Music
Don't Forget Your Old Shipmates
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All
for me Grog
Well
it's all for me grog, me jolly jolly grog
It's all for me beer and tobacco
For I spent all me tin with the lassies drinking gin
Far across the western ocean I must wander
Where
are me boots, me noggin', noggin' boots?
They're all gone for beer and tobacco
For the heels they are worn out and the toes are kicked about
And the soles are looking out for better weather
Where
is me shirt, my noggin', noggin' shirt?
It's all gone for beer and tobacco
For the collar is all worn, and the sleeves they are all torn
And the tail is looking out for better weather
I'm
sick in the head and I haven't been to bed
Since first I came ashore with me slumber
For I spent all me dough on the lassies movin' slow
Far across the Western Ocean I must wander
Where
is me bed, me noggin' noggin bed
It's all gone for beer and tobacco
Well I lent it to a whore and now the sheets are all tore
And the springs are looking out for better whether.
Where
is me wench, me noggin' noggin' whence
She's all gone for beer and tobacco
Well her (clap) is all worn out and her (clap) is knocked about
And her (clap) is looking out for better whether.
Botany Bay
Chorus:
Farewell to your bricks and mortar, farewell to your dirty lime
Farewell to your gangers and gangplanks and to hell with your overtime
For the good ship Raggamuffin is lying at the quay
For to take old Pat, with a shovel on his back
To the shores of Botany Bay
I'm on my
way down to the quay, where the ship and anchor lay
To command a gang of navvies that they told me to engage
I thought I would stop in for awhile before I went away
For to take a trip on an emigrant ship to the shores of Botany Bay
The boss
comes up this morning and he says to me "hello
If you don't mix your mortar right, I'm afraid you'll have to go"
Well, since he did insult me, I demanded all my pay
And I told him straight I was going to emigrate to the shores of Botany Bay
And
when I reach Australia, I'll go and dig for gold
There's plenty there for the digging up or so I have been told
Or else I'll go back to my trade and a hundred bricks I'll lay
Eight bob I'll lift for an eight hour shift on the shores of Botany Bay
Brennan on the Moor
It's
of a brave young highwayman this story we will tell,
His name was Willie Brennan and in Ireland he did dwell.
'Twas on the Kilwood Mountains he commenced his wild career,
And many a wealthy nobleman before him shook with fear.
And
it's Brennan on the moor, Brennan on the moor,
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan on the moor.
One
day upon the highway, as Willie he went down
He met the mayor of Cashel, a mile outside of town.
The mayor, he knew his features and he said, "Young man," said he,
"Your name is Willie Brennan, you must come along with me."
And
it's Brennan on the moor, Brennan on the moor,
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan on the moor.
Now
Brennan's wife had gone to town provisions for to buy,
And when she saw her Willie she commenced to weep and cry.
Said, "Hand to me that ten-penny," as soon as Willie spoke,
She handed him a blunderbuss from underneath her cloak
For
young Brennan on the moor, Brennan on the moor,
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan on the moor.
Now
with his loaded blunderbuss -- the truth I will unfold --
He made the mayor to tremble, and he robbed him of his gold.
One hundred pounds was offered for his apprehension there,
So he, with horse and saddle, to the mountains did repair,
Did
young Brennan on the moor, Brennan on the moor,
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan on the moor.
Now
Brennan being an outlaw upon the mountains high,
With cavalry and infantry to take him they did try.
He laughed at them with scorn until at last 'twas said
By a false-hearted woman he was cruelly betrayed,
Was young Brennan on the moor,
Brennan on the moor,
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan on the moor.
