Kellswater - Planxty

Here’s a health to you, bonny Kellswater

Where you’ll get all the pleasures of life

Where you’ll get all the fishing and fowling

And a bonny wee lass for your wife

Oh, it’s down where yon waters run muddy

I’m afraid they will never run clear

And it’s when I dig in for to study

My mind is on them that’s not here

It’s this one and that one they court him

But if anyone gets him but me

It’s early and late I will curse them

That parted lovely Willie from me

Oh, a fathr he calls on his daughter

Two choices I’ll give unto thee

Would you rather see Willie’s ship a-sailing

Or see him hung like a dog from yon tree?

Oh, Father, dear Father, I love him

I can no longer hide it from thee

Through an acre of fire I would travel

Alone with lovely Willie to be

Oh, hard was the heart that confined her

And took from her her heart’s delight

May the chains of old Ireland bind around them

And soft be their pillows at night

Oh, yonder’s a ship on the ocean

And she does not know which way to steer

From the east to the west she’s a-going

She reminds me of the charms of my dear

Oh, it’s yonder my Willie will be coming

He said he’d be here in the spring

And it’s down by yon green shades I’ll meet him

And among yon wild roses we’ll sing

For a gold ring he placed on my finger

Saying «Love, bear this in your mind

If ever I sail from Old Ireland

You’ll mind I’ll not leave you behind.»

Farewell to you, bonny Kellswater

Where you’ll get all the pleasures of life

Where you’ll get all the fishing and fowling

And a bonny wee lass for your wife