THE GALWAY SHAWL 

At Orenmore 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. 
But 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." 

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. 

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. 

'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. 

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Music; traditional. Content copyright © 2000 held by the author; Ian Hall.