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.
Down By The Sally Gardens
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My love and I did meet
She passed the Sally gardens
With little snow-white feet
She bid me talke love easy
As the leaves grow on the tree
But I being young and foolish
With her I did not agree
In a field down by the river
My love and I did stand
And on my leaning shoulder
She laid her snow-white hand
She bid me take life easy
As the grass grows on the wier
But I was young and foolish
And now I am full of tears
Farewell unto Lord Antrim's groves
Likewise to the bleaching green
Where the linen cloth lies pure and white
And clear is the crystal stream
Where many's the pleasant day I spent
But, alas, now they are o'er
Since the girl I love has banished me
Far, far from the Morrlough shore
Oh, I was young and foolish
And now I am full of tears
The Irish Rovers's song Down By The Sally Gardens is a love song that speaks of young love between two people who meet in a picturesque location. The first two stanzas of the song detail the meeting of the two lovers in a place called Sally Gardens. The lyrics focus on the young girl's purity and innocence, as she walks through the gardens with her "little snow-white feet." The song speaks to the fragility of young love as the singer admits to not heeding his lover's advice to take things slow and easy. This ends up causing heartbreak and tears, as explained in the final stanza.
The third stanza of the song speaks of Lord Antrim's groves and the bleaching green where the linen cloth lies pure and white. This emphasizes the idyllic location of the two lovers' meeting place and the happiness that was experienced there. It also speaks to the reality that this happiness has now come to an end following their separation. The final lyrics of the song return to the singer's recognition of his youthful foolishness and the pain he still feels as a result.
Overall, Down By The Sally Gardens is a song that represents the fleeting nature of young love and the heartbreak that can come from not heeding advice to take things slow.
Line by Line Meaning
Down by the Sally gardens
The singer meets his beloved by the ornamental garden.
My love and I did meet
The singer and his beloved meet each other by chance.
She passed the Sally gardens
The beloved walked by the garden.
With little snow-white feet
The beloved had small, white feet.
She bid me talke love easy
The beloved asked the artist to take love slow and easy.
As the leaves grow on the tree
Like how leaves grow and take time, love should also be given time and effort.
But I being young and foolish
The singer was rash and lacked wisdom.
With her I did not agree
The artist did not take the beloved's advice and rushed into love.
In a field down by the river
The artist and his beloved stood in a field near a river.
And on my leaning shoulder
The beloved placed her hand on the artist's shoulder.
She laid her snow-white hand
The beloved touched the singer's shoulder with her white hand.
She bid me take life easy
The beloved asked the artist to live life in a calm, relaxed manner.
As the grass grows on the wier
Like how grass grows without hurry, life should also be lived without hurrying.
But I was young and foolish
The singer was foolish and did not follow the beloved's wishes.
And now I am full of tears
The singer now regrets his hasty decisions and is very sad.
Farewell unto Lord Antrim's groves
The artist bids farewell to Lord Antrim's groves and leaves.
Likewise to the bleaching green
The artist is also saying goodbye to a place where cloth is bleached.
Where the linen cloth lies pure and white
A place where white linen cloth is cleaned and lies.
And clear is the crystal stream
A river with very clear water was also in this place.
Where many's the pleasant day I spent
The artist spent many enjoyable days in this place.
But, alas, now they are o'er
Unfortunately, those days are now over for the artist.
Since the girl I love has banished me
The beloved has left the artist and he cannot return to that place.
Far, far from the Morrlough shore
The singer is very far away from the Morrlough shore, where the beloved is and where the singer wants to be.
Oh, I was young and foolish
The artist repeats his foolishness for not heeding the beloved's advice.
And now I am full of tears
The singer is feeling very sad for ignoring the beloved's counsel and not living a better life.
Contributed by Isaac J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ian Burt
on Bluenose
You have missed out a verse.