Sweet Tralee
Journey of Remembrance: Sweet Tralee's Melancholic Tale
Lyrics
The palm trees wave on high
The palm trees are swaying high in the distance
Far beyond that fertile shore
Refers to a distant, fertile shore
Farewell, you hills of Kerry
A farewell to the hills of Kerry, a place being left behind
I never will see you more
Expressing a final goodbye to Kerry, indicating no return
Why did I leave my home?
Questioning the decision to leave home
And why did I cross the sea
Questioning the reason for crossing the sea, leaving homeland behind
And leave the small birds singing
Leaving behind the natural beauty and comfort represented by singing birds in Tralee
Around you, sweet Tralee
Highlighting the beauty and allure of Tralee
The noble and the brave
Notable and courageous individuals have left Ireland
Have departed from our shore
Expressing departure to a foreign land where there is war ("wild cannons roar")
They've gone on to a foreign land
People leaving their homeland for distant lands
Where the wild cannons roar
Describing the sounds of war in a foreign place
No more I'll see the Shamrock
Regret for not being able to see the Shamrock (symbol of Ireland)
That plant so dear to me
Expressing love and attachment to an emblematic plant
Or hear the small birds singing
Regretting the absence of birds singing in Tralee
Around you, sweet Tralee
Emphasizing the beauty and serenity of Tralee
No more the Sun will shine
No more experiencing the sunlight on harvest mornings
On that blessed harvest morn'
Missing the beauty of birds singing in golden fields of corn
Or hear the small birds singing
Recognizing an end to every sorrow or pain
In a golden field of corn
Despite solutions for pain, unable to find happiness due to separation from a loved one
There's an end to every woe
Blank line
And a cure for every pain
Expressing departure again from the hills of Kerry, indicating a permanent goodbye
But the happiness of my darling girl
Repeating the question about leaving home and crossing the sea
I never will see again
Leaving behind the joy represented by singing birds in Tralee
Oh, the palm trees wave on high
Reiteration of the swaying palm trees in a distant land
Far beyond that fertile shore
Reiteration of a faraway, fertile shore
Farewell, you hills of Kerry
Final farewell to the hills of Kerry
I never will see you more
Stating the permanent departure from Kerry
Why did I leave my home?
Repeating the question about leaving home and crossing the sea
And why did I cross the sea
Questioning the decision to leave the homeland behind
And leave the small birds singing
Expressing regret for leaving behind the singing birds in Tralee
Around you, sweet Tralee
Emphasizing the beauty and allure of Tralee once more
And leave the small birds singing
Repeating the regret of leaving behind the singing birds in Tralee
Around you, sweet Tralee
Reiterating the beauty and allure of Tralee
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