Rick brings this to our repertoire.\u00a0 \u00a0Written by Cathal McGarvey (born in Rathmullen, County Donegal in 1866) supposedly before 1890.\u00a0 He was part of the Irish literary and Gaelic revival in Dublin, Ireland in about 1900, and was a poet, song writer, performer, and even a producer, having been involved in the first movie made in the new Irish Free State in 1926 (Irish Destiny). He died the following year.<\/p>\n
The melody or tune used in this song is originally known as \u201cKingsford\u201d \u2013 a hymn melody in the church in the late middle ages.\u00a0 This passed into popular use as a folk dance called \u201cThe Peacock\u201d and later still as \u201cThe Peacock\u2019s Feathers\u201d.\u00a0 The tune, in varying meters, (2\/4, 3\/4, 4\/4, 6\/8) became so well known that it is the vehicle for many songs in antiquity (See The Parting Glass<\/a>) such as the old English ballad \u201cDives and Lazarus\u201d (by John Wallye and Mistress Toye in their ballad opera \u201cRyche Man and Poor Lazarus\u201d in 1570), and several broadside ballads over the centuries such as \u201cThe Success of the Two English Travelers\u201d (late 17th<\/sup> century) and further on to \u201cBold Captain Avery\u201d (in the 18th<\/sup> century). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jos. Morneault<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cathal’s original lyrics.<\/p>\n Near Banbridge town in the County Down Chorus As she onward sped, sure I shook me head Chorus<\/span><\/p>\n She\u2019s a soft brown eye and a look so sly Chorus<\/span><\/p>\n I travelled a bit but I never was hit Chorus<\/span><\/p>\n At the harvest fair, she\u2019ll be surely there Chorus<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For comparison – The ballad “Dives and Lazarus”.<\/p>\n
\nOne morning last July
\nDown a boreen green, came a sweet colleen
\nAnd she smiled as she passed me by
\nShe looked so neat from her two bare feet
\nTo the sheen of her nut brown hair
\nSure the coaxing elf, I\u2019d to shake myself
\nTo make sure I was standing there<\/span><\/p>\n
\nFrom Bantry Bay up to Derry quay
\nAnd from Galway to Dublin town
\nNo maid I\u2019ve seen like the brown colleen
\nThat I met in the County Down<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAnd I gazed with a feeling rare
\nAnd I said, says I, to a passer-by
\nWho\u2019s the maid with the nut brown hair ?
\nHe smiled at me and with pride says he
\nThat\u2019s the gem of old Ireland\u2019s crown
\nShe\u2019s Rosie Mc Cann from the banks of the Bann
\nShe\u2019s the star of the County Down
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAnd a smile like a rose in June
\nAnd you hung on each note from her lily-white throat
\nAs she lilted an Irish tune
\nAt the pattern dance, you were held in a trance
\nAs she tripped through a reel or jig
\nWhen her eyes, she\u2019d roll, she\u2019d coax, upon my soul
\nA spud from a hungry pig
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nSince my roving career began
\nBut fair and square, I surrendered there
\nTo the charms of young Rosie McCann
\nWith a heart to let and no tenant yet
\nDid I meet with a shawl or gown
\nBut in she went and I asked no rent
\nFrom the star of the County Down
\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\nSo I\u2019ll dress in my Sunday clothes
\nWith my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right
\nFor a smile from the nut brown rose
\nNo pipe I\u2019ll smoke, no horse I\u2019ll yoke
\nThough my plough with the rust turns brown
\n\u2019til a smiling bride by my own fireside
\nSits the star of the County Down
\n<\/span><\/p>\n