One morning in the month of June when Sol’s bright beams the air illumed
My cattle from the yard I drove and then stretched at my ease
The skylark sang melodiously and a lovely lass appeared to me
Down by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore
When I beheld this fair young maid my heart began to palpitate
My eyes began to dazzle and her figure I could not state
She was loaded with some balls of thread the same she had upon her head
Passing through the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore
When I saw this maid approaching me my heart rose to a high degree
I stood with great alacrity to accost this charming maid
Kind sir she says I’m going astray won’t you please now show me the way
That leads to the weaver’s house in Sweet Lisbweemore
There is no other human being in showing the way can surpass me
I know it from my infancy so come along a stór
But if you’ll agree to stay with me I’ll be always be your grá mo chroí
Here by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore
She soon replied indeed I won’t you are a dirty scheming rogue
Please desist from flattery with a simple honest maid
But if you’re inclined to show the way come along don’t me delay
Here by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore
O what she said I did excuse her request I could not refuse
We both walked on together and she this to me did say
Where is that man they call DB his evidence I’d like to see
Here by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore
O come along my pretty maid don’t be of me the least afraid
I’ll lead you through this rugged place that you never went before
And your guardian I will surely be until that young man’s face we see
Here by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore
The truth to you I will relate I do not wish to his face
The reason too I’ll tell to you it’s early in the day
And if he’d see us both alone a song for us he might compose
Here by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore
To do his best what can he say are we not honest going the way
Besides he has the decency never to dispraise
And another man were in my shoes he’d spoil your petticoat warp and woof
Here by the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore
When this I said without delay upon my word she ran away
In vain I followed after her through thick and steep terrain
No roebuck in the park so quick could lep each handicap and ditch
As she did through the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore
Alas she was too quick for me though I ran with great rapidity
I was tumbled by the dint of speed and topsy turvy thrown
E’er again on ground my foot I lay she was a half a mile away
At least from the turbary in Sweet Lisbweemore
(Traditional)
Andy Irvine Lyrics 