Star of the County Down
Near Banbridge Town in the County Down
One morning in July
Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen
and she smiled as she passed me by.
She looked so sweet from her two bare feet
To the sheen of her nut brown hair
Such a coaxing elf, I'd to shake myself
for to see I was standing there.
Chorus:
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay
And from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen
That I met in the County Down.
As she onward sped sure I shook my head
And I gazed with a feeling rare
And I says says I to a passerby
"Who's the maid with the nut brown hair?"
He smiled at me and he says says he
That's the gem or Irelands crown
Young Rosie McCann
From the banks of the Bann
She's the star of the County Down.
She's a soft brown eye and a look so sly
and a smile like the rose in June
And you hung on each note from her lily white throat
As she lilted an Irish tune
At the pattern dance you were held in trance
As she tripped through a jig or reel
When her eyes she'd roll, now upon my soul
I'd be hers through woe or weal.
Well I've travelled a bit, but never was hut
Since my roving career began.
But there in the square I surrendered there
To teh charms of young Rose McCann
With a heart to let
And no tennant yet
Did I meet with a shawl or gown.
But in she went, and I asked no rent
From the star of the County Down
At the harvest fair she'll be surely there
So I dressed in my Sunday clothes
With my shoes shone bright
And my hat cocked right
For a smile from the nut brown rose
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke
Though my plow with rust turn brown.
'Til a smiling bride by my own fireside
Sits the star of the County Down.