Fiddler's
Green
As I roved by the dockside on
evening so rare
To view the still waters and take the salt air
I heard an old fisherman singing this song
O take me away boys my time is not long
Chorus
Dress me up in me oilskin and
jumper
No more on the docks I'll be seen
Just tell me old shipmates
I'm taking a trip, mates
And I'll see them someday in Fiddler's Green
Now Fiddler's Green is a place
I've heard tell
Where fishermen go when they don't go to Hell
Where the weather is fair and the dolphins do play
And the cold coast of Greenland is far, far away
Chorus
Dress me up in me oilskin and
jumper
No more on the docks I'll be seen
Just tell me old shipmates
I'm taking a trip, mates
And I'll see them someday in Fiddler's Green
The sky's always clear and
there's never a gale
And the fish jump on board with a flip of their tail
You can lie at your leisure, there's no work to do
And the skipper's below making tea for the crew
Chorus
Dress me up in me oilskin and
jumper
No more on the docks I'll be seen
Just tell me old shipmates
I'm taking a trip, mates
And I'll see them someday in Fiddler's Green
And when you're in dock and the
long trip is thru
There's pubs and there's clubs, and there's lassies there too
Now the girls are all pretty and the beer is all free
And there's bottles of rum hanging from every tree
Chorus
Dress me up in me oilskin and
jumper
No more on the docks I'll be seen
Just tell me old shipmates
I'm taking a trip, mates
And I'll see them someday in Fiddler's Green
I don't want a harp or a halo,
not me
Just give me a breeze and a good rolling sea
And I'll play me old squeeze box as we sail along
When the wind's in the rigging to sing me this song
Chorus
Dress me
up in me oilskin and jumper
No more on the docks I'll be seen
Just tell me old shipmates
I'm taking a trip, mates
And I'll see them someday in Fiddler's Green
God Save Ireland
God
save Ireland, said the heros
God save Ireland, said they all
Whether on the scaffold high
Or the battlefield we die
Oh, what matter when for Ireland dear we fall
High
upon the gallows tree swung the noble hearted three
By the vengeful tyrant stricken in their bloom
But they met him face to face with the courage of their race
And they went with souls undaunted to their doom
God
save Ireland, said the heros
God save Ireland, said they all
Whether on the scaffold high
Or the battlefield we die
Oh, what matter when for Ireland dear we fall
Climbed
they up the rugged stair, rang their voices out in prayer
Then with England's fatal cord around them cast
Close beside the gallows tree kissed like brothers lovingly
True to home and faith and freedom to the last
God
save Ireland, said the heros
God save Ireland, said they all
Whether on the scaffold high
Or the battlefield we die
Oh, what matter when for Ireland dear we fall
Never
till the latest day shall the memory pass away
Of the gallant lives thus given for our land
But on the cause must go, amidst joy and weal and woe
Till we make our Isle a nation free and grand
God
save Ireland, said the heros
God save Ireland, said they all
Whether on the scaffold high
Or the battlefield we die
Oh, what matter when for Ireland dear we fall
Holy Ground
Farewell my
lovely Johnny,
a thousand times adieu
You are going away from the holy ground
And the ones that love you true
You will sail the salt seas over
And then return for sure
To see again the ones you love
And the holy ground once more
You're on the salt sea sailing
And I am safe behind
Fond letters I will write to you
The secrets of my mind
And the secrets of my mind, my love
You're the one that I adore
Still I live in hopes you'll see
The holy ground once more
I see the storm a risin'
And it's coming quick and soon
And the night's so dark and cloudy
You can scarcely see the moon
And the secrets of my mind, my love
You're the one that I adore
And still I live in hopes you'll see
The holy ground once more
But now the storms are over
And you are safe and well
We will go into a public house
And we'll sit and drink our fill
We will drink strong ale and porter
And we'll make the rafters roar
And when our money it is all spent
You'll go to sea once more
You're the one that I adore
And still I live in hopes that you'll see
The holy ground once more
The
Irish Rover
On
the fourth of july, 1806
We set sail from the sweet cove of cork
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
For the grand city hall in new york
’twas a wonderful craft
She was rigged fore and aft
And oh, how the wild wind drove her
She stood several blasts
She had twenty seven masts
And they called her the irish rover
We had one million bags of the best sligo rags
We had two million barrels of stone
We had three million sides of old blind horses hides
We had four million barrels of bones
We had five million hogs
And six million dogs
Seven million barrels of porter
We had eight million bails of old nanny-goats’ tails
In the hold of the irish rover
There was awl mickey coote
Who played hard on his flute
When the ladies lined up for a set
He was tootin’ with skill
For each sparkling quadrille
Though the dancers were fluther’d and bet
With his smart witty talk
He was cock of the walk
And he rolled the dames under and over
They all knew at a glance
When he took up his stance
That he sailed in the irish rover
There was barney mcgee
From the banks of the lee
There was hogan from county tyrone
There was johnny mcgurk
Who was scared stiff of work
And a man from westmeath called malone
There was slugger o’toole
Who was drunk as a rule
And fighting bill treacy from dover
And your man, mick maccann
From the banks of the bann
Was the skipper of the irish rover
We had sailed seven years
When the measles broke out
And the ship lost it’s way in the fog
And that whale of a crew
Was reduced down to two
Just myself and the captain’s old dog
Then the ship struck a rock
Oh lord! what a shock
The bulkhead was turned right over
Turned nine times around
And the poor old dog was drowned
And the las of the irish rover
Isn’t it Grand
Look at the
coffin with golden handles
Isn't it grand boys to be bloody well dead?
