Loreena Mccennitt Banks Of Claudy Lyrics

Banks Of Claudy Lyrics

As I walked out one morning
All in the month of May
Down by a flowery
garden
I carelessly did stray
I overheard a young maid
In sorrow did
complain,
All for her absent lover
Who plows the raging main.

I
boldly stepped up to her
And put her in surprise.
I know she did not know
me
I being in disguise

I says, "Me charming creature,
My joy, my
hearts delight,
How far have you to travel
This dark and dreary
night?"

"I'm in search of a faithless young man.
Johnny is his
name.
And along the Banks of Claudy
I'm told he does
remain."

"This is the Banks of Claudy
Fair maid where on you
stand.
But don't depend on Johnny
For he's a false young man.

Oh
don't depend on Johnny
For he'll not meet you here.
But tarry with me in
yon green woods
No danger need you fear.

Oh it's six long weeks or
better
Since Johnny left the shore
He's crossing the wild ocean
Where
the foam and the billows roar.

He's crossing the wild ocean
For
honour and for fame.
But this I've heard, the ship was wrecked
All on the
coast of Spain."

Oh it's when she heard this dreadful news
She flew
into despair.
by the wringing of her milk white hands
And the tearing of
her hair.

Saying "If Johnny he is drowned
No man on earth I'll
take,
But through lonesome groves and valleys
I'll wander for his
sake."

Oh it's when he saw her loyalty
No longer could he stand
He
flew into her arms saying
"Betsy I'm the man."
Saying "Betsy I'm the young
man
The cause of all your pain
But since we've met on Claudy
Banks
We'll never part again."