The Banks of the Foyle

Oh, I know a wee spot

'tis a place of great fame

And it lies to the North

now I'll tell you it's name

It's my own native birthplace

and it's on Irish soil

And they call it lovely Derry

on the banks of the Foyle

Now, I courted a young man

and his age was nineteen

He was the fairest young man

that ever you've seen

He was tall he was handsome

and his hair black as coal

And he came from lovely Derry

on the banks of the Foyle

But now cruel misfortune

drove me from my own home

'Twas my fate in deep sorrow

for to sail o'er the foam

And now from dark strangers

in grief I recoil

And I pine for lovely Derry

on the banks of the Foyle

I was fearing another

had a place in his heart

And that from me my darling

forever would part

That no more he would brighten

with his sweet sunny smile

My dear home in lovely Derry

on the banks of Foyle

But a wee bird came flying

from over the sea

And he brought me a letter

from my true love to see

Saying 'Come home, my darling

to your own native soil

And we'll wed in lovely Derry

on the banks of the Foyle'

Now when I make a fortune

then it's home I will go

To the dear land of my childhood

to the sweetheart I know

And we'll live in a mansion

and no more will we toil

Far away from lovely Derry

on the banks of the Foyle

Far away from lovely Derry

on the banks of the Foyle