Farewell to Kellswater

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 father 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 green bushes (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