Five Excellent New Songs (1783)/The Irish Girl

YOung men and maids, I pray draw near,
And listen a while unto my song,
And you the truth shall hear,
Its of a bonny black Irish girl,
unto this country did belong.

Her wear it was neat, she's very compleat;
she’s mild and modest in every degree,
Her mantle is black, and her petticoat red;
and an Irish girl ohon was she.

Her mantle was black, and her petticoat red,
her pretty blue stockings, as you may see;
Her brogs was black upon her feet,
and an Irish girl ohon was she.

It’s with a green ribbon I’ll ty up my hair,
quet over my shoulders, as you may see,
My curchief of linen, my mantle of black;
and an Irish girl ohon was she.

There’s many fair maids in this country,
there’s more than one, or two, or three,
With their chains of gold about their necks,
but none of them all compare with thee.

My name it went out both far and near,
many one’s heard of me ne’er did me see;
I’m pictur'd in gold before the king,
and Sarch Colins they do call me.

'Tis I will forsake my bibles and books,
and so will I my presbetry;
And I will forsake my own religion,
to Sarch my dear, to marry with thee.

You need not forsake your bibles and books,
nor yet need you your presbetry;
A man that proves false to his own religion,
I’m sure he can never prove true to me.

I will go to Lochaber my love,
and there will sweem from bank to brae,
All with my shirt about my neck,
Sarch, my dear, to marry with thee.

O do not venture, dear John, she said,
don’t venture your life so far from me;
For I will forsake my friends & acquaintance,
and Johnny my dear, I’ll marry with thee.

This loving couple join’d hand in hand,
in wedlock’s bands, as you may see;
She proves a true and virtuous wife;
and an Irish girl for ever was she.