The Irish Girl
As I walked out one May morning down by a riverside
I gaz-ed all a-round me when an Irish girl I spied.
So red and rosy were her cheeks and coal-black was her hair
And costly was the robe of gold this Irish girl did wear.Her shoes were made of Spanish leather all sprinkled o'er with dew,
She wrung her hands she tore her hair crying, Oh, what shall I do?
I'm a-going home, I'm a-going home, I'm a-going home, said she,
How can I go a-roving and slight my own Johnny?I wish I was a butterfly, I would fly to my love's breast,
And if I were a linnet I would sing my love to rest,
And if I was a nightingale I would sing till the morning clear,
I'd sit and sing to you, Polly, for once I loved you dear.I wish I was a red rose bud that in the garden grew
And if I was that gardener to my love I would prove true.
There is not one month throughout the year of what my love I would renew,
With flowers three I would garnish thee, sweet william, thyme and rue.I wish I was in Dublin town a-romping on the grass
With a bottle of whiskey in my hand and on my knee a lass.
I would call for liquor merrily I would spend my money free,
With a rant and a roar all along the shore let the winds blow high or low.One night as I lay on my bed so sick and bad was I
I called for a napikin all around my head to tie.
But there's many a man as bad as me so why should I complain,
For love it is a funny thing, did you ever feel the pain?
The Irish Girl words and music are in The Copper Family Song Book, but not in Bob Copper's book, A Song for Every Season.
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New: 23 December 2000 | Now: 23 December 2000 | Garry Gillard