SHE CARRIES A BUNCH OF RED ROSES FOR ME Sean O’Casey
A few years ago I was singing at the long running Swindon Folk Club run by Ted and Ivy Poole, One of the members was a lady by the name of Angela Gradwell Tucket. She was a formidable lady but a lovely person. She played hockey for England at the Berlin Oympics back in 1936 and turned her back on Hitler. She presented me with this poem by the Irish poet and writer Sean O’Casey and suggested that this could be made into a song if an appropriate tune would be written for it. There was no arguing with Angela and I set out to write a tune and came up with this one and I am pleased to say that Angela approved of it. I want to just add that I did not realise the significance of the poem until Danni was researching the poem and Sean O’Casey for the background of the words. Martyn
SHE CARRIES A BUNCH OF RED ROSES FOR ME.
Lyrics Sean O’Casey / tune M. Wyndham-Read
A sober black shawl hides her body entirely
Touched by the sun and the spray of the sea
But down in the darkness a slim hand so lovely
Carries a bunch of red roses for me.
Her petticoats neat and her feet are but bare
And all that she has is both simple and spare
But stars in the debs of her eyes are revealing
She carries a bunch of red roses for me.
No glittering jewel sits enthroned on her forehead
Nor hangs from her white ear for all men to see
But jewelled desire in her bosom so pearly
She carries a bunch of red roses for me.