Chorus:
Let's not have a sniffle, let's have a bloody good cry
And always remember the longer you live, the sooner you'll bloody well die
Look at the
flowers, all bloody withered
Isn't it grand boys to be bloody well dead?
Look at the
preacher, bloody nice fellow (bloody sanctimonious)
Isn't it grand boys to be bloody well dead?
Look at the
mourners, bllody great hippocrites
Isn't it grand boys to be bloody well dead?
Look
at the widow, bloody great female
Isn't it grand boys to be bloody well dead?
Jack
Haggerty
I’m a
heartbroken raftsman, from Greenville I came
All my virtues departed with a lass I did feign
From the strong darts of Cupid I've suffered much grief
And my heart's broke asunder, I can get no relief
Of my
troubles I'll tell you without much delay
Of a sweet little lassie my heart stole away
She's a blacksmith's fair daughter on the flat riverside
And I always intended to make her my bride
Well I work
on the river where the white waters roar
And my name I engrave on the high rock shore
I'm the boy who stands happy by the dark whirling stream
But my thoughts were on Molly, she haunted my dream
I gave her
fine jewels, the finest of lace
And the costliest muslins, her form to embrace
I gave her my wages, all for to keep safe
I deprived her of nothing I had on this earth
While I
worked on the river I earned quite a stake
I was steadfast and steady and ne'er played the rake
From camp and the river, I'm very well-known
And they call me Jack Haggerty, the pride of the town
She wrote
me a letter which I did recieve
And she strayed from her promise, or so she believed
For to wed to another she had long time delayed
And the next time I see her she no more be a maid
To her
mother, Jane Tucker, I lay all the blame
For she caused her to leave and go back on my name
For to cast off the riggings that God was to tie
And to leave me a rambler til the day that I die
So
come all you bold raftsmen with hearts stout and true
Don't trust in a woman, you'll bleed if you do
But if you do meet one with the darkest of curl
Remember Jack Haggerty and the flat river girl
Jug
of Punch
One
pleasant evening in the month of June
As I was sitting with my glass and spoon
A small bird sat on an ivy bunch
And the song he sang was the jug of punch
Chorus:
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo, too-ra-loo-ra-lay
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo, too-ra-loo-ra-lay
(Last two lines of verse)
What more
diversion can a man desire
Than to sit him down by a snug turf fire
Upon his knee a pretty wench
Aye, and on the table a jug of punch
Let the
doctors come with all their art
They'll make no impression upon my heart
Even the cripple forgets his hunch
When he's snug outside of a jug of punch
And if I
get drunk, well the money's me own
And them don't like me they can leave me alone
I'll tune my fiddle and I'll rosin my bow
And I'll be welcome wherever I go
And
when I'm dead and in my grave
No costly tombstone will I have
Just lay me down in my native peat
With a jug of punch at my head and feet
Mingulay
Boat Song
Heel yo ho,
boys; let her go, boys;
Bring her head round, into the weather,
Hill you ho, boys,let her go, boys
Sailing homeward to Mingulay
What care
we though, white the Minch is?
What care we for wind or weather?
Let her go boys; every inch is
Sailing homeward to Mingulay.
Wives are
waiting, by the pier head,
Or looking seaward, from the heather;
Pull her round, boys, then you'll anchor
'Ere the sun sets on Mingulay.
Ships
return now, heavy laden
Mothers holdin' bairns a-cryin'
They'll return, though, when the sun sets
They'll return to Mingulay.
