Where the River Shannon Flows

A 1905 popular song by James J. Russell. An Irish-American ballad.

This song has many elements of sentimentality and nostalgia for old Ireland. Many first generation Americans feel this longing. Like the singer, they visit their home country whenever they can. Blarney is talk that is not true and may be used to trick you. A shillalah is a stout walking and fighting stick. A colleen is a girl.


The sheet music:


Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:


Lyrics

1. There’s a pretty spot in Ireland
I always claim for my land
Where the fairies and the blarney
Will never, never die
It’s the land of the shillalah
My heart goes back there daily
To the girl I left behind me
When we kissed and said good-bye

Chorus
Where dear old Shannon’s flowing
Where the three-leaved Shamrock grows
Where my heart is I am going
To my little Irish rose
And the moment that I meet her
With a hug and kiss I’ll greet her
For there’s not a colleen sweeter
Where the River Shannon flows

2. Sure, no letter I’ll be mailing
For soon I will be sailing
And I’ll bless the ship that takes me
To my dear old Erin’s shore
There I’ll settle down forever
I’ll leave the old sod never
And I’ll whisper to my sweetheart
“Come and take my name, Asthore”


Sung here by Fred Feild: