Star of the County Down
Irish Traditional
Arrang. by Jennifer Mylod
Near to 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 neat, from her two white feet
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair.
Sure the coaxing elf, I’d to shake myself
To be sure I was standing there.
From Bantry Bay - to Derry Quay,
And from Galway to Dublin town,
There’s 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 - quare.
And 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 old Ireland's crown,
That’s Miss Rosie McGann from the banks of the Bann,
She's the Star of the County Down."…………………..chorus
She’d a soft brown eye, and a look so sly
and a smile like a rose in June
And you held each note from her lily white throat
as she lilted an Irish tune
At the pattern dance you were in a trance
as she tripped through a jig or reel
Then her eyes she’d roll she could lift your soul
and your heart she would likely steal………………..chorus
At the harvest fair, she will surely be there,
And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes,
With my hat cocked right and my shoes shone bright
For a smile from the nut-brown rose.
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke,
Let the plough with the rust turn brown,
'Til that smiling bride by my own fireside
Sits the Star of the County Down…………………….chorus
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As I Roved Out
As
I Roved Out
Irish
Traditional
Arrangement
by Jennifer Mylod
Oh and who are you, my pretty fair maid
Who are you, me honey?
Who are you, my pretty fair maid
And who are you, me honey?
She answered me quite modestly:
“I am me Mother's darling”.
chorus: With a too-ry-ah
Fol-de-diddle-da
Di-re fo-de-diddle
Dai-rie oh.
Oh and will you come to me Mother's house,
When the moon is shining clearly (repeat)
I'll open the door and I'll let ya in
And divil 'o one will hear us… chorus
So he went to her house in the middle of the night
When the moon was shining clearly (repeat)
Shc opened the door and she let him in
And divil the one did hear them… chorus
Well she took his horse by the bridle and the bit
And she led it to the stable (repeat)
For there's plenty of oats for a soldier's horse,
To eat it if he is able… chorus
Then she took him with her lily-white hand
And she led him to the table (repeat)
For there's plenty of wine for a soldier boy,
To drink it if he is able… chorus
Well then he got up and made a bed
And I made it nice and easy (repeat)
Then he got up and he laid her down
Saying: Lassie, are ya able?... chorus
So and there they lay till the break of day
And divil a one did hear them (repeat)
Then he arose and put on his clothes
Saying: Lassie, I must leave ya… chorus
Oh and when will you return to me?
And when will we be married? (repeat)
When broken shells make Christmas bells..
We
may well be married…. chorus
She Moved Through the Fair
Irish
Traditional
Arrangement
by Jennifer Mylod
My young love -said to me -my Mother won’t mind
And my Father won’t slight you, for your lack of
kind…
Then she stepped away from me - and this she did say,
It will not be long, love – till our wedding
day…
And then she stepped away from me –
and she moved through the fair,
And fondly I
watched her - move here and move there…
And then she - turned homeward, and with one star still
awake,
Like a swan in the evening - moves over the
lake…
Well last night I dreamed - she came to me – that
she came softly in,
That so softly she came… that her feet –
they made no din…
Then she layed her hand on me - and this she did
say…
"Oh Darlin, it will not be long now, 'til our - wedding
day…
Darlin
it will not be long love… 'til our - wedding
day"
Gypsy-O
Irish
Traditional – additional lyrics by Jennifer Mylod
Arrangement
by Jennifer Mylod -
Original song also known as "Wraggle-Taggle Gypsy-O"
There
were three young gypsies – came to the door
They came brave and bold-e-o
And the one sang high – and the other sang low
And the other was a wraggle – taggle gypsy-o
It was upstairs and downstairs – the Lady went
To put on her silk and leather-o
While ragged-ragged roamed, all around her door
Then she’s off with the wraggle – taggle
gypsy-o
It was late that night – when the Lord came home
Inquiring for his Lady-o
And the servant girls – replied to him all
“She’s away – with the wraggle
– taggle gypsy-o…”
Go
and saddle for me – my big black steed
Get
my horse – so speed-e-o
That I may ride – to seek my bride
Who’s away with the wraggle – taggle
gypsy-o
Oh then he rode East - and he rode West
He rode North and South – and so
But
as he rode through a wide open field
It
was there that he spied his Lady-o
And as he watched the gypsy camp
He
saw his Lady – dancing-o
To a fiddled tune – by a wild fireside
And she laughed with the wraggle –taggle
gypsy-o…
Oh and why do you leave – your house and land?