Moonshiner
I'm
a rambler, I'm a gambler,
I'm a long way from home
And if you don't like me,
Well, leave me alone
I'll eat when I'm hungry,
I'll drink when I'm dry
And if moonshine don't kill me,
I'll live til I die
I've
been a moonshiner for many a year
I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer
I'll go to some hollow, I'll set up my still
And I'll make you a gallon for a ten shilling bill
I'll
go to some hollow in this count-er-y
Ten gallons of wash I can go on a spree
No women to follow, the world is all mine
I love none so well as I love the moonshine
Oh,
moonshine, dear moonshine, oh, how I love thee
You killed me old father, but ah you try me
Now bless all moonshiners and bless all moonshine
Their breath smells as sweet as the dew on the vine
Chords:
KEY F
verse/chorus:
F Bb C C F
F Bb Gm C F
Chorus:
Ah didlee ay dum
ah diddlee ay dum
Ah doo ray diddlee ai ay
Ah didlee ay dum
ah diddlee ay dum
Ah doo ray diddlee ai ay
Let
grasses grow and waters flow
In a free and easy way
Just give me enough of that fine old stuff
that's made near Galway Bay
The police men from old Donegal
Sligo and Lietrin too
We'll give them the slip and we'll take a sip
Of that real old Mountain Dew
At
the foot of the hill there's a neat little still
Where the smoke curls up to the sky
By the smoke and the smell you can plainly tell
There's poitin brewin near by
It fills the air with a perfume rare
But betwixt both me and you
When home we go you can take a bowl
Or a bucket of the Mountain Dew
Now learned men who
use a pen
Have wrote your praises high
That sweet poitin from Ireland green
is stilled from wheat and rye
Put away your pills, it'll cure all ills
Be ye Christian, pagan or Jew
Take off your coat and grease your throat
With a bucket of the Mountain Dew
New
South Wales
cho:
Here we are in New South Wales
Shearing sheep as big as whales, with
Leather necks and jaggy tails
And hides as tough as rusty nails.
When shearing comes, lay down your drums
Step to the boards you brand-new chums
With the rattum-rattum-rub-a-dub-dub
We'll send you back on the lime juice tub.
The brand new chums and cappy sons
Fancy they're the greatest guns.
Fancy they can shear the wool
But the beggars can only tear and pull.
Though you live beyond your means
Your daughters wear no crinolines;
Nor are they bothered by boots or shoes
But live wild in the bush with the kangaroos.
Oh it's home I'd like to be
Far from the bush and back country
Sixteen thousand miles I've come
To spend my life as a shearing bum
Paddy
West
As I was walkin' down London Street,
I come to Paddy West's house,
He gave me a dish of American hash;
he called it Liverpool scouse,
He said, There's a ship and she's wantin' hands,
And on her you must sign,
The mate's a bastard, the captain's worse,
But she will suit you fine.
Refrain:
Take off yer dungaree jacket,
And give yerself a rest,
And we'll think on them cold nor'westers,
That we had at Paddy West's.
When we had finished our dinner, boys,
The wind began to blow.
Paddy sent me to the attic,
The main-royal for to stow,
But when I got to the attic,
No main-royal could I find,
So I turned myself 'round to the window,
And I furled the window blind.
Now Paddy he pipes all hands on deck,
Their stations for to man.
His wife she stood in the doorway,
A bucket in her hand;
And Paddy he cries, Now let'er rip!
And she throws the water our way,
Cryin', Clew in the fore t'gan'sl, boys,
She's takin on the spray!
Now seein' she's bound for the south'ard,
To Frisco she was bound;
Paddy he takes a length of rope,
and he lays it on the ground,
We all steps over, and back again,
And he says to me That's fine,
And if ever they ask were you ever at sea,
You can say you crossed the line.
To every two men that graduates,
I'll give one outfit free,
For two good men on watch at once,
Ye never need to see,
Oilskins, me boys, ye'll never want,
Carpet slippers made of felt,
I'll dish out to the pair o' you,
And a rope yarn for a belt.
Paddy says Now pay attention,
These lessons you will learn.
The starboard is where the ship she points,
The right is called the stern,
So look ye aft, to yer starboard port,
And you will find northwest.
And that's the way they teach you,
At the school of Paddy West.
There's just one thing for you to do,
Before you sail away,
Just step around the table,
Where the bullock's horn do lay Tenn,
And if ever they ask Were you ever at sea?
You can say Ten times 'round the Horn,
And BeJesus but you're and old sailor man,
From the day that you were born.
