verse 1
Em C G D
Close to Banbridge town, in the County Down,
Em D
one morning last July,
Em C G D
down a boreen green came a sweet colleen,
Em C D Em
and she smiled as she passed me by.
verse 2
G D
She looked so neat from her two bare feet,
Em D
to the sheen of her nut brown hair.
Em C G D
Such a coaxing elf, I'd to shake myself,
Em C D Em
to make sure I was really there.
G D
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay,
Em D
and from Galway to Dublin town,
Em C G D
no maid I've seen like the brown colleen,
Em C D Em
that I met in the County Down
verse 3
Em C G D
As she onward sped I sure I scratched my head,
Em D
and I said with a feeling rare.
Em C G D
'A-y-e,' says I to a passer-by,
Em C D Em
'Who's the maid with the nut brown hair?'
verse 4
G D
He smiled at me, and then says he,
Em D
'She’s the gem of Ireland's crown,
Em C G D
young Rosie McCann, from the banks of the Bann,
Em C D Em
she's the Star of the County Down.'
G D
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay,
Em D
and from Galway to Dublin town,
Em C G D
no maid I've seen like the brown colleen,
Em C D Em
that I met in the County Down
Verse 5
Em C G D
At the harvest fair I'll be surely there,
Em D
and I'll dress in my Sunday clothes.
Em C G D
With my shoes shone bright and my head upright,
Em C D Em
and a smile from my nut-brown Rose.
Verse 5
G D
No pipe I smoke, no horse I yoke,
Em D
let my plough with rust turn brown,
Em C G D
till a smiling bride by my own fireside,
Em C D Em
sits the star of the County Down.
G D
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay,
Em D
and from Galway to Dublin town,
Em C G D
no maid I've seen like the brown colleen,
Em C D Em
that I met in the County Down
G D
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay,
Em D
and from Galway to Dublin town,
Em C G D
no maid I've seen like the brown colleen,
Em C D Em
that I met in the County Down