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 make sure I was standing there
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen that I met in County Down
As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head, And I looked with a feelin' are,
And I say's, say's I, to a passer by, "Who's the maid with the nut brown hair?"
He smyiled at me and he say's, say's he, "That's the gem of the Ireland's crown,
Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann, She's the star of the County Down".
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen that I met in County Down
At the harvest fair she'll be surely there So I'll dress in my Sunday clothes,
With my shoes shine bright, and my hat cocked right, For the smile of a nut brown rose.
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke, Till my plough turns rust coloured brown.
Till a smyling bride, by my own fireside Sits the star of the County Down.
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen that I met in County Down