born James Royce) for the Tin Pan Alley musical production “Shameen Dhu.” The song gained tremendous popularity when it was performed by Bing Crosby in the 1944 film “Going My Way,” for which Crosby won an Academy Award. Crosby’s rendition cemented the song in American cultural consciousness as a quintessentially “Irish” melody, despite its American origins. The lullaby’s gentle, soothing melody and simple lyrics made it a favorite bedtime song for generations of children. Over the decades, it has been recorded by numerous artists including Judy Garland, Connie Francis, and Van Morrison, and continues to evoke nostalgic sentiments of Irish heritage in the American diaspora, particularly around St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Lyrics
Over in Killarney, many years ago
Me Mother sang a song to me in tones so sweet and low,
Just a simple little ditty, in her good ould Irish way,
And I’d give the world if she could sing
That song to me this day.
Chorus
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Hush, now, don’t you cry!
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,
That’s an Irish lullaby.
Oft, in dreams I wander To that cot again,
I feel her arms a huggin’ me As when she held me then.
And I hear her voice a hummin’ To me as in days of yore,
When she used to rock me fast asleep Outside the cabin door.
(Chorus)
Leave a reply