THE GIRL FROM DONEGAL (Trad.)

Young girls draw near and I'll tell you here,
A story that makes me sad,
Sure he sailed away the other day,
My own true Irish lad,
And my heart did ache for his dear sake,
And the tears like rain did fall,
Oh, why did he part and break the heart
Of this girl from Donegal?

He was tall and strong, could sing a song
That would delight your heart to hear.
His eyes were bright, his step was light,
And his voice was sweet and clear.
He could handle a spade or court a maid,
The fairest of them all.
Ah, but he was inclined to leave behind
This girl from Donegal.

How I wished in vain he did remain,
But see how he sailed away
To a distant home, far o'er the foam,
In a foreign land to stay.
He would rather have toiled in his own native soil,
But the wages they were too small.
That's why he did part and break the heart
Of this girl from Donegal.

The weather was bad and my love was sad
As he had to sail away.
He left me here to pine and fear,
Till he'd return someday,
But if in time he does not return,
He need not come at all.
Oh, why did he part and break the heart
Of this girl from Donegal?

As recorded by Bridie Gallagher on an album called "The Girl from Donegal". (Bridie is from Creeslough.)