For 16 Months I Courted Her

For sixteen months I courted her
My gentle Colleen Bawn,
With eyes like wells of Paradise
And cheeks like rosy dawn,
It was on a Christmas morning,
When the fields were white with snow
The first sight of her sweet young face,
Set all my heart aglow

Her hooded cloak was drawn so close
But just one glimpse I caught,
As if the skies had opened,
And showed be heaven I thought,
And oh the newly born child,
Was not from sin more free,
Then my darling in her innocence,
Per Virgin purity,

I followed her to early mass,
And offered up a prayer,
That God might keep her innocent,
As he had made her fair,
And all that day I haunted her,
From morning until night
Bewildered by her angel face,
Her smiles a soft and bright

O It was a happy christmas time
For my gragal machree,
Though modest as a nun,
Smiled sweetly upon me
Ohed’er I come the way
And no one then looked black or sour
However long I’d stay,

Then I was rich in land and stock
My home was happy then,
A sweeter spot could not be found
In Aherlow’s bright glen,
I was a match for any girl,
Where masches go by welth,
Now I’ve lost all but praise the Lord
He left me youth and health,

In one pear all my cattle died,
And my best crops were blighted,
In vain I worked myself to oil,
Bad luck upon me lighted,
Tee landlord had no mercy,
At first his heart seemed stirred,
He promised me full time to pay,
But after broke his word,

I could have borne anything,
Though much I had to bear,
If I were left but one sweet home
To same me from dispair,
My cup of sorrow overflowed,
When I was lately told,
They’ll force my own colleen to wed
An old man for his gold,

Oh marriage is a holy tie,
Blest by the Lord above,
But woe be to such marriages,
Without one spark of love,
Why is it in out own dear land,
Full of warm hearts and true,
They wed for money not for love