The lyrics to the Star of the County Down tell the story of a young man who falls for the charms of a young Irish peasant girl he happens to meet on a country lane.
Star of the County Down
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Each verse has eight lines divided into two sections. The lyrics maintain a tight pattern with an internal rhyme in the first, third, fifth and seventh lines. The second and fourth lines rhyme with each other, as do the sixth and eighth lines. The repeating rhyming pattern gives the lyrics a very tight structure, making it easier for the singer to remember what comes next. The chords are presented here in the key of E minor. Use our chord converter to play the song in other keys.
[wpchords]
[Em]Near to Banbridge town, in the [G]County [D]Down
One [Em]morning in Ju[D]ly
Down a [Em]boreen [D]green came a [G]sweet coll[D]een
And she [Em]smiled as she [Am]passed me [Em]by.
She [G]looked so sweet from her [D]two bare feet
To the [Em]sheen of her nut brown [D]hair
Such a [Em]coaxing elf, I had to [G]shake my[D]self
To make [Em]sure I was [Am]standing [Em]there.
Chorus
From [G]Bantry Bay up to [D]Derry Quay
And from [Em]Galway to Dublin [D]town
No [Em]maid I’ve seen like the [G]sweet col[D]leen,
She’s the [Em]star of the [Am]County [Em]Down.
[/wpchords]
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As she onward sped I shook my head
And I gazed with a feeling rare
And I said, says I, to a passerby
“Who’s the maid with the nut-brown hair?”
He smiled at me, and with pride says he
“That’s the gem of Ireland’s crown.
She’s young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann
She’s the star of the County Down.
Chorus
I’ve travelled a bit, but never was hit
Since my roving career began
But fair and square I surrendered there
To the charms of young Rose McCann.
With a heart to let and no tenant yet
Did I meet with in shawl or gown
But in she went and I asked no rent
From the star of the County Down.
Chorus
At the crossroads fair I’ll be surely there
And I’ll dress in my Sunday clothes
And I’ll try sheep’s eyes, and deludhering lies
On the heart of the nut-brown rose.
No pipe I’ll smoke, no horse I’ll yoke
Though with rust my plough turns brown
Till a smiling bride by my own fireside
Sits the star of the County Down.
Chorus
An optional addition to the lyrics
Some versions of the lyrics to the Star of the County Down contain this extra verse.
She’d a soft brown eye and a look so sly
And a smile like the rose in June
And you hung on each note from her lily-white throat
As she lilted an Irish tune.
At the pattern dance you were held in a trance
As she tripped through a reel or a jig
And when her eyes she’d roll she’d coax, on my soul
A spud from a hungry pig.
Chorus
Star of the County Down
Star of the County Down recordings
Star of the County Down videos
Star of the County Down lyrics and chords
Star of the County Down lyrics and chords print version
[Em]Near to Banbridge town, in the [G]County [D]Down
One [Em]morning in Ju[D]ly
Down a [Em]boreen [D]green came a [G]sweet coll[D]een
And she [Em]smiled as she [Am]passed me [Em]by.
She [G]looked so sweet from her [D]two bare feet
To the [Em]sheen of her nut brown [D]hair
Such a [Em]coaxing elf, I had to [G]shake my[D]self
To make [Em]sure I was [Am]standing [Em]there.
Chorus
From [G]Bantry Bay up to [D]Derry Quay
And from [Em]Galway to Dublin [D]town
No [Em]maid I’ve seen like the [G]sweet col[D]leen,
She’s the [Em]star of the [Am]County [Em]Down.
As she onward sped I shook my head
And I gazed with a feeling rare
And I said, says I, to a passerby
“Who’s the maid with the nut-brown hair?”
He smiled at me, and with pride says he
“That’s the gem of Ireland’s crown.
She’s young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann
She’s the star of the County Down.
Chorus
I’ve travelled a bit, but never was hit
Since my roving career began
But fair and square I surrendered there
To the charms of young Rose McCann.
With a heart to let and no tenant yet
Did I meet with in shawl or gown
But in she went and I asked no rent
From the star of the County Down.
Chorus
At the crossroads fair I’ll be surely there
And I’ll dress in my Sunday clothes
And I’ll try sheep’s eyes, and deludhering lies
On the heart of the nut-brown rose.
No pipe I’ll smoke, no horse I’ll yoke
Though with rust my plough turns brown
Till a smiling bride by my own fireside
Sits the star of the County Down.
Chorus
Star of the County Down
Star of the County Down recordings
Star of the County Down videos
Star of the County Down lyrics and chords
