{{Original research, date=July 2015 "The Rose of Allandale" (also “The Rose of Allendale”)'','' is an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

folk song, with words by Charles Jefferys and music by Sidney Nelson, composed in the 1830s and appearing in Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine in 1833. Because the song has been recorded by

Paddy Reilly Patrick "Paddy" Reilly (born 18 October 1939) is an Irish folk singer and guitarist. Born in Rathcoole, County Dublin, he is one of Ireland's most famous balladeers and is best known for his renditions of "The Fields of Athenry", "Rose of Alle ...

and

Mary Black Mary Black (born 23 May 1955) is an Irish folk singer. She is well known as an interpreter of both traditional folk and modern material which has made her a major recording artist in her native Ireland. Background Mary Black was born into a m ...

, many people mistakenly believe the song to be a (traditional)

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

song. It is also often believed to be of Scottish origin.

Background

The Allandale referenced in the song is likely fictitious, and does not refer to a real place. Ambiguity comes partly due to the popular belief that the English song lyrics are about a maiden from the town of

Allendale, Northumberland Allendale, often marked on maps as ''Allendale Town'', is a village and civil parish in south west Northumberland, England. It is located within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. At the 2001 census, the parish had a populat ...

. It is also erroneously associated with Allandale, Scotland, a village which did not exist at the time of the song’s creation. It should be mentioned that the piece is not a traditional folk song from any particular region, although the lyrics do suggest that the 19th century writer had a Northern British setting in mind due to the mention of highlands. In the British tradition of love songs, the rose is regarded as a beautiful and romantic flower. "Nicknames" are often given to the nicest or prettiest young woman or women of a region or village, e.g. "the Rose of...", "the Flower of...", "the Pride of..." (e.g. "the Rose of Tralee" and "the Flower of Magherally"). Similarly, in Phil the Fluther's Ball by

Percy French William Percy French (1 May 1854 – 24 January 1920) was an Irish songwriter, author, poet, entertainer and painter. Life French was born at Clooneyquinn House, near Tulsk, County Roscommon, the son of an Anglo-Irish landlord, Christopher F ...

, we find "The flower of Ardmagullion, and the pride of Pethravore." Similarities with a translated version of an older German folk song having a comparable melody have led some to suggest that the song is rooted in an old "altwürttembergische Melodie" from the Rems valley. The Rems song is a soldier's farewell to his beloved, reflecting the unstable times of war.

Recordings

The song has been recorded by

and

who are both Irish singers so the mistaken belief the song is a (traditional) Irish song is common. It is also often believed to be a Scottish song (because of the variant with Allandale). The song was also recorded by the popular Scottish folk singers

The Corries The Corries were a Scottish folk group that emerged from the Scottish folk revival of the early 1960s. The group was a trio from their formation until 1966 when founder Bill Smith left the band but Roy Williamson and Ronnie Browne continued ...

, and the Irish band

The Dubliners The Dubliners were an Irish folk band founded in Dublin in 1962 as The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group, named after its founding member; they subsequently renamed themselves The Dubliners. The line-up saw many changes in personnel over their fifty-ye ...

(e.g. on their 1987 album ''

25 Years Celebration ''25 Years Celebration'' is a double album by The Dubliners. Recorded in 1987 and charted in the UK at No.43 and No.1 in Ireland. The album released following a special '' Late Late Show'' appearance by the group, ''25 Years Celebration'' feature ...

'') as well as in bagpipe versions, e.g. Grampian Police Pipe Band on their album ''Pipes and Drums of Scotland'', song no. 13.Audio CD. ARC Music, September 20, 2005. ASIN: B000ASAU5M
/ref> Jean Redpath (a Scotswoman) recorded the song on her 1980 album ''

Lowlands Upland and lowland are conditional descriptions of a plain based on elevation above sea level. In studies of the ecology of freshwater rivers, habitats are classified as upland or lowland. Definitions Upland and lowland are portions of p ...

''.

References

External links

"Sentimental songster"; Glasgow, 1840s
Northumbrian folklore 1830s songs English songs Traditional ballads