From Colm O'Lochlainn's "Irish Street Ballads,"
with new chorus by Shannon Heaton

When first I came to Ireland, some pleasure for to find
There I spied a damsel fair most pleasing to my mind
Her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes, like arrows pierced my breast
They call her lovely Molly-o, the Lily of the West

Her hair in golden ringlets hung, her dress was spangled o’er
She had rings upon her fingers brought from a foreign shore;
She charmed both kings and princes, so costly was she dressed,
She far exceeds Diana bright, the Lily of the West.

CHORUS:
I have crossed the seas to find the girl,
who brings me peace and rest
Still Molly sets my heart aflame,
The Lily of the West

One day as I was walking down by a shady grove,
I spied a lord of high degree conversing with my love
She sang a song delightful while I was so distressed
I bid adieu to Molly-o, the Lily of the West.

I stepped up to my rival, my dagger in my hand
And dragged him from my false love and boldly bid him stand.
Mad with desperation, I pierced him in the chest
I killed a man for Molly-o, the Lily of the West.

CHORUS

I did stand my trial, and boldly I did plead
A flaw in my indictment did in no time have me freed
That beauty bright I did adore, the judge did her address,
Saying “go you faithless Molly-o, the Lily of the West.

Now that I’ve gained my liberty, a-rovin I will go
I’ll ramble through old Ireland and travel Scotland o’er;
She thought to steal my life away, she still disturbs my rest
I still call her Molly-o, the Lily of the West.

CHORUS

Traditional c/o Paddy Tunney

With my dog and gun through the bloomin’ heather
To seek for pastimes I took my way
Where I spied a lovely fair maid
Her charms invited me awhile to stay
I said my darling, you will find I love you
Tell me your dwelling and your name also
Excuse my name and you’ll find my dwelling
Near the mountain streams where the moorcocks crow

I said my dear if you’ll wed a rover
My former raking I will leave aside
Here is my hand and I’ll pledge my honor
If you prove constant I’ll make you my bride
If my parents knew that I love a rover
Great affliction I would undergo
I’ll stop at home for another season
Near the mountain streams where the moorcocks crow

So farewell darling for another season
I hope we’ll meet in yon moorland vale
And when we’ll meet we’ll embrace each other
I’ll pay attention to your lovesick tale
It’s hand in hand we will join together
And I’ll escort you to yon valleys low
Where the linnet sings her sweet notes so pleasing
Near the mountain streams where the moorcocks crow

Traditional c/o Carl Sandburg's "American Songbag."

My dearest dear, the time draws near
When you and I must part
Little do you know, the grief or woe
Of my poor troubled heart

My love you are some turtle dove
That flies from tree to tree
A-mourning for its own true love
Just as I mourn for thee

CHORUS
Oh hush my love, you will break my heart
Nor let me hear you cry
For the dearest friends will have to part
And so must you and I

Your cheeks are like some pink or rose
That blooms in the month of June,
Your lips are like some music sweet
That sings this mournful tune

CHORUS

My love you are some sailing ship
that sails the raging main,
If I prove false to you, my love,
The raging seas will burn

I wish your breast were made of glass
All in it I’d behold
Your name in secret I would write
In letters of bright gold

Your name in secret I would write,
Believe me when I say;
You are the one that I love best,
Unto my dying day

CHORUS

Traditional c/o John Doyle (by way of Norma Waterson) with new Bridge Melody and new Second Verse by Shannon Heaton

My William sails on board the tender
Where he is I do not know
For seven long years I’ve been constantly waiting
To cross the Bay of Biscay-o

At 23 my first and true love
Set sail as winter’s wind did blow
With ship and crew all young and able
To cross the bay of Biscay-o

One night as Mary lay a-sleeping
A knock came to her bedroom door
Saying arise, arise, my dearest Mary
To gain one glance of your William-o

Young Mary rose, put on her clothing
And to the bedroom door did go
And there she spied her own true love
His face as white as snow

William, dear, where are those blushes
Those blushes I knew long years ago
Oh Mary, dear the cold clay ashed them
And I’m only the ghost of your William-o

O, Mary dear, the dawn is breaking
The time has come for me to go
And I must leave you broken-hearted
To cross the bay of Biscay-o

Had I the gold and all the silver
And all the jewels in Mexico
I’d grant them all to the King of Erin
For the life of my William-o

My William sails on board the tender
Where he is I do not know
For seven long years I’ve been constantly waiting
To cross the Bay of Biscay-o

Shannon Heatonʼs translation of Lao Dueng Duen, From the album "Loversʼ Well"

Oh, on this full moon night,
I profess my love for beautiful young Kham Dueng
"Itʼs late now," I say, "and I must take leave.
It grieves me to leave with my heart
as full of love as the full moon."

