The Verdant Braes of Skreen - Cara Dillon

As I roved out one evening fair

By the verdant braes of Skreen

I set my back to a hawthorn tree

To view the sun in the west country

And the dew on the forest green

A lad I spied by Abhann’s side

And a maiden by his knee

And he was as dark as the very brown wood

And she all whey and wan to see

All whey and wan was she

«Oh sit you down on the grass,» he said

«On the dewy grass so green

For the wee birds all have come and gone

Since I my true love have seen,» he said

«Since I my true love have seen»

«Then I’ll not sit on the grass,» she said

«Nor be a love of thine

For I hear you love a Connaught girl

And your heart’s no longer mine,» she said

«And your heart’s no longer mine.»

«But I will climb a high, high tree

And I’ll rob a wild bird’s nest

And back I’ll bring what I find there

To the arms that I love best,» she said

«To the arms that I love best.»