The Dear Little Shamrock

 "The Dear Little Shamrock" is an Irish folksong. The lyrics was written by Andrew Cherry (11 January 1762 – 12 February 1812) was an Irish dramatist, songwriter, actor and theatre manager. 

 The shamrock is the national emblem of Ireland, and it has been associated with St Patrick's Day for centuries. According to the song, St Patrick introduced it to the Green Isle and called it the 'dear little shamrock of Ireland'. "When its three little leaves are extended" they denote that "we together should toil."

To download the easy alphnotes sheet music, look here. Enjoy!

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
There’s a dear little plant that grows on our Isle,
‘Twas Saint Patrick himself, sure, that set it;
And the sun on his labor with pleasure did smile,
And with dew from his eye often wet it.
It shines thro’ the bog, thro’ the break, and the mire-land,
And he call’d it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland,
The dear little Shamrock, the sweet little Shamrock,
the dear little, sweet little Shamrock of Ireland.

[Verse 2]
That dear little plant still grows in our land,
Fresh and fair as the daughters of Erin;
Whose smiles can bewitch and whose eyes can command,
In each climate they ever appear in.
For they shine thro’ the bog, thro’ the brake, and the mire-land,
Just like their own dear little Shamrock of Ireland,
The dear little Shamrock, the sweet little Shamrock,
the dear little, sweet little Shamrock of Ireland.

[Verse 3]
That dear little plant that springs from our soil,
When its three little leaves are extended,
Denotes form the stalk we together should toil,
And ourselves by ourselves be befriended,
And still thro’ the bog, thro’ the brakes, and the mire-land,
From one root should branch, like the Shamrock of Ireland,
The dear little Shamrock, the sweet little Shamrock,
the dear little, sweet little Shamrock of Ireland.