Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ra
Bing Crosby Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴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
Over in Killarney, many years ago
My mother sang a song to me in tones so soft and low
Just a simple little ditty in her good old Irish way
And I'd give the world if I could hear that song of hers today

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

Overall Meaning

The song Too Ra Loo Rai by Bing Crosby is a touching tribute to the singer’s mother and her Irish heritage. The lyrics speak of a simple lullaby that Crosby’s mother used to sing to him when he was a child, and although the song itself is simple, it is filled with emotion and love.

The first verse sets the tone of the song, with the repeated “Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral” and “Too-ra-loo-ra-li” creating a gentle, soothing rhythm. The next verse describes Crosby’s childhood memories of his mother singing the song to him in a “soft and low” voice. He longs to hear the song again, even though it has been many years since he last heard it. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the love and comfort that the lullaby brought him.

Beyond its sentimental value, the song Too Ra Loo Rai is also notable for its connection to Irish culture. The lyrics are filled with Irish expressions and references, such as “Killarney,” a town in Ireland known for its scenic beauty, and the repeated “Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,” which is an example of what is called “vocables” in Celtic music. These are nonsense words that are used to fill out the melody of a song, and they are a common feature in traditional Irish music.

Line by Line Meaning

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
A nonsense phrase used to soothe and entertain a child.

Too-ra-loo-ra-li
Another part of the nonsense phrase used to comfort a child.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
The continued use of the nonsensical phrase to provide comfort.

Hush now, don't you cry
A reminder to the child to be calm and quiet, alleviating their distress.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
The continued use of the nonsensical phrase to provide comfort.

Too-ra-loo-ra-li
Another part of the nonsense phrase used to comfort a child.

Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral
The continued use of the nonsensical phrase to provide comfort.

That's an Irish lullaby
The song is a traditional Irish lullaby, used to calm and soothe children.

Over in Killarney, many years ago
The singer reminisces about a time in their youth in the Irish town of Killarney.

My mother sang a song to me in tones so soft and low
The singer's mother would sing this Irish lullaby to them in a gentle and calming way.

Just a simple little ditty in her good old Irish way
This traditional Irish song was passed down from the singer's mother to provide comfort to her child.

And I'd give the world if I could hear that song of hers today
The singer expresses their longing to hear their mother's comforting voice and song once again.

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