A blacksmith courted me Nine months and better He fairly won my heart Wrote me a letter With his hammer in his hand He looked quite clever And if I was with my love I'd live forever.
But where is my love gone With his cheeks like roses And his good black billycock on Decked round with primroses I'm afraid the scorching sun Will shine and burn his beauty And if I was with my love I'd do my duty.
Strange news is coming to town Strange news is carried Strange news flies up and down That my love is married. I wish them both much joy Though they can't hear me And may God reward him well For the slighting of me.
Don't you remember when You lay beside me And you said you'd marry me And not deny me If I said I'd marry you It was only for to try you So bring your witness love And I'll not deny you.
No witness have I none Save God Almighty And may he reward you well For the slighting of me Her lips grew pale and wan It made her poor heart tremble To think she loved a one And he proved deceitful.
A blacksmith courted me Nine months and better He fairly won my heart Wrote me a letter With his hammer in his hand He looked quite clever And if I was with my love I'd live forever.
My love said to me My mother won't mind And me father won't slight you For your lack of kind Then she stepped away from me And this she did say, "It will not be long, love Till our wedding day"
She stepped away from me And she moved through the fair And fondly I watched her Move here and move there And she went her way homeward With one star awake As the swans in the evening Move over the lake
The people were saying No two e'er were wed But one has a sorrow That never was said And she smiled as she passed me With her goods and her gear And that was the last That I saw of my dear.
I dreamed it last night That my true love came in So softly she entered Her feet made no din she came close beside me And this she did say, "It will not be long, love Till our wedding day."
Where dips the rocky highland Of Sleuth Wood in the lake There lies a leafy island Where flapping herons wake The drowsy water-rats There we've hid our faery vats Full of berries And of reddest stolen cherries.
Chorus: Come away, O human child To the waters and the wild With a faery hand in hand For the world's more full of weeping Than you can understand.
Where the wave of moonlight glosses The dim grey sands with light By far off furthest Rosses We foot it all the night Weaving olden dances Mingling hands and mingling glances Till the moon has taken flight To and fro we leap And chase the frothy bubbles Whilst the world is full of troubles And is anxious in its sleep.
Chorus
Where the wandering water gushes From the hills above Glen-Car In pools among the rushes That scarce could bathe a star We seek for slumbering trout And whispering in their ears Give them unquiet dreams Leaning softly out From ferns that drop their tears Over the young streams.
Chorus
Away with us he's going The solemn-eyed He'll hear no more the lowing Of the calves on the warm hillside Or the kettle on the hob Sing peace into his breast Or see the brown mice bob Round and round the oatmeal chest.
Chorus
For he comes, the human child To the waters and the wild With a faery hand in hand For the world's more full of weeping Than you can understand.
I wish I was in Carrighfergus, Only for nights in Ballygrant I would swim over the deepest ocean, Only for nights in Ballygrant.
But the sea is wide, and I can't get over. And neither have I wings to fly, Or if I could find me a handsome boatsman To ferry me over to my love and die.
Now in Kilkenny, it is reported, They've marble stones there as black as ink With gold and silver I would transport her But I'll sing no more now, till I get a drink.
I'm drunk today, but then I'm seldom sober. A handsome rover from town to town. Ah, but I am sick now, my days are over, Come all you young lads and lay me down.
I wish I was in Carrighfergus, Only for nights in Ballygran.
Here's a health to you bonny Kellswater Where you get all the pleasures of life Where you get all the fishing and fowling And a bonny wee lass for your wife.
Oh it's down where yon waters run muddy I'm afraid they will never run clear And it's when I begin for to study My mind is on him that's not here.
And it's this one and that one may court him But if any one gets him but me It's early and late I will curse them The parting lovely Willie from me.
Oh a father he calls on his daughter Two choices I'll give unto thee Would you rather see Willie's ship a sailing See him hung like a dog on yonder tree.
Oh father, dear father, I love him I can no longer hide it from thee Through an acre of fire I would travel Along with the lovely Willie to be.
Oh hard was the heartbreak I'm finding She took from her full heart's delight May the chains of old Ireland come find them And softly their pillows at night.
Oh yonder there's a ship on the ocean And she does not know which way to steer From the east and the west she's a'blowing She reminds me of the charms of my dear.
Oh it's yonder my Willie will be coming He said he'd be here in the spring And it's down by yon green shades I'll meet him And among wild roses we'll sing.
For a gold ring be placed on my finger Saying love bear this in your mind If ever I sail from old Ireland You'll mind I'll not leave you behind.
Here's a health to you bonny Kellswater Where you get all the pleasures of life Where you get all the fishing and fowling And a bonny wee lass for your wife.
O for a voice like thunder, and a tongue To drown the throat of war! - When the senses Are shaken, and the soul is driven to madness, Who can stand? When the souls of the oppressed Fight in the troubled air that rages, who can stand? When the whirlwind of fury comes from the Throne of god, when the frowns of his countenance Drive the nations together, who can stand? When Sin claps his broad wings over the battle, And sails rejoicing in the flood of Death; When souls are torn to everlasting fire, And fiends of Hell rejoice upon the slain. O who can stand? O who hath caused this? O who can answer at the throne of God? The Kings and Nobles of the Land have done it! Hear it not, Heaven, thy Ministers have done it!