Banks Of The Bann

When first to this country as a stranger I came

I placed my affection on a comely young dame

She being warm and tender, her waist small and slender

Kind Nature had formed her for my overthrow

On the banks of Bann water, where I first beheld her

She appeared like fair Juno or a Grecian queen

Her eyes shone like diamonds, her hair softly twining

Her cheeks were like roses, or like blood drops in snow

It was her cruel parents that first caused our variance

All because I was poor and of a low degree

But I'll do my endeavour to earn my love's favour

Although she is come of a rich family

My name is Delaney, its a name that won't shame me

And if I had saved money I'd have plenty in store

But drinking and courting, night rambling and sporting

Were the cause of my ruin and absence from home

Had I all the money that's in the West Indies

Or had I the gold of the African shore

I would spend it on pearls, and on you my brown girl

For there's no other love in this world I adore

And now that I've found her I'm contented forever

I'll put rings on her fingers and gold in her hair

And we'll live on the banks of the lovely Bann river

And in all sorts of splendour I will style her my dear.

One of several songs with this name.