Australian Folk Songs

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Irish Country Song

My young love said to me, "My parents won't mind.
And my brothers won't slight you for your lack of kind."
Then she stepped away from me, and this she did say,
"It will not be long love, till our marriage day."

She went from me and she moved through the fair.
And fondly I watched her go here and go there :
Ten she went away homeward with one star awake
As the swan in the evening moves over the lake.

The people were saying no two were e'er wed
But one had a sorrow that never was said.
And I smiled as she passed with her goods and her gear,
And that was the last that I saw of my dear.

I dreamt it last night that my young love came in,
So softly she entered her feet made no din
She came close beside me, and this she did say,
"It will not be long love, till our marriage day.

—P. Colum

Notes

From the Sydney newspaper the Evening News Saturday 28 December 1912 p. 3.

It is an indication of its popularity in Australia to find a version of this famous Irish song,
more commonly known as "She Moved Through The Fair", published in an Australian newspaper.

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australian traditional songs . . . a selection by mark gregory