Ireland's Green Shore Lyrics - Tim O'brien

One evening for pleasure I rambled 

On the banks of some cold purling stream 

I set down on a bed of primroses 

And I gently fell into a dream 

I dreamt that I saw a fair female 

Her equal I never saw before 

And I sighed for the laws of our country 

As we stray there on Ireland?s green shore 

Her cheeks were like two bloomin? roses 

Her teeth were like ivory so white 

Her eyes shone like two sparkling diamonds 

Or the stars on some cold frosty night 

She was dressed in the richist attire 

And green was the mantle she wore 

All bound down with the hemlocks and the roses 

As we stray there on Ireland?s green shore 

Transgression of joy I awoken 

I found this was only a dream 

That pretty fair female had fled me 

I longed to be slumbering again 

May the heavens above be her guardian 

Though I know I?ll never see her anymore 

May the goldliest sunbeam shine upon her 

As she lies sleeping on Ireland?s green shore 

One evening for pleasure I rambled 

On the banks of some cold purling stream 

I set down on a bed of primroses 

And I gently fell into a dream