# The Star of the County Down

Liedtext Near to Banbridge town, in the County Down, One morning in July, Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen And she smiled as she passed me by; Oh, she looked so sweet from her two white feet, To the sheen of her nut-brown hair, Sure the coaxing elf, I’d to shake myself, To make sure I was standing there.
Chorus Oh, from Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay, And from Galway to Dublin town No maid I’ve seen like the sweet colleen, That I met in the County Down.
As she onward sped I shook my head And I gazed with a feeling quare ‚And I said‘, says I to a passer-by. ‚Who’s the maid with the nut-brown hair?‘ Oh, 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
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 trance As she tripped through a reel or jig, And when her eyes she’d roll, she’d coax upon my soul A spud from a hungry pig.
Chorus
I’ve travelled a bit, but never was hit, Since my roving career began; But fair and square I surrendered there To the charm of young Rose McCann. With a heart to let and no tenant yet Did I meet within shawl or gown But in she went and I asked no rent From the star of the County Down.
Chorus
At the harvest 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 my plough with rust turns brown Till a smiling bride by my own fireside Sits the Star of the County Down.
Chorus
Das Lied The Star of the County Down ist eine irische Ballade von Cathal Mac Garvey (1866–1927). Die Melodie ist weitaus älter und bereits im 1726 erschienenen Buch Music for Allan Ramsay’s Collection of Scots Songs von Alexander Stuart unter der Bezeichnung Gilderoy dokumentiert. Auf die gleiche Melodie gibt es zahlreiche weiter Lieder, unter anderem My Love Nell, Divers and Lazarus, The Murder of Maria Martin, Mary from Blackwater Side, When First I Left Old Ireland.
Das Reimschema des Liedes ist bemerkenswert, da sich nicht nur die Zeilen paarweise reimen (halber Kreuzreim), sondern jeweils in den Zeilen 1, 3, 5 und 7 noch Inreime liegen.
Das Lied wird vom Standpunkt eines jungen Mannes aus gesungen, der eine junge Frau namens Rose McCann trifft, die als „Star des County Down“ bezeichnet wird.
Von dem Lied gibt es auch zwei deutsche Versionen: Sie sah aus wie eine Fee von Michael Völkel und Eines Morgens.

## Aufnahmen

The Star of the County Down wurde von vielen Bands aus der Folkszene sowie auch von anderen aufgenommen:
* The Irish Rovers
* The Cobblestones
* The Pogues
* The Chieftains
* Fiddler’s Green
* Slainte
* Caledonix
* Van Morrison
* The Flash Girls
* Yo-Yo Ma
* Neck
* Larry Mathews
* Orthodox Celts
* Energy Orchard, Hard-Rock Version
* Ehud Banai, eine Fassung auf Hebräisch
* Bardic
* Loreena McKennitt
* Flying Pigs with Juicy Wings
* Rapalje
* Switchback (Band)
* Marc Gunn
* Oysterband
* Black Velvet Band
* Cromdale
* Feuerschwanz, gleiche Melodie anderer Text (Holdste Maid)
* Celtas Cortos
* Wunakina
* Lyriel
* Connemara Stone Company
* The High Kings
* Fleadh
* Angelo Kelly
* The Sandsacks
* Michael Völkel
* Pertness
* Kilkenny Band
* Ganaim
* Santiano (Mädchen von Haithabu)
* Sören Vogelsang (Die Maid mit dem nussbraunen Haar)
* Whistling to the bird