 | Irish Songs and Ballads |  |
112
MY BONNY CUCKOO.
My bonny cuckoo, come whisper true!
Around the world I'd rove with you;
I'd rove with you until the next spring,
And still my cuckoo would sweetly sing,—
“Cuckoo! cuckoo!” until the next spring;
“Cuckoo! cuckoo!” until the next spring.
Around the world I'd rove with you;
I'd rove with you until the next spring,
And still my cuckoo would sweetly sing,—
“Cuckoo! cuckoo!” until the next spring;
“Cuckoo! cuckoo!” until the next spring.
The ash and the hazel shall mourning say,—
“Oh, merry cuckoo, don't fly away!
The winter wind is rude and keen;
Oh, cuckoo, stay and keep us green!
Cuckoo! cuckoo! oh stay! oh stay!
And make the season for ever May!”
“Oh, merry cuckoo, don't fly away!
The winter wind is rude and keen;
Oh, cuckoo, stay and keep us green!
Cuckoo! cuckoo! oh stay! oh stay!
And make the season for ever May!”
The thrush and the robin shall sadly cry,—
“Our bonny cuckoo, oh, do not fly!
For when you spread your speckled wing
We have no longer heart to sing.
Cuckoo, cuckoo, still lead our tune,
And make the season for ever June!”
“Our bonny cuckoo, oh, do not fly!
For when you spread your speckled wing
We have no longer heart to sing.
Cuckoo, cuckoo, still lead our tune,
And make the season for ever June!”
115
The lads and the lasses together stand,
And call their cuckoo from off the strand,—
“How can you leave us, bird of love,
With the green below and the blue above?
Oh no! oh no! you shall not go,
With the blue above and the green below.”
And call their cuckoo from off the strand,—
“How can you leave us, bird of love,
With the green below and the blue above?
Oh no! oh no! you shall not go,
With the blue above and the green below.”
| Irish Songs and Ballads | |