Stevenson – The Last Rose of Summer

Song Information

Title: The Last Rose of Summer

Composer: John Stevenson (1761-1833)

Author: Thomas Moore (1779-1852)

Sheet Music

Free at Art Song Central:

  • PDF: The Last Rose of Summer
    • Key: E♭ Major
    • Range: E♭4 – E♭5
    • Note: This version is arranged by Charles Manney.

Elsewhere on the Internet:

  • Transcribed at Mutopia as The Last Rose of Summer.
    • Key: PDF available in D Major
    • Range: D4 – D5
    • Note: As of this writing, the Mutopia edition mistakenly has the composer listed as lyricist and vice versa.
    • Lilypond source file also available to edit or transpose.

Audio Files

Mp3:

MIDI:

Song Text

‘Tis the last rose of summer,
Left blooming all alone,
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone.
No flower of her kindred,
No rose bud is nigh,
To reflect back her blushes,
Or 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?

Resources