Thomas Moore lived from 1779 until 1852. During his lifetime he garnered renown for writing lyrics to accompany a series of Irish tunes. These became popularly known as Moore’s Melodies and included well known songs such as ‘The Meeting of the Waters’, ‘The Minstrel Boy’, and ‘The Last Rose of Summer’.
Moore studied at Trinity College Dublin and was part of the earliest generation of Catholics permitted to do so following an amendment to the penal laws. Whilst at Trinity he befriended the revolutionary and romanticised figure of Robert Emmet. Moore’s family, who were supporters of Henry Grattan and the volunteers, were sympathetic towards the nationalist movement in Ireland. Moore, however, remained politically aloof, preferring to show his national pride through literary endeavour.
Go to: Tommie Connor
All her lovely companions are faded and gone
No flower of her kindred, no rosebud is nigh
To reflect back her blushes and give sigh for sigh
I’ll not leave thee, thou lone one, to pine on the stem
Since the lovely are sleeping, go sleep thou with them
Thus kindly I scatter thy leaves o’er the bed
Where thy mates of the garden lie scentless and dead
So soon may I follow when friendships decay
And from love’s shining circle the gems drop away
When true hearts lie withered and fond ones are flown
Oh who would inhabit this bleak world alone?
This bleak world alone
- O’Connor, Maria Patricia. “Thomas Moore.” Encyclopaedia Of Music In Ireland. Ed. Harry White and Barra Boydell. Dublin: Uinversity College Dublin Press, 2013. 680-682.
Irish Songwriting 