DON'T COME AGAIN [the Rejected Lover]

Oh, the first place thatI saw my love it was at a ball
I looked on her, I gazed on her, oh, far above them all;
But aye she looked on me with scorn and disdain
And the bonnie wee lassie's answer was to no come again.
[repeat last line of each verse]

The next place that I saw my love it was at a wake,
I looked on her, I gazed on her, I thought my heart would break;
But aye she looked on me with scorn and disdain
and the bonny wee lassies's answer was to no come again.

It being in six months after, a little or above,
When Cupid shot his arrow and he wounded my trye love;
He wounded her severely; it caused her to complain
And she wrote to him a letter saning, "you might come again."

I wrote her back an answer all for to let her know
While life was in her body it's there I wouldnae go,
While life was in my body and while it does remain
I will aye mind the girl that said, "Don't come again."

Come all you pretty fair maids, a warning take by me.
Never slight a young man wherever they may be[sic],
For if you do you're sure to rue, they'll cause you to complain
And you'll aye mind the day you said, "Don't come again"
You will aye rue the day you said "Don't come again"

This is the version Eddie and Grace Butcher of Magilligan, Co. Derry sang. It has also been recorded by Andy Irvine. The text and music are published in hugh Shields, "Shamrock, Rose and Thistle", Belfast: Blackstaff Press, 1981.