Star of the County Down
Lyrics & Music: Traditional


Near to Banbridge Town in the County Down one morning last July
down a boreen green came a sweet colleen and she smiled as she passed me by
she looked so neat from her two bare feet to the sheen of her nut-brown hair
sure the coaxing elf, I´d to shake myself to make shure I was standing there

As she onward sped sure I scratched my head and I gazed with a feeling quare
I said, says I, to a passer-by, "Who´s the maid with the nut-brown hair?"
he smiled at me, and with pride says he, "That´s the gem of Ireland´s crown.
she´s young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann, she´s the Star of the County Down."

Oh, 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

At the harvest fair I´ll be surely there and I´ll dress in my Sunday clothes
and I´ll try sheep´s eyes, and deludhering cries on the heart of the nut-brown rose
no pipe I´ll smoke, no horse I´ll yoke though my plow with rust turns brown
till a smiling bride by my own fireside sits the Star of the County Down

Oh, from Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay . . .



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