As I Roved Out From The County Cavan

As I roved out from the County Cavan for to view the green banks of sweet Lough Ree

I fell a-courting and some fair one, she appeared to me like the queen of May

I kindly asked her if she would marry or if she'd be a soldier's wife

"Oh no, kind sir, I would rather tarry, for I've always chosen a single life"

"My fairest creature with pride of nature, why do you differ from all female kind?

And you're a fair one, both tall and handsome, sure it's to marry you should incline"

"Sure it's to marry I now shall tell you, I have promised this five years or more

To one O'Reilly from the County Cavan, which oft times grieves my poor heart full sore"

"Sure it's in the morning when I can't see you, my heart keeps on bleeding through the whole day

And it's in the evening when I can't get near you, those who are bound, love, they must obey

But if I had you in Phoenix Island, one thousand miles from my native shore

Or in some low valley where no one would hear us, I would entice you to be my own"

"But you won't have me in Phoenix Island, one thousand miles from my native shore

But you can sail away into where you came from, for I'll wait on Reilly forevermore"

"You're like the swan, love, that swims the ocean, just making motion with both her wings

And your snow-white breast, it'll be a potion to any lord or to any king

But youth and folly makes young men marry, and silly notions makes no delay

But what can't be cured must be endured, so fare thee well, darling, I must now away"