The Maid of Sweet Brown Knowe
Traditional Irish Song
As performed by The Dubliners
D G A7 D
Come all you lads and lassies and listen to me a while
D Bm G A7
I'll sing to you a verse or two that's sure to make you smile
D Bm G A7
Concerning a young man I am going to tell you now
D G A7 D
Who has lately come a courting the maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe.
D G A7 D
This young man says "My pretty maid, will you come along with me?
D Bm G A7
We'll both fly off together and happy we will be
D Bm G A7
We'll join our hands in wedlock bands as I'm speaking with ya now
D G A7 D
And I'll do me best endeavour for the maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe."
D G A7 D
This fair and fickle young thing she knew not what to say
D Bm G A7
Her eyes did shine like diamonds bright and merrily did play
D Bm G A7
She says "Young man, your love subdue, for I'm not ready now
D G A7 D
And I'll spend another season at the foot of the Sweet Brown Knowe."
D G A7 D
The young man said "My pretty maid, how can you answer so?
D Bm G A7
See down in yonder valley where my crops do gently grow
D Bm G A7
Down in yonder valley I have horses, men and plough
D G A7 D
And they're at their daily labor for the maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe."
D G A7 D
"If they're at their daily labor, kind sir, 'tis not for me
D Bm G A7
I've heard of your behavior, I have indeed", says she
D Bm G A7
"There is an inn where you call in and I've heard the people say
D G A7
That you rap and you call and you pay for all and come home at the break of
D
day."
D G A7 D
"If I rap and I call and I pay for all, me money is all me own
D Bm G A7
I'll never spend your fortune for I hear that you've got none
D Bm G A7
You thought you had me poor heart won by meeting with ya now
D G A7 D
But I'll leave ya where I found ya at the foot of the Sweet Brown Knowe."
