> Folk Music > Songs > The Lovely Irish Maid

The Bonny/Lovely Irish Maid / Blackwaterside

[ Roud 6319 ; Ballad Index Pea551 ; DT BONIRSHM , BONIRSH2 ; Mudcat 979 ; trad.]

Louis Killen recorded The Lovely Irish Maid in winter 1977 at the Eldron Fennig Folk Museum of American Ephemera for his album Old Songs, Old Friends. He noted:

That period prior to 1961 also brought me that lovely air, Blackwaterside, from the piping of Francis McPeake, in 1958, and the following year, The Lovely Irish Maid from the singing of Michael Cronin, of Macroom in County Cork, Eire, but who was living in Camden Town, London, at that time.

The Voice Squad sang The Bonny Irish Maid on their 1987 album Many’s the Foolish Youth. The album’s title is a phrase from this song. Seán Corcoran noted:

Ballad-sheet sellers in the last century spread this song all over the country, and also in Britain. Phil [Callery] got this version from Tony Holleran.

Sheila Stewart sang this song as Blackwaterside to Doc Rowe in Blairgowrie, Perthshire on 15 October 1998. These recordings were published in 2000 on her Topic CD From the Heart of the Tradition.

Mick Ryan and Pete Harris sang The Bonnie Irish Maid in 2001 on their WildGoose CD The Long Road. They noted:

This is one of the many Irish songs of parting. It tells of a young man who sets off to seek his fortune in America. Pete learned this lovely song from the singing of Liam Murphy of the Irish band ‘Moher’.

Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner sang The Bonny Irish Maid in 2007 on their WildGoose CD September Days. They noted:

A traditional Irish song of the imminent parting of two lovers, due to emigration.

Geoff Lakeman sang Bonny Irish Maid on his 2016 album After All These Years. He noted:

Irish ballads come in many guises and with different titles and one can get “pixie-led” trying to unravel the origins. A similar song, with different lyrics is Blackwaterside, a location mentioned in my version. The song tells of a young man, about to set off for America, promising his lover that he’ll stay faithful. She says she’ll wait for him.

George Duff sang The Bonnie Irish Maid on his 2018 album The Collier Laddie.

Daoirí Farrell sang Blackwater Side on a March 2025 download single. This video shows him singing it at the Witch’s Hat, Killiney Hill, in December 2023:

Lyrics

Louis Killen sings The Lovely Irish Maid

As I walked out one May morning, so early as I strayed,
It being in the merry month of May the birds sang in the shade.
The sun shone out right merrily and the folly didn’t win pride
With the primroses and daisies down by Blackwaterside.

I had not gone but half a mile when there by chance I spied
Two lovers talk, as they did walk down by Blackwaterside.
And as he entwined her in his arms, these words to her did say:
“It’s in America I’ll prove true to my lovely Irish Maid.”

“It’s when you are in America some Yankee girls you’ll find,
And you’ll have sweethearts of your own, more pleasing to your mind.
You will forget those promises, those vows to me, you made.
Oh, stay at home, love, do not roam from your lovely Irish maid.”

“It’s when I am in America, some Yankee girls I’ll see,
But they must be very handsome to remind me, love, of thee;
For there’s not one flower in yon green land, nor bloom in yonder glade
That can remind me, love, of thee, my lovely Irish maid.”

“O ’tis many’s the foolish youth, ” she said, “Has fled to a foreign shore,
Leaving his loved one’s fair behind, perhaps to meet no more —
For while crossing o’er the Atlantic foam sometimes their graves are made;
Oh, stay at home, love, do not roam from your lovely Irish maid.”

Like two fond hearts together this couple did embrace,
Like honey drops upon the dew, the tears ran down her face;
Saying, “There’s not a day whilst you’re away but I’ll visit still these glades
Until you do return again to your lovely Irish maid.”

The Voice Squad sing The Bonny Irish Maid

As I roved out one morning fair, so early as I strayed,
It being all in the month of May, the birds sang in the shade,
The sun shone down right merrily and billowing with pride,
Where primroses and daisies grow down by Blackwater side.

I had not gone but half a mile when there by chance I spied
Two lovers talking as they walked down by Blackwater side.
And as he embraced her in his arms, these words to her did say,
“When I am in America, I’ll be true to my Irish maid.”

“Oh, when you are in America, those Yankee girls you’ll find,
And you’ll have sweethearts of your own more pleasing to your mind.
Do not forget the promises and vows to me you made,
Oh stay at home, love, and do not roam from your bonny Irish maid.”

“Oh when I am in America, those Yankee girls I’ll see,
And they must be very handsome to remind me, love, of thee.
For there’s not a flower in yonder grove or a bloom in yonder glade,
That can remind me, love, of you, my bonny Irish maid.”

“Oh many’s the foolish youth,” she said, “has gone to a foreign shore,
Leaving behind his own true love perhaps to see no more.
It’s in crossing of the Atlantic foam sometimes their graves are made,
Oh stay at home, love, and do not roam, from your bonny Irish maid.”

These two young hearts together so fondly did embrace,
Like honey drops upon the dew the tears rolled down her face,
Saying, “There’s not a day while you’re away I’ll visit still these glades
Until you do return again to your bonny Irish maid.”

Geoff Lakeman sings Bonny Irish Maid

As I roved out one morning. so early as I strayed,
It being all in the month of May the birds sang in the shade.
The sun shone down right merrily and billowing with pride,
The primroses and daisies grew down by Blackwaterside.

I had no: gone but half a mile when there by chance I spied
Two lovers talking as they walked down by Blackwaterside.
And as he took her in his arms these words to her did say:
“When I am in America I’ll be true to my Irish maid.”

“Tis when you are in America those Yankee girls you’ll find
And you’ll have sweethearts of your own more pleasing to your mind.
Now don’t forget your promises and the vow to me you made,
Oh stay at home now, do not roam from your bonny Irish maid.”

“Tis when I am in America those Yankee girls I’ll see,
They must be very handsome to remind me, love, of thee.
There’s not a bloom in yonder grove or a leaf in yonder glade
That can remind me, love, of you, my bonny Irish maid.”

“There’s many a foolish youth,“ she said, “has gone to a foreign shore
Leaving behind their own true love, perhaps to see no more.
’Tis in crossing the Atlantic foam sometimes their grave is made
Oh stay at home, love, do not roam from your bonny Irish maid.”

These two young hearts together so fondly did embrace
Like honey drops upon the dew the tears ran down her face.
“While you are in America I’ll visit not this glade
Until you are returned again to your bonny Irish maid.”