In 1968, the predecessor of the Juno’s named The Irish Rovers Canada’s, “Folk Group of the Year”, and the following year, they received a Grammy nomination for “Folk Performance of the Year”.
As hosts of three national television series in Canada and Ireland, through the 1970's and 80s, The Irish Rovers increased the popularity of Irish music by way of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).
Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, personally asked the band if they could “please become Canadian” so that they could officially represent Canada throughout the world. Since then, they have represented Canada at no less than five world Expos, and in recognition for a quarter century of contributions to the International music world, The Irish Rovers won the Performing Rights Organization's (PROCAN) 'Harold Moon Award'.
Although all members of the band hail from Ireland, a number of their biggest hits were often "non-Irish". Their own rousing, traditional Irish compositions, however, do comprise the bulk of their music.
By the 90’s, their songwriting was even more prolific than their early years, and production of albums wasn’t about to slow down. Since they desired the freedom that as a younger band, they could not afford, in ’93 The Irish Rovers established their own record company, Rover Records. Their songs tell the story of the Irish, whether it’s a lost love, a sailor on leave, or the simple good taste of a Guinness. Rover Records has put out their last eleven albums, including Celtic Collection, Come Fill Up Your Glasses, Down by the Lagan Side, Another Round, Still Rovin', a Christmas album, and their greatest hits, 40 Years A-Rovin'.
Founding member George Millar is from Ballymena, original member Wilcil McDowell is from Larne, John Reynolds from Belfast, Sean O'Driscoll from Cork, Ian Millar from Ballymena, and percussionist Fred Graham is also from Belfast.
Former members include founding member Jimmy Ferguson who passed away in 1997 and Joe Millar.
Bonnie Woodgreen
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where me and my true love we oft times were seen
Ah, the years they rolled by and so happy were we
For twas little she knew that a soldier I'd be
It was early one morning and the lambs they did play
I went to Kells barracks and then made my way
To enlist as a soldier and to fight for the King
Oh, bonny Wood Green, bonny Wood Green
To uphold a good cause I left bonny Wood Green
And soon we were ordered away o'er the foam
For soldiers were needed for to fight for their home
I kissed my love Nell, she appeared like the Queen
And softly she whispered, "Remember Wood Green"
Remember Wood Green, remember Wood Green
And softly she whispered, "Remember Wood Green"
It was way out in Flanders at the back of the line
We were talking of sweethearts that we'd left behind
Said one Irish soldier, "Well, I've got a queen"
And she works in John Rosses in bonny Wood Green
In bonny Wood Green, in bonny Wood Green
And she works in John Rosses in bonny Wood Green
It was early next morning when the sun was still low
And the bullets were flying and he was laid low
He turned to his mates in a terrible scene
He said, "Kiss my love Nell and remember Wood Green"
Oh, remember Wood Green, remember Wood Green
Oh, kiss my love Nell and remember Wood Green
So if ever to Ireland you happen to stray
There's a neat litte factory near Ballymacveigh
Where the weavers and the winders are faint to be seen
For they all wear white aprons round bonny Wood Green
Round bonny Wood Green, round bonny Wood Green
For they all wear white aprons round bonny Wood Green
The Irish Rovers’s song "Bonnie Woodgreen" tells the story of a soldier who leaves his love in Bonnie Wood Green to fight for his country. The song is an emotional and nostalgic look at the soldier's brief but happy time with his love before he left for war. The green bushes of Bonnie Wood Green served as a symbol of their love and the soldier's longing to return home to his love. Although the soldier was fighting a noble cause, he never forgot his love and the peaceful life he left behind.
The soldier finds himself in Flanders, talking about his love and hometown with fellow Irish soldiers. One soldier mentions his own love who works in John Rosses in Bonnie Wood Green, showing how the soldier's love was not unique and others missed their loves just as much. Tragedy strikes in the end, when the soldier is fatally wounded in battle. He asks his mates to kiss his love Nell and remember Bonnie Wood Green. The song ends with a hopeful note, describing the neat little factory near Ballymacveigh, where the weavers and winders still wear white aprons around Bonnie Wood Green.
Overall, "Bonnie Woodgreen" is a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the universal feeling of longing for home and loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Down among the green bushes in bonny Wood Green
Where me and my true love we oft times were seen
In the beautiful surroundings of bonny Wood Green, my true love and I frequently spent time among the lush green bushes
Ah, the years they rolled by and so happy were we
For twas little she knew that a soldier I'd be
We were happy together as time went by, but she was unaware that I would eventually become a soldier
It was early one morning and the lambs they did play
I went to Kells barracks and then made my way
To enlist as a soldier and to fight for the King
To uphold a good cause I left bonny Wood Green
One morning while the lambs played, I went to Kells barracks to enlist as a soldier in order to fight for a noble cause and serve the King, leaving behind bonny Wood Green
Oh, bonny Wood Green, bonny Wood Green
To uphold a good cause I left bonny Wood Green
Despite having to leave bonny Wood Green, I set forth to uphold a good cause
And soon we were ordered away o'er the foam
For soldiers were needed for to fight for their home
I kissed my love Nell, she appeared like the Queen
And softly she whispered, "Remember Wood Green"
We were called to go overseas to fight for our homeland, and before I left, I kissed my love Nell, who looked like a queen, and she whispered for me to remember bonny Wood Green
Remember Wood Green, remember Wood Green
And softly she whispered, "Remember Wood Green"
She repeated her plea for me to remember bonny Wood Green
It was way out in Flanders at the back of the line
We were talking of sweethearts that we'd left behind
Said one Irish soldier, "Well, I've got a queen"
And she works in John Rosses in bonny Wood Green
We were stationed in Flanders, discussing our sweethearts left behind when one Irish soldier revealed his queen worked at John Rosses in bonny Wood Green
In bonny Wood Green, in bonny Wood Green
And she works in John Rosses in bonny Wood Green
Again, he confirms that his sweetheart works at John Rosses in bonny Wood Green
It was early next morning when the sun was still low
And the bullets were flying and he was laid low
He turned to his mates in a terrible scene
He said, "Kiss my love Nell and remember Wood Green"
The next morning, as the sun barely rose and bullets flew, the soldier was fatally shot and told his fellow soldiers to kiss his love Nell and to never forget bonny Wood Green
Oh, remember Wood Green, remember Wood Green
Oh, kiss my love Nell and remember Wood Green
His final words were a plea to never forget bonny Wood Green and to kiss his love Nell on his behalf
So if ever to Ireland you happen to stray
There's a neat litte factory near Ballymacveigh
Where the weavers and the winders are faint to be seen
For they all wear white aprons round bonny Wood Green
If you ever find yourself in Ireland, near Ballymacveigh, you'll come across a tidy little factory where you'll see weavers and winders, all wearing white aprons in bonny Wood Green
Round bonny Wood Green, round bonny Wood Green
For they all wear white aprons round bonny Wood Green
Reiterating that the weavers and winders at the factory all wear white aprons in bonny Wood Green
Contributed by Samantha S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ian Burt
on Bluenose
You have missed out a verse.