Brackagh Hill One night as I lay slumbering in my silent bed alone Some rakish thoughts came in my head which caused me for to roam To leave behind me my native town and the wee girl I adore To take a trip as I saw fit strange countries to explore The night before I went away I was walking over Brackagh Hill I met my love upon the road and her eyes with tears did fill O Johnny dear she said stay here and do not go away For there'll be none for comfort me when you are o'er the sea Well I took her by the lily white hand and I held her long and fast My darling girl I must away for our ship lies in Belfast But if you'll prove constant I'll prove true for you know I am well inclined So we kissed shook hands and parted and I left my girl behind And it's when we landed in Greenock sure the people all gathered round They said I was a rakish lad come to cut their harvest down They told me to return home and to never more be seen So that very night I took my flight back to Erin's lovely green And when Mary heard her Johnny was home her heart it did leap with joy So three herself all in his arms saying yo're my darling boy O Johnny dear I'm glad you're here for you I have thought long So let them all say as they will our wedding will go on And Brackagh Hill is a lovely place with fine wee girls therein You'd swear they were the nightingale when they sit down and sing Where the Salmon Trout do sport about round Lough Neagh's verdant shore So let them all say as they will you are mine forever Sung by Patrick Street on "Irish Times" note: A song of love. Love between people and love for a place. Brackagh is a small town in Co. Tyrone near the shores of Lough Neagh. WH OCT98
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