Star of the County Down
Various Artists Lyrics


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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

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

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
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
Til a smiling bride by my own fireside, sits the star of the County Down

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




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

Overall Meaning

The song "Star of the County Down" tells the story of a chance encounter in County Down, Ireland. The singer is walking down a green lane near Banbridge, when he sees a beautiful young woman with nut-brown hair. He's so taken with her that he has to shake himself to make sure she's real. He asks a passer-by who she is and learns that she's Rosie McCann, the "gem of Ireland's crown" and the star of County Down.


The singer is so smitten that he can't stop thinking about her. He plans to dress in his Sunday best and go to the harvest fair, hoping to see her there. He's even willing to give up smoking and farming until he can win her over and make her his wife.


The lyrics of the song are simple and straightforward, but they convey the singer's feelings of admiration and longing for the elusive "star of the County Down." The melody is lively and energetic, with a Celtic-inspired melody that adds to the song's charm.


Line by Line Meaning

Near Banbridge town in the County Down one morning last July
During one lovely morning last July, somewhere close to Banbridge town located in County Down.


Down a Boreen green came a sweet coleen and she smiled as she passed me by
While walking on a lush green path, I saw a beautiful Irish girl who smiled at me while passing by.


She looked so sweet from her two bare feet to the sheen of her nut-brown hair
This brown-eyed Irish girl looked delightful due to her charming appearance, including bare feet and shining nut-brown hair.


Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself, for to see I was really there
I was so smitten by this Irish girl's captivating charm that I had to convince myself that it was actually happening for real.


From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin town
This Irish girl's beauty is unlike any other, spanning across the entire country 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 any other Irish girl as charming and appealing as the brown coleen I met in County Down.


As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head and I looked with a feeling rare
As she walked away hurriedly, I couldn't help but gaze at her with an unusual feeling and excitement while scratching my head.


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


He smiled at me and he says, says he: That's the gem of Ireland's crown
The passerby smiled in response and said to me that she was the most precious and desirable girl of Ireland.


Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann she's the star of the County Down
This girl with nut-brown hair is none other than Rosie McCann who belongs to the Bann's bank and is the shining star of the County Down.


At the harvest fair she'll be surely there, so I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
I am going to wear the best clothing on the day of the harvest fair because I am certain that the brown coleen will be there as well.


With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right, for a smile from my nut-brown rose
I will have my shoes shined brightly and my hat fixed properly to please my nut-brown rose and receive a smile from her.


No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke, til my plough is a rust-coloured brown
Until my plough becomes rust-colored, I will not smoke a pipe or yoke any horse.


Til a smiling bride by my own fireside, sits the star of the County Down
I will keep working hard until the day when the star of the County Down, my smiling bride, sits beside me by my own fireside.


From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and from Galway to Dublin town
As I mentioned earlier, this girl's beauty is incomparable and spreads across the entire country.


No maid I've seen like the brown coleen that I met in the County Down
I reiterate that I have never met any other maid as beautiful as the brown coleen I encountered in County Down.




Writer(s): van Morrison, Traditional

Contributed by Aaron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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