Why do you leave your money-o?
And why leave me? Your newly wedded Lord
And follow the wraggle – taggle gypsy-o?
Oh and what care I – for a house and land?
What do I care for money-o
What do I care – for my newly wedded Lord?
I’m away with the wraggle – taggle gypsy-o
But last night you slept – on a goose down bed
With blankets drawn so lovely-o
But tonight you’ll lie in a cold open field
Along with the wraggle – taggle gypsy-o…
Well
and what do I care for the goose down bed
Or blankets drawn so lovely-o
For tonight I’ll in a starry open field
In the arms of my wraggle – taggle gypsy-o
So you ride East – and I’ll ride West
You ride high – and I’ll ride low
I’d rather have a kiss – from my poor
gypsy’s lips
Than
all of your cash and your money-o…
I’d
rather have a kiss – from my poor gypsy’s
lips
Than all of your cash and your money-o…
Ae Fond Kiss
Traditional - Robert Burns, 1759–1796 Arrangement by Jennifer Mylod
Ae
fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae farewell, alas, for
ever!
Deep in
heart-wrung tears - I'll pledge
thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee!
And who shall say - that fortune
grieves him
While the
star of hope she leaves him?
For me - no cheerful - twinkle lights
me,
Just dark despair
-around- be-nights me.
Had we never loved so
kindly…
And had
we never loved - so blindly,
Had never met -or never
parted,
We’d have
ne'er been broken - hearted.
So fare thee well, my first and
fairest,
Fare thee well,
my best and dearest!
For
thine be every joy and
treasure,
Peace,
enjoyment, love, and pleasure!
Scotland’s national bard – Robert Burns,
wrote this song in December of 1791 for Mrs. Agnes
Craig McLehose, who was sailing from Scotland for
Jamaica. He sent her these verses – set to the
tune of “Rory Dall’s Port”. He died a
few years later, at the age of 37.
Blackbird
Traditional
Arragement by Jennifer Mylod
I am a young maiden, my story is sad… For once I was carefree – in love with a lad. He courted me sweetly - by night and by day, Ah but now - he has left me - and sailed far away.
CHORUS: Oh if - I was a black bird - could whistle and sing. I’d follow the vessel -that my true love sails in. And in the top rigging - I would there build my nest. And I’d flutter - my wings – o’r his broad, golden chest.
He offered to take me to Donnybrook Fair And buy me fine ribbons, to tie them up - in my hair. And he offered to marry - and to stay by my side, Ah but then - in the morning - he sailed - with the tide… Chorus
My parents they chide me - they will not agree Saying me and my true love – to be married – won’t be. Ah but let them deprive me - let them do - what they will While there's breath in my body, he's the one I want still… chorus
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Maggie
Maggie
(When
you and I were Young, Maggie)
Traditional
Arragement by Jennifer Mylod
I wandered today - to the hill, Maggie.
To watch the scene - below.
The creek, and the rusty old Mill, Maggie
Where we wandered in the long - long ago…
The green grass is gone - from the hill, Maggie
Where once the wild - daisies sprung…
The rusty old Mill, now is still, Maggie
Since you and I - were young…
They say - I am feeble with age, Maggie
My step not as sprite-ly – as then…
My face is a well - written page, Maggie
And time alone… was the pen.
They say we are aged and grey… Maggie
As spray the wild breakers flung…
But to me - you’re as fair as you were, Maggie
When you and I - were young…
When you and I - were young…
Loch Lomond
Traditional
Arragement by Jennifer Mylod
By yon bonnie banks and by bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond.
where me and my true love won’t ever be again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.
CHORUS: Oh - Ye'll take the high road
and I'll take the low road,
And I'll be in Scotland - afore ye;
For me and my true love won’t ever meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
'Twas there that we parted - in yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side of Ben Lomond,
Where in deep purple hue - the Hieland hills we view,
And the moon comin' out in the gloamin'.
The wee birdies sing, and the wild flowers spring
And in sunshine the waters are – sleeping
But the broken heart, will never spring again
Though the wae ful may cease fae their greating
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