Though now I must leave you,
my precious flower,
my beloved
I will look toward our reunion.
Oh my love, my moon.

Like the fragrance of a flower,
Such is the heady perfume of her being.
It envelops me completely, like nothing before.
This intoxicating scent, this beautiful woman,
Would that we were together.
Oh the sweetness of this love between us!

Traditional c/o Nic Jones, Words adapted by and original chorus by Shannon Heaton

Oh it's of a young squire in Tamworth we hear
He courted a nobleman's daughter so fair,
All for to marry her it was his intent,
Her friends and relations they'd given consent.

Now a day was appointed for their wedding day
And a farmer was appointed to give her away.
But as soon as the lady this farmer did spy,
Her heart was inflamed, struck with love she did cry.

And the thoughts of the farmer so ran in her mind
A way for to have him, she quickly did find.

CHORUS
Deep is the lovers’ well
Higher than Heaven, darker than Hell
Of courtship & marriage the poets do tell
Sweet is the water from the lovers’ well

Now she turned from the squire and all that she said
Was maybe you should seek another instead
Then waistcoat and britches this young maid put on
And away she went hunting with her dog and her gun

And she often times fired but nothing she killed
Until this young farmer came into the field
To talk with the farmer it was her intent
With her dog and gun then to meet him she went.

"I thought you’d have been at a wedding", she lied
"Oh no" said the farmer, “I’m in love with the bride”

CHORUS

And the lady was pleased when she heard him so bold
And she gave him a glove that was flowered with gold
He asked where she found it and this she did tell
“I found it beside the lover’s well.”

So the lady went home with her heart full of love
And she gave out a notice that she'd lost her glove
Whoever shall find it and bring it to me
I vow and declare that his bride I shall be.

The farmer was pleased when he heard of the news
With the glove to the maiden this farmer he goes

CHORUS

Now that you’ve found me, the maiden she cried
I’ll grant you my love and I’ll be your true bride
And now that I have you fast in my snare
I’ll enjoy you forever, I vow and declare.

CHORUS

Traditional c/o Colm O'Loughlainn's Irish Street Ballads

A lady fair in a garden walking
When a gentleman came riding by
He stepped up to her, all for to view her
And he said ‘fair lady, would you fancy I?’
I am no lady but a poor maiden
And a poor girl of low degree
Therefore, young man, seek another sweetheart,
I am not fitting your serving maid to be

And oh, kind sir, I love another
Tho’ it’s seven years since I did him see
And seven more I will wait upon him
For if he’s living he’ll return to me
“Perhaps your lover is dead or drowned
Or maybe sailing on the sea
Or maybe he is another’s husband
And he will never return to thee

Oh, if he’s married, I wish him happy,
And if he’s dead, sure, I wish him rest;
No other young man will e’er enjoy me
For he’s the one that I love the best
He slipped his hand inside his jacket
And seeking treasure, a token small
It being the ring that was broke between them
And when she saw that she down did fall

And then he took her up in his arms
And gave her kisses most tenderly
Saying, “you’re my jewel and I am your sailor
And now at last I’ve come home to thee
I am your true and your single sailor
You thought was lost or drowned at sea.
But I’ve passed over all my toil and trouble
And I’ve come home, love to wed with thee.”

Traditional c/o Danny Doyle

Goodbye to old Ireland forever,
Farewell to my true love as well
Keep the child safe in your arms love,
I need you like no words can tell,

CHORUS:
Singing too raa lie, oor ra lie addie,
too raa lie oor a lie aye
Too raa lie oor a lie addie,
Sailing for Botany Bay.

The captain he hauls up the anchor
He sails by the stars and the sun
Oh, I swear if I live I’ll return again
To my darling’s sweet kisses I’d run

CHORUS

For seven long years I’m transported
For seven long years and a day
Oh, I wish I were drowned on the ocean bed
For they’ve taken my sweetheart away

CHORUS

Oh, if I’d the wings of a turtle dove
I’d soar o’er the pinions so high
I would fly to the arms of the one I love
And safe on her bosom I would lie

CHORUS