Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral, also called ‘That’s an Irish Lullaby’, was written in 1914 by composer James Royce Shannon (1881–1946) and popularised by Bing Crosby.
It has since been recorded by many artists, including Van Morrison.
It just makes you want to doze off to sleep.
Don’t miss the four videos at the bottom of the page!
Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby)
Over In Killarney,
Many years ago,
My Mother sang a song to me
In tones so sweet and low;
Just a simple little ditty,
In her good old Irish way,
And I’d give the world to hear her sing
That song of hers today.
Chorus
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don’t you cry!
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that’s an Irish lullaby.
Oft, in dreams I wander
To that cot again.
I feel her arms a-hugging me
As when she held me then.
And I hear her voice a humming
To me as in days of yore,
When she used to rock me fast asleep
Outside the bedroom door.
Chorus
Oh I can hear that music
I can hear that song
Filling me with memories
Of a mother’s love so strong
Its melody still haunts me
These many years gone bye
Too ra loo ra loo ral
Until the day I die.
Check out this beautiful print inspired by the great lullaby Too Ra loo Ra Loo Ral
Popular recordings of Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral
Here’s Bing Crosby who originally popularised the song.
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Here’s Kate Smith singing Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral. This was recorded in 1946.
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Here’s The Irish Tenors singing Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral
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Here’s one you might not have expected. Van Morrison singing Tura Lura Lural.
Goodnight Zzzzzzzzz
All images copyright Ireland Calling