Hi again - I'm the last guest. I thought I would just post the lyrics of the Bothy Band version. I'm really interested in the slight variations but the meaning never changes. My next task is to find out who wrote this song. Listening to Carla Dillon's version in a moment. Interestingly she has:

1. From sweet lovely Derry to fair London town .....

whereas the Bothy version has as below. Londonderry is what protestants call Derry; and Derry is what catholics call Londonderry ! Very interesting; I'm actually from Liverpool UK and the city is 1/2 of Irish descent with 1/2 protestant and 1/2 catholic. Anyway enough of my aside and here are the lyrics:

1. From sweet Londonderry, to the fair London Town
There is no other nicer harbour, anywhere to be found
Where the children each evenin’, is a-playin’ around the shore
And the joybells are ringin’, for the maid of Cúil Mór.

2. The first time that I met her, she passed me by
The next time that I met her, she bade me goodbye
But the last time that I met her, she grieved my heart sore.
For she sailed down Lough Foyle, and away from Cúil Mór.

3. If I had the power, the storm to rise
I would blow the wind higher, for to darken the skies
I would blow the wind higher, to make the salt seas to roar
On the day that my love sailed, away from Cúil Mór.

4. To the north of America, my love I'll search for
For there I know no one, nor no one knows me
But should I not find her, I'll return home no more
But like a pilgrim I will wander, for the maid of Cúil Mór.

5. [2 repeats]?