There Were Roses

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There Were Roses is an Irish folk ballad written by Northern Irish singer, songwriter and storyteller, Tommy Sands. The lyrics are based on a real incident that took place in Ireland in 1974. The song recounts how a Protestant friend of Sands was murdered in a senseless act of violence. In the aftermath, a group of local Protestants went looking for a Catholic to kill in retaliation; ironically, the man they selected had been a good friend of the Protestant victim, and also a good friend of Tommy Sands.