Here's a health to you, bonny Kellswater Where you get all the pleasures of life Where you get all the fishing and fowling And a bonny wee la** for your wife Oh it's down where yon waters run muddy I'm afraid they will never run clear And it's when I begin for to study My mind is on him that's not here And it's this one and that one may court him But if any one gets him but me It's early and late I will curse them The parting lovely Willie from me Oh a father, he calls on his daughter "Two choices I'll give unto thee Would you rather see Willie's ship a-sailing See him hung like a dog on yonder tree?" "Oh father, dear father, I love him I can no longer bide it from thee Through an acre of fire I would travel Along with the lovely Willie to be" Oh hard was the heartbreak I'm finding
She took from her full heart's delight May the chains of old Ireland come find them And softly their pillows at night Oh yonder there's a ship on the ocean And she does not know which way to steer From the east and the west she's a-blowing She reminds me of the charms of my dear Oh it's yonder my Willie will be coming He said he'd be here in the spring And it's down by yon green shades I'll meet him And among wild roses we'll sing For a gold ring he placed on my finger Saying, "Love, bear this in your mind If ever I sail from old Ireland You'll mind, I'll not leave you behind" Farewell to you, bonny Kellswater Where you get all the pleasures of life Where you get all the fishing and fowling And a bonny wee la** for your wife