A Feast of Irish Folk : Planxty

Well, a blacksmith courted me, I loved him a-dearly

He played upon his pipes both neat and a-trimly

With his hammer in his hand he strikes so steady

And I love to hear him call all round the smithy

Well, I love to watch my love with his hammer a-swinging

And I love to hear it fall on the anvil a-ringing

Well, the note is loud and clear, the sparks are flying

And my love is handsome then, there's no denying

My love's at the bellows now, the fire's roaring

It is getting mighty hot, the flames were soaring

Nothing can be so gay when the fire is growing

And at night it's as bright as day when my love is blowing

Where has my lover gone with his cheeks like roses?

He has gone across yon fields gathering primroses

Well, that sun doth shine too clear, it'll burn his beauty

I will go and seek my love and do my duty

Strange news has come to town, strange news is carried

Strange news flies up and down that my love is married

Well, I wish him joy though he's my love no longer

But I love my old love still, my blacksmith yonder

Well, a blacksmith courted me, I loved him a-dearly

You may travel far far from your own native land
Far away o'er the mountains, far away o'er the foam
But of all the fine places that I've ever been
Sure there's none can compare with the cliffs of Doneen.
Take a view o'er the mountains, fine sights you'll see there
You'll see the high rocky mountains o'er the west coast of Clare
Oh the town of Kilkee and Kilrush can be seen
From the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Doneen.

It's a nice place to be on a fine summer's day
Watching all the wild flowers that ne'er do decay
Oh the hares and lofty pheasants are plain to be seen
Making homes for their young round the cliffs of Doneen.

Fare thee well to Doneen, fare thee well for a while
And to all the kind people I'm leaving behind
To the streams and the meadows where late I have been
And the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Doneen



As I roved out on a bright May morning
To view the meadows and flowers gay
Whom should I spy but my own true lover
As she sat under yon willow tree

I took off my hat and I did salute her
I did salute her most courageously
When she turned around well the tears fell from her
Sayin' "False young man, you have deluded me

A diamond ring I owned I gave you
A diamond ring to wear on your right hand
But the vows you made, love, you went and broke them
And married the lassie that had the land"

"If I'd married the lassie that had the land, my love
It's that I'll rue till the day I die
When misfortune falls sure no man can shun it
I was blindfolded I'll ne'er deny"

Now at nights when I go to my bed of slumber
The thoughts of my true love run in my mind
When I turned around to embrace my darling
Instead of gold sure it's brass I find

And I wish the Queen would call home her army
From the West Indies, Amerikay and Spain
And every man to his wedded woman
In hopes that you and I will meet again.