Tommy Fleming – is Ireland’s biggest selling Irish artist over recent years… Read Full Bio ↴Tommy Fleming – is Ireland’s biggest selling Irish artist over recent years.
Tommy Fleming was born in 1971 in Aclare, County Sligo. His singing talent was apparent from a young age, when he took part in talent competitions and concerts. Started a rock band (!) whilst at school.
After leaving school (in 1990) Tommy started to establish himself as part of a Castlebar quartet known as “Jarog” performing in pubs and clubs around the country. Tommy was also attracting attention at their many festival appearances across the country.
However, despite this success in many venues through the early 1990’s, record companies didn’t appear to be interested in his work. Then a chance encounter with renowned producer and composer Phil Coulter changed all that.
In July 1993, Phil overheard Tommy performing at a charity event in Westport, County Mayo and within days he was ‘guesting’ with Phil and his Orchestra at the Opera House (Cork), the National Concert Hall (Dublin) and The University Concert Hall (Limerick). Four months later he was touring North America, playing to huge audiences all across the USA and Canada, culminating in two shows in the Boston Symphony Hall and the legendary Carnegie Hall, New York .
From then on there was no looking back, and Tommy joined De Danan as lead vocalist. He was with De Danan for three years before starting his solo career. In 1998, however, his career and life was threatened following a car accident in which he sustained serious injuries including a broken neck. He did have doubts whether he would be able to return to singing, but a year later he had fought his was back to health and the music scene in Ireland. If anything it has added even more depth to his voice.
Tommy's material varies from traditional to contemporary, but it is predominantly Irish.
Tommy was nominated for Best Irish Male Vocalist in the national Meteor Music Awards 2000 and 2006, and in 2005 he was awarded Best Irish Male Singer by Irish Music Magazine. His force, apart from the extraordinarily pure and powerful tenor voice, is his ability to load his singing with emotion. You cannot leave a Tommy Fleming gig unmoved - even should you have a heart of stone.
(Combination of own experience and - not least - information found/confirmed at http://tommyfleming.net)

The rose
Tommy Fleming Lyrics

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The moon was bright, the night was clear
No breeze came over the sea
When mary left her highland home
And wandered forth with me
The flowers be-decked the mountainside
And fragrance filled the vale
But by far the sweetest flower there
Was the rose of Allendale

Oh the rose of allendale
Sweet rose of allendale
By far the sweetest flower there
Was the rose of Allendale

Where e'er I wandered east or west
Though fate began to lour
A solace still was she to me
In sorrow's lonely hour
When tempests lashed our lonely barque
And rent her quivering sail
One maiden's form withstood the storm
'twas the rose of Allendale

Oh sweet rose of allendale
Sweet rose of allendale
One maiden's form withstood the storm
'twas the rose of Allendale

And when my fever'd lips were parched
On afric's burning sands
She whispered hopes of happiness
And tales of distant lands
My life has been a wilderness
Unblessed by fortune's wheel
Had fate not linked my love to hers
The rose of Allendale

Oh sweet rose of allendale
Sweet rose of allendale

Had fate not linked my love to hers
The rose of Allendale

Overall Meaning

The song “The Rose of Allendale” by Tommy Fleming tells the story of a man, who is recalling his past memories about a woman named Mary, who he refers to as the “rose of Allendale.” The song describes how they had wandered outside of Mary’s highland home together on a clear, moonlit night, and saw beautiful flowers that adorned the mountainside. Despite all the lovely flowers, the man declares that Mary was by far the sweetest flower there.

Throughout the song, the man talks about how Mary has been a source of comfort for him during difficult times. She was there for him during times of sorrow and when he was on treacherous journeys across the sea. Even when he was serving in Africa, she comforted him. The man explains that Mary was the one thing that brought him happiness in an otherwise bleak and uncertain life. If it wasn’t for fate bringing their love together, his life would have been a “wilderness unblessed by fortune’s wheel.”

Tommy Fleming’s “The Rose of Allendale” is a heartwarming and romantic song. It showcases the power of love and how it can provide comfort and happiness in difficult times. The song’s lyrics depict a beautiful story of love and devotion that still resonates with listeners today.

Line by Line Meaning

The moon was bright, the night was clear
The sky was illuminated with a bright moon and a clear night prevailed

No breeze came over the sea
The sea was motionless without any wind blowing over it

When mary left her highland home and wandered forth with me
Mary left her home in the highland and came with me for a serene walk

The flowers be-decked the mountainside and fragrance filled the vale
The mountains were beautified with flowers and sweet smell filled the valley

But by far the sweetest flower there was the rose of Allendale
Among all those flowers, the sweetest one was the rose of Allendale

Where e'er I wandered east or west, though fate began to lour
No matter which direction I went, even if fate was against me

A solace still was she to me in sorrow's lonely hour
The rose of Allendale was a source of comfort and consolation to me during times of sadness

When tempests lashed our lonely barque and rent her quivering sail
When we were caught in a violent storm and our ship was damaged

One maiden's form withstood the storm 'twas the rose of Allendale
Only the presence of the rose of Allendale helped me and our ship withstand the storm

And when my fever'd lips were parched on afric's burning sands
During times when I was extremely thirsty and exhausted from being in Africa's scorching desert

She whispered hopes of happiness and tales of distant lands
The rose of Allendale shared words of hope and stories about exotic places with me

My life has been a wilderness unblessed by fortune's wheel
My life has been like a barren land without any riches or blessings from fate

Had fate not linked my love to hers the rose of Allendale
If fate had not brought me to the rose of Allendale, my life would have remained empty

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Charles Jeffries, DP DP, John Loesberg, Sidney Nelson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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