The Banks of the Foyle

Oh, I know a wee spot, it's a place of great fame
And it lies to the North, now I'll tell you its name
It's my own native birthplace and it's on Irish soil
And they call it lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle

Now I courted a young man, and his age was 19
He was the fairest young man that ever you've seen
He was tall, he was handsome and his hair black as coal
And he came from lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle

But now cruel misfortune drove me from my own home
It's was my fate in deep sorrow for to sail over the foam
And now from dark strangers in grief I recoil
And I pine for lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle

I was fearing another had a place in his heart
And that from me my darling forever would part
That no more would he brighten with his sweet sunny smile
My dear home in lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle

But a wee bird came flying from over the sea
And he brought me a letter from my true love to see
Saying "Come home my darling to your native soil"
And we'll wed in lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle

Now, when I make a fortune
Then it's home I will go
To the dear land of my childhood, to the sweet one I know
And we'll live a mansion, and no more we will toil
Far away from lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle
Far away from lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle