[Em] In Banbridge Town in the G County D Down
One Em morning last D July,
From a [Em] boreen
green came a [G] sweet [D] colleen
And she [Em] smiled as she [D] passed me by. [Em]
She [G]
looked so sweet from her [D] two bare feet
To the [Em] sheen of her nut brown [D] hair.
Such
a [Em] coaxing elf, sure I [G] shook my [D] self
For to [Em] see I was [D] really [Em] there.
From [G] Bantry Bay up to [D] Derry Quay and
From [Em] Galway to Dublin [D] Town,
No [Em maid] I've seen like
the G brown [D] colleen
That I [Em] met in the D County [Em] Down.
As she onward sped, sure I shook my head
And I looked with a feeling rare.
Then I said, says I, to a passer-by,
"Who's
the maid with the nut-brown hair?"
Well, he smiled at me, and with pride says he,
"That's the gem of old Ireland's crown,
She's
young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann,
She's the Star of the County Down."
Well I've traveled a bit, but ne'er was hit
Since my roving career began;
Then fair and square I surrendered there
To
the charms of young Rose McCann.
I'd a heart to let and no tenant yet
Did I see in shawl or gown,
But in she went
and I asked no rent
From the Star of the County Down.
At the harvest fair, I'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, and no horse I'll yoke
Though with rust
my plow turns brown,
Till a smiling bride by my own fireside
Sits the Star of the County Down.