Mantle Of Green

My love came to Dublin

one fine Sunday morning.

My love came to Dublin

to honour me there

He wore a green ribbon

wrapped round a green bonnet

And I wore a bangle of gold in my hair

Now the leaves they were green

on that bright Sunday morning

But now they all fall

in this wind in the bough

And I never asked him

to buy me a ring

Fall down very lightly

you leaves haunt me now

I will not ask the clergy

for prayers in the chapel

I will not hear the minister

singing his prayers

I go down to the river

neath the birch trees and branches

And ask them to raise up

their arms in the air

Now the good girls they sleep

in all their fine modesty

The bad girls they sleep

in the height of their shame

I lie alone in the cold by the river

Till I see my true love

return with my name

And I4ll make him some shoes

of the finest green leather

I4ll make him a cloak

the finest you4ve seen

And he4ll walk like a lord

through the city of Dublin

And I4ll walk beside him

in mantles of green