The High Kings
“Star of the County Down”
[Verse 1]
Em G D
Near Banbridge town, in the County Down
Em C D
One evening last July
Em G D
Down a bóithrín green came a sweet cailín
Em D Em
And she smiled as she passed me by
G D
She looked so neat in her two bare feet
Em C D
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair
Em G D
Such a coaxing elf, I'd to shake myself
Em D Em
To make sure I was standing there
[Chorus]
G D
From Bantry Bay down to Derry Quay
Em C D
From Galway to Dublin town
Em G D
No maid I've seen like the fair cailín
Em D Em
That I met in the County Down
[Verse 2]
Em G D
As she onward sped I shook me head
Em C D
And I gazed with a feeling queer
Em G D
And I said, says I, to a passerby
Em D Em
"Who's your one with the nut-brown hair?"
G D
He smiled at me, and with pride says he:
Em C D
"She's the gem of old Ireland's crown
Em G D
Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann
Em D Em
And the star of the County Down"
[Chorus]
G D
From Bantry Bay down to Derry Quay
Em C D
From Galway to Dublin town
Em G D
No maid I've seen like the fair cailín
Em D Em
That I met in the County Down
[Verse 3]
Em G D
She'd a soft brown eye and a look so sly
Em C D
And a smile like the rose in June
Em G D
And you held each note in her auburn throat
Em D Em
As she lilted lamenting tunes
G D
At the pattern dance you'd be in a trance
Em C D
As she skipped through a jig or a reel
Em G D
When her eyes, she'd roll, as she'd lift your soul
Em D Em
And your heart, she would likely steal
[Chorus]
G D
From Bantry Bay down to Derry Quay
Em C D
From Galway to Dublin town
Em G D
No maid I've seen like the fair cailín
Em D Em
That I met in the County Down
[Verse 4]
Em G D
At the harvest fair she'll be surely there
Em C D
And I'll dress my Sunday clothes
Em G D
With my hat cocked right and my shoes shone bright
Em D Em
For a smile from the nut-brown Rose
G D
No horse I'll yoke, or pipe I smoke
Em C D
'Til the rust in my plough turn brown
Em G D
And a smiling bride by my own fireside
Em D Em
Sits the star of the County Down
[Chorus]
G D
From Bantry Bay down to Derry Quay
Em C D
From Galway to Dublin town
Em G D
No maid I've seen like the fair cailín
Em D Em
That I met in the County Down
[Interlude]
G D
Em C D
Em G D
Em D Em
[Verse 5]
Em G D
She'd a soft brown eye and a look so sly
Em C D
And a smile like the rose in June
Em G D
And you held each note in her auburn throat
Em D Em
As she lilted lamenting tunes
G D
At the pattern dance you'd be in a trance
Em C D
As she skipped through a jig or a reel
Em G D
When her eyes, she'd roll, as she'd lift your soul
Em D Em
And your heart, she would likely steal
[Interlude]
Em G D
Em C D
Em G D
Em D Em
G D
Em C D
Em G D
Em D Em
[Chorus]
G D
From Bantry Bay down to Derry Quay
Em C D
From Galway to Dublin town
Em G D
No maid I've seen like the fair cailín
Em D Em
That I met in the County Down
[Verse 6]
Em G D
Near Banbridge town, in the County Down
Em C D
One evening last July
Em G D
Down a bóithrín green came a sweet cailín
Em D Em
And she smiled as she passed me by
G D
She looked so neat in her two bare feet
Em C D
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair
Em G D
Such a coaxing elf, I'd to shake myself
Em D Em
To make sure I was standing there
[Chorus]
G D
From Bantry Bay down to Derry Quay
Em C D
From Galway to Dublin town
Em G D
No maid I've seen like the fair cailín
Em D Em
That I met in the County Down
[Chorus]
G D
From Bantry Bay down to Derry Quay
Em C D
From Galway to Dublin town
Em G D
No maid I've seen like the fair cailín
Em D Em
That I met in the County Down
[Chorus]
G D
From Bantry Bay down to Derry Quay
Em C D
From Galway to Dublin town
Em G D
No maid I've seen like the fair cailín
Em D Em
That I met in the County Down