I love the sound of Andy Irvine and Paul Brady‘s version of Lough Erne’s Shore. It has a real Appalachian sound to me. And hooray for the hurdy-gurdy!

Lough Erne’s Shore

One morning as I went a-fowlin’,
bright Phoebus adorn-ed the plain.
It was down by the shades of Lough Erne,
I met with this wonderful dame.

Her voice was so sweet and so pleasing;
these beautiful notes she did sing.
And the innocent fowl of the forest,
their love unto her they did bring.

Well, it being the first time I met her,
my heart, it did lep with surprise.
And I thought that she could be no mortal,
but an angel that fell from the skies.

Her hair it resembled gold tresses;
her skin was as white as the snow.
And her lips were as red as the roses
that bloom around Lough Erne shore.

When I heard that my love was eloping,
these words unto her I did say:
“Oh, take me to your habitation,
for Cupid has led me astray.”

“For ever I’ll keep the commandments;
they say that it is the best plan.
Fair maids who do yield to men’s pleasures,
the scriptures do say they are wrong.”

“Oh, Mary, don’t accuse me of weakness,
for treachery I do disown.
I will make you a lady of the standard
if with me, this night, you’ll come home.”

Oh, had I the lamp of great Aladdin,
his rings and his genie that’s more,
I would part with them all for to gain you,
and live around Lough Erne shore.