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Star of the County Down

from Johnny Jump Up by DruidSong

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about

Over the years, I’ve run across a couple of musical versions of this song. I first heard it as an instrumental, played in waltz time. A friend came to me with a “quick time” version, with lyrics some years later, and I liked that one well enough. I got to thinking about it, though, and decided to put the lyrics to the waltz time version. This is the result.

The Star of the County Down is unabashedly a love song. I’d like to dedicate it to my wife. She’s put up with a lot from me over the years, not the least of which is my haring off to performances, rehearsals and recording sessions. It’s still true that no maid I’ve seen like the sweet colleen that I met a staff meeting in my day job.

lyrics

Near Bainbridge town, in the County Down, one morning last July
Down the wild boreen came a sweet colleen and she smiled as she passed me by.
Oh she looked so neat from her two bare feet to the sheen of her nut brown hair
Such a coaxing elf, I’d to shake myself to be sure I was standing there.

[Chorus]
From Bantry Bay down to Derry Quay (pronounced kay), and from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I’ve seen like the sweet colleen that I met in the County Down.

As she onward sped, sure I shook my head, and I gazed with a feeling queer
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 all Ireland’s crown
Young Rosy McGann, from the banks of the Bann, she’s the star of the County Down.

She’d a soft brown eye, and a look so shy and a smile like a rose in June
And you’d crave 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 a reel
When her eyes she’d roll, she would lift your soul and your heart she would quickly steal.

Now I’ve roamed a bit, but ne’er was hit since my traveling days began
But fair and square I surrendered there to the charms of young Rosy McGann
With my heart to let, sure and 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.

At the crossroads fair, I’ll be surely there, and I’ll dress in my Sunday clothes
With me shoes shined bright and me hat cocked right for a smile from the nut brown rose.
No pipe I’ll smoke, and no horse I’ll yoke, let my plow with the rust to turn brown
‘Til the smiling bride by my own fire side be the Star of the County Down.

credits

from Johnny Jump Up, released June 23, 2009

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