[D]Mellow the moonlight to shine is be[A7]ginning,
Close by the window young Eileen is[D] Spinning;
Bent o'er the[D7] fire her blind[G] grandmother, [D]sitting,
Is[A7] crooning, and moaning, and drowsily [D]knitting: -

(D) Eileen, a chara, I hear someone (A7)tapping
'Tis the ivy dear mother against the glass(D) flapping
Eileen, I (D7)surely hear (G)somebody(D) sighing
'Tis the (A7)sound mother (D) dear of the (A7 ) autumn winds (D)dying.

(D)Merrily cheerily noisily (A7)whirring
Swings the wheel spins the wheel while the foot's (D)stirring
Sprightly and (D7)lightly and (G)airily(D) ringing
(A7) Sounds the sweet (D)voice of the (A7)young maiden (D)singing.

There's a form at the casement - the form of her true love -
And he whispers, with face bent, "I'm waiting for you, love;
Get up on the stool, through the lattice step lightly,
We'll rove in the grove while the moon's shining brightly."
Merrily, cheerily, noiselessly whirring,
Swings the wheel, spins the wheel, while the foot's stirring;
Sprightly, and brightly, and airily ringing
Thrills the sweet voice of the young maiden singing.
The maid shakes her head, on her lips lays her fingers
Steps up from the stool, longs to go and yet lingers
A frightened glance turns to her drowsy grandmother
Puts her foot on the stool spins the wheel with the other

Lazily, easily, now swings the wheel round
Slowly and lowly is heard now the reel's sound
Noiseless and light to the lattice above her
The maid steps, then leaps to the arms of her lover.

Slower... and slower... and slower the wheel swings
Lower... and lower... and lower the reel rings
Ere the reel and the wheel stop their ringing and moving
Through the grove the young lovers by moonlight are roving.