Put on yer dungaree jacket,
And walk out lookin' yer best,
And tell 'em that you're an old sailor man
That's come from Paddy West's
Of all the
money that e'er I spent
I've spent it in good company
And all the harm that ever I did
Alas it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all
If I had
money enough to spend
And leisure to sit awhile
There is a fair maid in the town
That sorely has my heart beguiled
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips
I own she has my heart enthralled
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all
Oh,
all the comrades that e'er I had
They're sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They'd wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be with you all
Rising
of the Moon
And
come tell me Sean O'Farrell tell me why you hurry so
Husha buachaill hush and listen and his cheeks were all a glow
I bare orders from the captain get you ready quick and soon
For the pikes must be together by the rising of the moon
By
the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon
For the pikes must be together by the rising of the moon
And
come tell me Sean O'Farrell where the gath'rin is to be
At the old spot by the river quite well known to you and me
One more word for signal token whistle out the marchin' tune
With your pike upon your shoulder by the rising of the moon
By
the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon
With your pike upon your shoulder by the rising of the moon
Out
from many a mud wall cabin eyes were watching through the night
Many a manly heart was beating for the blessed warning light
Murmurs rang along the valleys to the banshees lonely croon
And a thousand pikes were flashing by the rising of the moon
By
the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon
And a thousand pikes were flashing by the rising of the moon
All
along that singing river that black mass of men was seen
High above their shining weapons flew their own beloved green
Death to every foe and traitor! Whistle out the marching tune
And hurrah, me boys, for freedom, 'tis the rising of the moon
'Tis
the rising of the moon, 'tis the rising of the moon
And hurrah, me boys, for freedom, 'tis the rising of the moon
KEY
C
verse:
C Dm
F G
C Dm
F G
chorus:
Dm C
F C F-G7-C
Rolling
Home
chorus
Rolling home, rolling home, rolling home across the sea,
Rolling home to dear old England, rolling home, dear land, to thee.
Up aloft, amid the riggin’, swiftly blows the favoring gale,
Strong as springtime in its blossom, filling out each bending sail.
And the waves we leave behind us, seem to murmur as they rise,
We have tarried here to bear you, to that land you dearly prize. chorus
Full ten thousand miles behind us, and a thousand miles before,
Ancient ocean waves to waft us, to those well-remembered shores.
Newborn breezes swell to send us, to our childhood’s welcome skies,
To the land of friendly faces, and the glance of loving eyes. chorus
G Major
Rosin
the Beau
Spanish
Ladies
-
Traditional
Farewell
and adieu to you, Spanish ladies,
Farewell and adieu to you, ladies of Spain;
For we have received orders to sail to old England,
But we hope in a short time to see you again.
Chorus:
We'll rant and we'll roar like true British sailors,
We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas;
Until we strike soundings in the Channel of old England:
From Ushant to Scilly 'tis thirty-five leagues.
Then we
hove our ship to, with the wind at sou'-west, my boys,
Then we hove our ship to, for to strike soundings clear;
Then we filled the main topsail and bore right away, my boys,
And straight up the Channel of old England did steer.
Chorus
So the
first land we made it is called the Deadman,
Next Ram Head off Plymouth, Start, Portland and the Wight;
We sailed hy Beachy, by Fairly and Dungeness,
And then bore away for the South Foreland light.
Chorus
Now the
signal it was made for the Grand Fleet to anchor,
All on the Downs that night for to meet;
Then stand by your stoppers, see clear your shank-painters,
Haul all your clew garnets, stick out tacks and sheets.
Chorus
Now let
every man take off his full bumper,
Let every man take off his full bowl;
For we will be jolly and drown melancholy,
With a health to each jovial and true-hearted soul.
Chorus 2x
Whiskey
in the Jar
As
I was going over the far famed Kerry mountains
I met with captain Farrell and his money he was counting
I first produced my pistol, and the produced my rapier
Saying "Stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver"
I counted out his money, and it made a pretty penny
I put it in my pocket and I brought it home to Jenny
She said and she swore, that she never would deceive me
but the devil take the women, for they never can be easy
I went into my chamber, for to take a little slumber
I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure it was no wonder
But Jenny drew my charges and she filled them up with water
and send for captain Farrel to be ready for the slaughter
It was early in the morning, just before I rose to travel
the guards were all around me and likewise captain Farrel
I first produced my pistol, for she stole away my rapier
but I couldn´t shoot the water so a prisoner I was taken
fI anyone can aid me, it´s my brother in the army
if I can find his station in Cork or in Killarney
And if he´ll ride with me, we´ll go stumblin' in Kilkenny
and I swear he´ll treat me better than me only sporting Jenny
Now some take delight in travelling and calling
but others take delight in the Irish ways of rolling
But I take delight in the juice of the barley
and courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early
Musha ring dumma do damma da
Whack for the daddy ´o
Whack for the daddy ´o
There´s whiskey in the jar
Whiskey
You're the Devil
Now brave
boys we're on the march
Off to Portugal and Spain
Drums a-beating, banners a-waving
The devil a-home will come tonight
La, fare thee well
With me tither-y-eye dum dah
Me tither-y-eye dum da
Me right fol tur-a ladee oh, there's whiskey in the jar
Hey, whiskey you’re the devil
You’re leading me astray
O'er hills and mountains
Into Amerikay
Your sweetness from the bleachner
You're spunkier than tea,
Ah, whiskey you're me darlin’, drunk or sober
The French are fighting boldly
Men are dying hot and coldly
Give every man his flash, gunpowder
His firelock on his shoulder
La, fare thee well
With me tither-y-eye dum dah
Me tither-y-eye dum da
Me right fol tur-a ladee oh, there's whiskey in the jar
Says the mother, "Do not wrong me
Don't take me daughter from me
For if you do, I will torment you
And after death me ghost will haunt you"
We're off, fare thee well
With me tither-y-eye dum dah
Me tither-y-eye dum da
e right fol tur-a ladee oh, there's whiskey in the jar
Chester
God Save the King
God
save great George our King,
Long live our noble King,
God Save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God Save the King.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Sally Brown she's a creole lady,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
Sally Brown's a gay old lady,
Spend my money on Sally Brown.
Sally Brown she's a bright molacker,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
She drinks rum and chews tobacca,
Spend my money on Sally Brown.
Sally Brown she has a daughter,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
Sent me sailin' 'cross the water.
Spend my money on Sally Brown.
Seven long years I courted Sally,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
Then she said she would not marry.
Spend my money on Sally Brown.
Wouldn't have no tarry sailor,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
Wouldn't have no greasy whaler.
Spend my money on Sally Brown.
Sally Brown I'm bound to leave you,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
Sally Brown I'll not deceive you.
Spend my money on Sally Brown.
Sally Brown she took a notion,
Way, hay, roll an' go.
Sent me sailin' 'cross the ocean.
Spend my money on Sally Brown.
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In Banbridge Town in the County Down
One morning last July,
From a boreen green came a sweet colleen
And she smiled as she passed me by.
She looked so sweet fronn her two bare feet
To the sheen of her nut brown hair.
Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself
For to see I was really there.
Chorus:
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and
From Galway to Dublin Town,
No maid I've seen like the brown colleen
That I met in the County Down.
As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head,
And I looked with a feelin' rare,
And I say's, say's I, to a passer-by,
"Whose the maid with the nut brown hair"?
He smiled at me and he says's, say's he,
"That's the gem of Ireland's crown.
It's Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann,
She's the star of the County Down".
Chorus:
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Ouay and
From Galway to Dublin Town,
No maid I've seen like the brown colleen
That I met in the County Down.
At the Harvest Fair she'll be surely there
And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes,
With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked
Right for a smile from my nut brown rose.
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke
Till my plough turns rust coloured brown.
Till a smiling bride, by my own fireside
Sits the star of the County Down.
Chorus / Repeat
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Fields of Athenry
By a lonely prison wall I heard a young girl callin'
Michael they have taken you away
For you stole Trevelyn's corn
So the young might see the morn
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay.
Refrain:
Low lie the fields of
Athenry,
Where once we watched the small free bird fly
Our love was on the wing, we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.
Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
Against the famine and the Crown
I rebelled they cut me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity.
Refrain:
Low lie the fields of
Athenry,
Where once we watched the small free bird fly
Our love was on the wing, we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry
As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
For she'll live in hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.
Refrain:
Low
lie the fields of Athenry,
Where once we watched the small free bird fly
Our love was on the wing, we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry
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