Tura-Lura-Lural (That's An Irish Lullaby)

Album: The Last Waltz

The music and lyrics to the song "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral" were written in 1913 by James Royce Shannon (1881-1946). It premiered in Chauncey Olcott's production of "Shameen Dhu" ("Black-haired Jimmy"). The song later became a hit for Bing Crosby who sang it in "Going My Way" (1944).

The live version with The Band and Van Morrison omits the first verse of the song and changes the lyrics a little. The original song goes like this:

Over in Killarney, Many years ago, Me mither sang a song to me In tones so sweet and low. Just a simple little ditty, In her good ould Irish way, And I'd give the world if she could sing That song to me this day. 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 huggin' me As when she held me then. And I hear her voice a humin' To me as in days or yore, When she used to rock me fast asleep Outside the cabin door. 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.

A few weird chords here. I don't know what the first chord is so I called it Bsus2addb6. Cause essentially that's what it is and it's played low to high: Bsus2addb6-(x24223). The other weird chord is maybe a Gdim7 but who really cares anyways. There's a few ways to play it: Gdim7-(xx2323), Gdim7-(x12323), Gdim7-(678686). The first is obviously the easiest but sounds empty, I think the second sound the best. The chords in brackets are single bass notes to lead up. Play the same chord progression through Van Morrison's part as the first. Then repeat Richard Manuel's part at the end when they're both singing. And finally run right into the C#7 for the ending.
--Neil Fitzpatrick

Bsus2addb6  (B-C#-D#)

E    A     E   (E-F#-G#)
Tura Lura Lural
A          Gdim7
Tura Lura Lie
E    A     E    C#7
Tura Lura Lural
F#7                 B7   (B-C#-D#)
Hush now Don't you cry

E    A     E   (E-F#-G#)
Tura lura lural
A          Gdim7
Tura lura lie
E    A     E    C#7
Tura lura lura
           F#7    B7    E
That's an Irish Lullaby

Well it's often
Something in dreams I've wondered
Right back, back to that cott again
And I feel and I feel her arms a huggin me
Just like she did like she did way back then
And I hear her voice a hummin
Just like way back in days of yule
When she used to rock me she used to rock me
Outside, outside the kitchen door
That's why I'm singing tonight

Ending:

C#7                    F#7   B7   A    E
  Oh yes, It's just an Irish Lullaby