The Star of the County Down
Music: traditional  Words: Cathal McGarvey


[capo on 5]


   Am                    C      G
In Banbridge Town in the County Down
    Am             G
one morning last July,
       Am                    C        G
From a bóithrín green came a sweet cailín
        Am            G         Am
and she smiled as she passed me by
    C                        G
She looked so sweet from her two bare feet
       Am                    G
to the sheen of her nut brown hair
       Am                  C       G
Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself
        Am         G      Am
to make sure I was really there.


[chorus]
     C                G
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay,
     Am                  G
from Galway to Dub-a-lin Town,
   Am                      C         G
No maid I've seen like the brown cailín
       Am         G      Am
that I met in the County Down
Am   G   Am   G   Am     G Am


       Am                  C        G
As she onward sped, sure I shook my head
      Am                    G
And I looked with a feeling rare.
       Am                 C      G
Then I said, says I, to a passer-by,
           Am            G         Am
"Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?"
         C                      G
Well, he smiled at me, and then says he,
            Am               G
"That's the gem of Ireland's crown,
      Am                    C            G
She's Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann,
           Am          G      Am
She's the 'Star of the County Down'"


[chorus]
     C                G
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay,
     Am                  G
from Galway to Dub-a-lin Town,
   Am                      C         G
No maid I've seen like the brown cailín
       Am         G      Am
that I met in the County Down
Am   G   Am   G   Am     G Am


     Am                   C         G
I’ve travelled a bit, but never was hit
         Am              G
Since my roving career began
    Am                   C        G
But fair and square I surrendered there
       Am              G      Am
To the charms of young Rose McCann.
      C                   G
I’d a heart to let and no tenant yet
      Am                    G
Did I meet with in shawl or gown
    Am                C        G
But in she went and I asked no rent
         Am          G      Am
From the Star of the County Down


[chorus]
     C                G
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay,
     Am                  G
from Galway to Dub-a-lin Town,
   Am                      C         G
No maid I've seen like the brown cailín
       Am         G      Am
that I met in the County Down
Am   G   Am   G   Am     G Am


       Am                      C      G
At the harvest fair, she'll be surely there
        Am                 G
So I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
        Am                         C          G
With my shoes shone bright, and my hat cocked right
      Am            G         Am
For a smile from my nut-brown Rose.
   C                       G
No pipe I'll smoke, and no horse I'll yoke
            Am                 G
Though with rust my plow turns brown,
       Am                  C       G
Till a smiling bride by my own fireside
          Am          G      Am
Sits the 'Star of the County Down'


[chorus]
     C                G
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay,
     Am                  G
from Galway to Dub-a-lin Town,
   Am                      C         G
No maid I've seen like the brown cailín
       Am         G      Am
that I met in the County Down
     C                G
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay,
     Am                  G
from Galway to Dub-a-lin Town,
   Am                      C         G
No maid I've seen like the brown cailín
       Am         G      Am
that I met in the County Down
Am   G   Am   G   Am     G Am