Brian Sullivan, Arthur Hinds, Larry Morris and Clyde Gilbert formed Emerald… Read Full Bio ↴Brian Sullivan, Arthur Hinds, Larry Morris and Clyde Gilbert formed Emerald Rose in late 1996. Sharing a common interest in ancient religions, musical styles, fantasy, and Celtic mythology, the four began to explore music as another creative outlet for their combined talents. After a few jam sessions around the campfire with friends and families, the band performed their first live professional gig on St. Patrick's Day, 1997. Inspired by the energy the four created together on stage and in the studio, Emerald Rose released their first self-titled CD in 1998. Since then, Emerald Rose have released three independently produced CDs: "Bending Tradition" (2000), "Fire in the Head - Emerald Rose Live!" (2002), and "Celtic Crescent" (2003). http://www.emeraldrose.com/

Star of the County Down
Emerald Rose Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Near Banbridge town in the County Down one morning last July
Down a Boreen green came a sweet coleen and she smiled as she passed me by
She looked so sweet from her two bare feet to the sheen of her nut-brown hair
Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself, for to see I was really there

Chorus:
From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the brown coleen that I met in the County Down

As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head and I looked with a feeling rare
And I says, says I, to a passer-by: Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?
He smiled at me and he says, says he: That's the gem of Irelands crown
Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann, she's the star of the County Down

Chorus

At the harvest fair she'll be surely there, so I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right, for a smile from my nut-brown rose
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke, til my plough is a rust-coloured brown
Till a smiling bride by my own fireside, sits the star of the County Down

Chorus

Overall Meaning

The song "Star of the County Down" by Emeral Rose is about a man's encounter with a beautiful young woman with brown hair and bare feet, whom he calls the "sweet coleen." The man meets her one morning in July near the town of Banbridge and she passes him by with a smile. He is so taken with her that he can't believe his eyes, thinking he must be dreaming. As she moves forward, he stops another passerby and asks who she is. The man tells him that she is Rosie McCann, the "gem of Ireland's crown," and "the star of the County Down." The lyrics describe his infatuation with the woman and his determination to win her heart.

Line by Line Meaning

Near Banbridge town in the County Down one morning last July
One morning last July, near Banbridge town in the County Down

Down a Boreen green came a sweet coleen and she smiled as she passed me by
A sweet girl came down a green lane and smiled as she passed by

She looked so sweet from her two bare feet to the sheen of her nut-brown hair
She looked sweet, from her bare feet to her shiny brown hair

Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself, for to see I was really there
She was so enchanting that I had to shake myself to make sure she was real

From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin town
From Bantry Bay to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin town

No maid I've seen like the brown coleen that I met in the County Down
I have never seen a girl like the brown-haired girl I met in County Down

As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head and I looked with a feeling rare
As she hurried away, I scratched my head and looked at her with great admiration

And I says, says I, to a passer-by: Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?
I asked a passer-by, 'Who is the girl with the beautiful brown hair?'

He smiled at me and he says, says he: That's the gem of Irelands crown
He smiled and said, 'That's the most valuable girl in all of Ireland.'

Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann, she's the star of the County Down
Her name is Rosie McCann, she's from the banks of the Bann, and she's the most famous girl in County Down

At the harvest fair she'll be surely there, so I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
She'll definitely be at the harvest fair, so I'll dress up in my best clothes

With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right, for a smile from my nut-brown rose
I'll shine my shoes and straighten my hat, hoping for a smile from my brown-haired beauty

No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke, til my plough is a rust-coloured brown
I won't smoke my pipe or work my horse until my plow turns rusty brown

Till a smiling bride by my own fireside, sits the star of the County Down
I won't stop until the star of County Down is my smiling wife, sitting by my fireside

Chorus: From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin town
Chorus: From Bantry Bay to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin town

No maid I've seen like the brown coleen that I met in the County Down
Chorus: I have never seen a girl like the brown-haired girl I met in County Down

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PETER HOPE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS