Star of the County Down

Near to Banbridge town, in the County Down
One morning last July
Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen
And I smiled as she passed me by
She looked so neat from her two white feet
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair
Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself
To make sure I was really there

From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay
From Galway to Dublin town
No maid I’ve seen like the sweet colleen
That I met in the County Down
No maid I’ve seen like the sweet colleen
That I met in the County Down

As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head
And I looked with a feeling rare
And I says, says I, to a passerby
“Who’s that maid with the nut-brown hair?”
He smiled at me, he said said he
“She’s the gem of Ireland’s crown
She’s young Rose McGann from the banks of the Bann
The star of the County Down.”

(CHORUS)

I've been 'round a bit, but I kept my wits
When my roving days began
But fair and square I surrendered there
To the charms of Rose McGann
I'd a heart to let — no tenant yet
Had I met in coat or gown
But in she went and I asked no rent
From the star of the County Down

(CHORUS)

At the harvest fair we'll be surely there
So we'll dress in our Sunday clothes
With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right
For a smile from my nut-brown rose
No pipe I’ll smoke, no horse I’ll yoke
My plow is a rusty brown
But a smiling bride by my own fireside
Is the star of the County Down