STAR OF THE COUNTY 4/4 Cathal McGarvey 1866-1927 The same melody was used in an earlier Irish folk song, My Love Nell. The third and fourth verses can not be verified as part of the original. While this song is in the public domain based on the date of the author's death, there is a notation that The Chieftains wrote the lyrics ©EMI Publishing. It is possible the earlier lyrics by McGarvey vary significantly from those of The Chieftains, though the first verse and chorus appear to be the same.

Intro: Em C D Em

Em G D G Em G Near Town in the County Down, one morning last July Em G D G C D Em Down a bohreen (bôithrín) green came a sweet colleen, and she smiled as she passed me by G Am G Em G She looked so sweet from her two bare feet to the sheen of her nut brown hair Em G D Em C D Em Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself, to be sure I was really there

CHORUS: G Am G Em G From Bantry Bay up to quay and from Galway to Dublin town Em G D Em C D Em C D Em No maid I've seen like the brown colleen that I met in the County Down.

Em G D G Em G As she onward sped, sure I shook my head and I gazed with a feeling rare Em Am D G C D Em And I says, says I, to a passer-by, “Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?” G Am G Em G He smiled at me and he says, says he, “That's the gem of Ireland's crown Em G D Em C D Em She's young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann, she's the star of the County Down. CHORUS

Em G D G Em G She'd a soft brown eye and a look so sly and a smile like the rose in June Em Am D G C D Em And you held each note from her lily-white throat, as she lilted an Irish tune G Am G Em G At the pattern dance you were in a trance as she tripped through a jig or reel Em G D Em C D Em When her eyes she'd roll, she would lift your soul as your heart she would likely steal. CHORUS Em G D G Em G I've travelled a bit, but never was hit, Since my roving career began Em Am D G C D Em But fair and square I surrendered there To the charms of young Rose McCann. G Am G Em G I'd a heart to let and no tenant yet Did I meet with in shawl or gown Em G D Em C D Em But in she went and I asked no rent From the star of the County Down. CHORUS

Em G D G Em G At the harvest fair, she'll be surely there and I'll dress in my Sunday clothes Em Am D G C D Em With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right for a smile from the nut-brown rose G Am G Em G No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke, 'til my plow is a rust-colored brown Em G D Em C D Em 'Til a smiling bride by my own fireside sits the star of the County Down CHORUS STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN 6/8 Cathal McGarvey 1866-1927 The same melody was used in an earlier Irish folk song, My Love Nell. Chords in green courtesy of Ellen Hoffman. The third and fourth verses can not be verified as part of the original. While this song is in the public domain based on the date of the author's death, there is a notation that The Chieftains wrote the lyrics ©EMI Publishing. It is possible the earlier lyrics by McGarvey vary significantly from those of The Chieftains, though the first verse and chorus appear to be the same.

Intro: Dm C Dm

Dm F G Dm Am Near Banbridge Town in the County Down, one morning last July Dm F G Dm C Dm Down a bohreen (bôithrín) green came a sweet colleen, and she smiled as she passed me by F C Dm Gm Am She looked so sweet from her two bare feet to the sheen of her nut brown hair Dm F G Dm C Dm Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself, to be sure I was really there

CHORUS: F C Dm Gm Am From Bantry Bay up to Derry quay and from Galway to Dublin town Dm F G Dm C Dm Dm C Dm No maid I've seen like the brown colleen that I met in the County Down.

Dm F G Dm Am As she onward sped, sure I shook my head and I gazed with a feeling rare Dm F G Dm C Dm And I says, says I, to a passer-by, “Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?” F C Dm Gm Am He smiled at me and he says, says he, “That's the gem of Ireland's crown Dm F G Dm C Dm She's young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann, she's the star of the County Down. CHORUS

Dm F G Dm Am She'd a soft brown eye and a look so sly and a smile like the rose in June Dm F G Dm C Dm And you held each note from her lily-white throat, as she lilted an Irish tune F C Dm Gm Am At the pattern dance you were in a trance as she tripped through a jig or reel Dm F G Dm C Dm When her eyes she'd roll, she would lift your soul as your heart she would likely steal. CHORUS Dm F G Dm Am I've travelled a bit, but never was hit, Since my roving career began Dm F G Dm C Dm But fair and square I surrendered there To the charms of young Rose McCann. F C Dm Gm Am I'd a heart to let and no tenant yet Did I meet with in shawl or gown Dm F G Dm C Dm But in she went and I asked no rent From the star of the County Down. CHORUS

Dm F G Dm Am At the harvest fair, she'll be surely there and I'll dress in my Sunday clothes Dm F G Dm C Dm With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right for a smile from the nut-brown rose F C Dm Gm Am No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke, 'til my plow is a rust-colored brown Dm F G Dm C Dm 'Til a smiling bride by my own fireside sits the star of the County Down CHORUS

Prepared by A. Farley for SongScouting.wordpress.com