The Verdant Braes of Skreen
Traditional Irish song

As I rode out one evening fair
By the verdant braes of Skreen
I set my back to a hawthorn tree
To view the sun in the west country
And the dew on the forest glade

A lad I spied by Glenowen's side
And a maiden by his knee
And he was as dark as the very brown wood
And she all whey and wan to see
All whey and wan was she

"Oh, sit you down on the grass," said he.
"On the dewy grass so green
For the wee birds all have come and gone
Since I my own true love have seen
Since I my true love have seen"

"Oh then I'll not sit on the grass," said she.
"Nor be a love of thine
For I hear you have loved a Connaught maid
And your heart's no longer mine," said she
"And your heart's no longer mine."

"Nor I'll not heed what an old man says
For his days are nearly done
And I'll not heed what a young man says
For he's fair to many's the one," said she.
"For he's fair to many's the one."

"But I will climb a high, high tree
And I'll rob a wild bird's nest
And back I'll bring what’er I do find
To the arms that I love best," said she.
"To the arms that I love the best."