The Galway Shawl

In Connemara in the County Galway,

One pleasant evening in the month of May,

I spied a damsel, she was young and handsome

Her beauty fairly took my breath away.

Chorus

She wore no jewels, nor costly diamonds,

No paint or powder, no, none at all.

She wore a bonnet with a ribbon on it

And round her shoulder was a Galway Shawl.

We kept on walking, she kept on talking,

'Till her father's cottage came into view.

Says she: 'Come in, sir, and meet my father,

And play to please him " The Foggy Dew."

Chorus

She sat me down beside the fire

I could see her father, he was six feet tall.

And soon her mother had the kettle singing

All I could think of was the Galway shawl.

Chorus

I played "The Blackbird" and "The Stack of Barley",

" Rodney's Glory" and "The Foggy Dew",

She sang each note like an Irish linnet.

Whilst the tears stood in her eyes of blue.

Chorus

'Twas early, early, all in the morning,

When I hit the road for old Donegal.

She said 'Goodby, sir,'she cried and kissed me,

And my heart remained with that Galway shawl.