The Colleen Deas

One evening fair to take the air as the summer sun went down
The moon in all her beauties rare the stars began to crown
By Clontarf's bay I chanced to stray when a female form did pass
More bright by far than the evening star, and I called her the Colleen Deas

I said, Fair maid where have you strayed? Come tell to me your name
Likewise your father's dwelling place and folk from whence you came
For a form so fair and beauties rare I neer before did pass
For your dear sake my heart will break, my charming Colleen Deas

She said, My name and residence, if that is all you crave,
I'm the only daughter of Erin's king once known as Brian the Brave
On Clontarf's plains he slew the Danes, that is why I like to pass
In the eveningtide where my father died, said the charming Colleen Deas

I closed my eyes in dim surprise, not knowing what I should do
And when I opened them again this vision from me flew
Now I would give all England's wealth and think it only brass
If I could get but another sight of my charming Colleen Deas

Come with Me over the Mountain

Last night as the moon had illumined the sky
I first took the notion to marry
I put on my hat and away I did go
You might think that I was in a hurry
Till I came to a spot where I ofttimes had been
My heart gave a lep when my darling I'd seen
I opened the door and I bade her good night
Saying, Come with me over the mountain

What sort of a notion's got into your head?
I'm glad for to see you so merry
It's twelve in the clock and you should be in bed
Speak low and don't waken my mammy
Now if I am jesting my jesting is true
I have courted twelve months and I think that should do
And before that I sleep I'll be married to you
If you'll come with me over the mountain

If I were to make an elopement with you
It might be attended with dangers
The neighbors would censure and tattle us two
My friends in amazement would wonder
But just let them censure and tattle away
Consult with yourself, for it's very near day
And I don't care a hang what the lot of them say
If you'll come with me over the mountain

So now I'm resolved at home for to stay
I think it more fitting and better
So fare thee well, darling, I now must away
And that puts an end to the matter
Stop, stop a moment till I get my shoes
My heart gave a lep when I heard the glad news
She ran to the door saying, I hope you'll excuse
My simplicity over the mountain

By this time the moon it had sunk in the west
And the morning star brightly was shining
We both made our way with the greatest of haste
Till we came to the altar of highness
The clergy came there without any delay
We were married there and then that very same day
And tis often we've spoke when we'd little to say
Of the trip we took over the mountain

Farewell to Molly

When going to Mass last Sunday, my love she passed me by
I knew her mind was altered by the roving of her eye
I knew her mind was altered to a lad of higher degree
For it's Molly lovely Molly your looks have wounded me

O woe unto you, Molly, to me you've proved unkind
You have plucked the bonny briar and left the sweet red rose behind
But the briar will surely wither and the day it will come soon
When the lovely blushing red rose will flourish and will bloom

For courting is a pleasure between my love and I
And it's down in yon green valley we will meet by and by
It is down in yon green valley she is my heart's delight
And it's with you, lovely Molly, I could spend till the broad daylight

I then took out a bottle and I held it in my hand
Saying, Raise your glass, dear Molly, our friendship's at an end
Saying, Raise your glass, dear Molly, drink this bottle dry to me
For there are ten guineas wagered that married we neer shall be

Now never trust a wee girl with a dark and roving eye
Just court her and embrace her, never tell her the reason why
Just court her and embrace her till you'll cause her heart to yield
For a fainthearted soldier never won on a battlefield

So farewell Ballymoney and County Antrim too
Likewise to you, dear Molly, I bid you a fond adieu
America lies far away across the ocean blue
It is there I'm going, dear Molly, again I bid adieu

John Bull and the Youth from Milltown

Last week as the newspaper tells us how an Irishman did sail away
Hoping for to meet with employment as thousands before him did stray
He resolved for to travel through England for labor to seek up and down
But he never denied where he came from, Kerry, a place called Milltown

One evening as he walked up through London, he met with John Bull on his way
And just as he passed by a corner he stopped and those words he did say:
Good evening, Pat, where are you bound for and when did you land on our shores
Or are you belong to those Fenians that we had in the year '64?

Said the youth, You now talk about Fenians, as he looked on John Bull with surprise
But remember the last words of Emmet, for they were the cause of great noise
Or is it because I'm from Ireland that you look down on me with a frown?
But remember you met the wrong hero, said the youth that belonged to Milltown

Said John Bull, For a stranger you're saucy, no doubt your expressions are great
But see how we beat the Russians and the Zulus we did them defeat
We conquered all earth came before us, like thunder our cannon do roar
We made proud Napoleon surrender and exiled to a far distant shore

Said the youth, You may boast of your victories, but your soldiers were brave Irish men
And I would say that only for them a battle you never would win
But show me one gained by honor without the sword in the field has cut down
You're too fond of spies and informers, said the youth that beloged to Milltown

Said John Bull, You stray from your country, like wild geese you do go away
To America, England, New Zealand, O you never tire crossing the sea
Why don't be sometime contented and a living to make of your own
Just like all these here around you, they never travelled a mile from their home?

Said the youth, We must stray from our country while coercion rules over us all
But tell me who is the right leader of the land where the dear shamrock grows?
For as long as the green flag is waving and Irishmen can't be put down
William O'Brien is our leader, said the youth that beloged to Milltown

Said John Bull, I am now tired of speaking, to give over I think it is time
We had a man here from your country, that was in the year '69
Whether right or wrong was his question, he tried for to jink out the game
Daniel O'Connell they called him, from Derrynane in Kerry he came

Said the youth, He was born in Currane where the old ruins today can be seen
Close by the brink of the water, convenient to Cahirsiveen
He was born a true son of Erin, the harp and the shamrock his crown
May God rest his soul, he's in heaven, said the youth that beloged to Milltown

Erin the Green

Draw near each young lover, lend ear to my ditty
That hears my mournful tale
Come join me in concert, you'll lend to me your pity
Whilst I my misfortune bewail
The grief of my poor heart no tongue can disclose
My cheeks are now pale that once bloomed like the rose
And it's all for a young man who, I do suppose,
Is now far from sweet Erin the green

Ah sure when we were children we walked out together
Along the green valleys so neat
Although we were childish we love one another
Whilst plucking the wild berries sweet
It was in sweet Athy we both went to school
He was first in his class and correct in each rule
And I cheerfully walked home through sweet Cill MacCumhail
With the flower of sweet Erin the green

His head on my bosom he used to repose it
Each evening all under a shade
And a song in my praises my darling composed it
And styled it The Cold Dairy Maid
The night I denied him, I'd die for his sake,
It was little I thought my denial he'd take
Ah but to my misfortune I made a mistake
When he left me in Erin the green

Ah it's little I thought that my darling would leave me
No matter what I'd say or do
For he ofttimes told me he neer would deceive me
But vowed he'd be constant and true
But I need not blame him for breaking these vows
For to my misfortune I myself was the cause
And his truth and his loyalty will gain him applause
When he's far from sweet Erin the green

So come all you young maids of this dear Irish nation
I pray you be steady and wise
And likewise give ear to my kind assertation
And never your true love despise
For such foolish folly distracted I rove
There is no peace for me but yon dark silent grave
And all hopes denied me I'll soon take my leave
Of the flower of sweet Erin the green

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