I learned this song from a guy named Patrick O'Regan.

He sang it like this


NOREEN BAWN

There's a glen in old Tirconnel
There's a cottage in that glen
where once there dwelt a maiden
who inspired the hearts of men
She was hearty, hale and handsome
shy and graceful as a fawn
and the neighbours loved the widow's
handsome daughter Noreen Bawn

Then one day there came a letter
with her passage paid to go
to the land of the Missouri
where the Mississippi flows
soon she got all things ready
'till one morning in the dawn
the poor widow, broken hearted
parted with her Noreen Bawn

Many years the widow waited'
'till one evening to her door
came a gentle looking lady
costly were the clothes she wore
saying 'Mother don't you know me,
for I've only got a cold'
but those hectic spots upon her cheeks
alas their story told

there's a graveyard in Tirconnel
where the flowers do wildly grow
there's a gray haired woman weeping
kneeling o'er a lonely grave
saying 'Noreen now you've left me
and your health and life are gone
Oh the curse of emigrations
brought you here my Noreen Bawn'

So now fair and tender maidens
ponder well before you go
from your humble homes in Erin
what's beyond you do not know
for what is gold and what is silver
when your health and strength are gone
when you think of emigrating
won't you think of Noreen Bawn