The Star of the County Down
By Cathal McGarvey I had always thought this was a traditional, but I saw an author given in a book I found. It is one of my favorites.Am C G
Near to Bainbridge town In the County Down,
Am F G
On a morning in July
Am C G
Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen
Am F G Am
And she smiled as she passed me by.
C G
Oh she looked so neat from her two white feet
Am F G
To the sheen of her nut brown hair
Am F G
Such a coaxing elf, I’d to shake myself
Am F G Am
To be sure she was really there.C G
Chorus: Oh from Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay Quay = kay
Am F G
And from Galway to Dublin Town
Am F G
No maid I’ve seen like the brown colleen
Am F G Am
That I met in the County Down.Am C G
As she onward sped I shook my head
Am F G
And I gazed with a feeling queer
Am C G
And I said, says I, to a passer by
Am F G Am
“Who’s the maid with the nut brown hair?”
C G
Oh, he smiled at me and with pride says he
Am F G
“She’s the gem of old Ireland’s crown,
Am F G
Young Rosie McGann from the banks of the Bann
Am F G Am
She’s the star of the County Down.” ChorusAm C G
At the harvest fair, she’ll be surely there
Am F G
And I’ll dress in my Sunday clothes
Am C G
And I’ll try sheep’s eyes and deludering lies
Am F G Am
On the heart of the nut brown rose.
C G
No pipe I’ll smoke, no horse I’ll yoke
Am F G
Though my plough with rust turns brown
Am F G
Till a smiling bride by my own fireside
Am F G Am
Sits the star of the County Down. Chorus
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