As Sung by Jerry O'Neill

Orange Maid of Sligo

On Ben Bulben's high and lofty heights
The evening sun was setting bright
That spread a ray of golden light
Along the Bay of Sligo.

A bonny craft with glancing oars
And swelling sails, was seen before
The waves that bound its verdant shore
Along the bay of Sligo.

And at the prow there sat a girl
With rosy cheek and flaxen curl
and beauty tender like a pearl
The Orange maid of Sligo.

And glancing o'er the vessel's side
She spied upon the water's glide
An orange lily's golden pride
Along the Bay of Sligo.

Oh haste, oh haste and save that flower
I prize it more than rose or bower
No other hand shall have its power
Along the Bay of Sligo.

An Orange youth bent o’er the prow,
He picked the flower and with a bow
Bestowed it on her gentle brow
The orange maid of Sligo.

And soon she was his bonny bride
And oft he thought at with joy and pride
upon that golden even’s tide
Along the Bay of Sligo.

So come all true blues and fill your glass
No finer toast could ever pass
So here's unto that bonny lass
The Orange Maid of Sligo.


Version in the Digital Tradition: https://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=4525