Home        Star of the County Down    Songbook

Star of the County Down

            Em                              G         D              Em             D       

Near Banbridge town in the County Down, one morning last July,

                  Em                        G           D               Em                  C              Em 

Down the wild boreen came a sweet colleen, and she smiled as she passed me by,

        G                                 Am                         G                 Em              D  

She looked so neat from her two bare feet, to the sheen of her nut brown hair,

                Em                    G             D                 Em            C        Em      

Sure the coaxing elf, I’d to shake meself, to make sure I was standing there.

                        G                        Am                           G           Em           D    

From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay, from Galway to Dublin town,

                 Em                                     G         D                 Em        C            Em 

No maid I’ve seen like the sweet colleen, that I met in County Down.

2

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?”

Oh 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.”

Chorus (repeated instrumentally)

3

She’d a soft brown eye and a look so sly, and a smile like a rose in June,

And you craved each note from her lily-white throat, as she lilted an Irish tune,

At the pattern dance, you’d be held in a trance, as she tripped through a jig or reel,

When her eyes she’d roll, she would lift your soul, & your heart she would quickly steal.

4

Now I’ve roamed a bit, but was never hit, since my travelling days began,

But fair and square, I surrendered there, to the charms of young Rosie McCann,

With my heart to let, sure no tenant yet, did I meet with a shawl or a gown,

But in she went, and I asked no rent, from the star of the County Down.

**********************************

********************************