"StaroftheCountyDown"

isanIrishballadsetnearBanbridgeinCountyDown,inNorthernIreland.ThewordsarebyCathalMcGarvey(1866–1927)fromRamelton,CountyDonegal.Thetuneissimilartoseveralotherworks,especiallythatoftheEnglish"DivesandLazarus",alsocalled"Kingsfold",wellknownfromseveralpopularhymns.

ThesongissungfromthepointofviewofayoungmanwhochancestomeetacharmingladybythenameofRose(orRosie)McCann,referredtoasthe"staroftheCountyDown".Fromabriefencounterthewriter'sinfatuationgrowsuntil,bytheendoftheballad,heimagineshimselfmarryingthegirl.一曲輕快的愛爾蘭民謠，一段美妙的單相思故事。很多民謠歌手演唱過此曲，這里的音頻版本選取的是Rosheen的演繹，收錄在其專輯MusiqueCeltic中。文末視頻有男聲版（OrthodoxCelts）和現場版（Loreena），還有音樂純享版（哨笛），敬請欣賞。Star

of

the

County

Down,Rosheen

-

Musique

CelticStaroftheCountyDownNearBanbridgetown,intheCountyDownOnemorninglastJulyDownaboreengreencameasweetcolleenAndshesmiledasshepassedmebyFromBantryBayuptoDerryQuayAndfromGalwaytoDublintownNomaidI'veseenlikethebrowncolleenThatImetintheCountyDown

ShelookedsosweetfromhertwobarefeetTothesheenofhernut-brownhairSuchacoaxingelf,sureIshookmyselfFortoseeIwasreallythereFromBantryBayuptoDerryQuayAndfromGalwaytoDublintownNomaidI'veseenlikethebrowncolleenThatImetintheCountyDown

Assheonwardsped,sureIscratchedmyheadAndIlookedwithafeelingrareAndIsaid,saysI,toapasserby"Who'sthemaidwiththenut-brownhair?"Hesmiledatmeandhesaid,sayshe"She'sthegemofIreland'scrownYoungRosieMcCannfromthebanksoftheBannShe'sthestaroftheCountyDown."

Attheharvestfairshe'llbesurelythereSoIwearmySundayclothesWithmyshoesshonebrightandmyhatcockedrightForasmilefrommynut-brownroseNopipeI'llsmoke,nohorseI'llyokeTillmyploughturnsrustcolouredbrownForasmilingbridebymyownfiresideSitsthestaroftheCountyDown

FromBantryBayuptoDerryQuayAndfromGalwaytoDublintownNomaidI'veseenlikethebrowncolleenThatImetintheCountyDownFromBantryBayup