Fairy Lullaby

O woman, washing by the river!
Hush-a-by, babe not mine,
My woeful wail wilt pity never?

Hush-a-by, babe not mine.
A year this day, I was snatched for ever,
Hush-a-by, babe not mine,

To the green hill fort where thorn trees shiver
Hush-a-by, babe not mine
Shoheen, shoheen, shoheen, shoheen,

Sho-hu-lo, sho-hu-lo,
Shoheen, shoheen, shoheen, shoheen,
'Tis not thou my baby O!

'Tis there the fairy court is holden,
Hush-a-by, babe not mine,
And there is new ale, there is olden,

Hush-a-by, babe not mine,
And there are combs of honey golden,
Hush-a-by, babe not mine,

And there lie men in bonds enfolden,
Hush-a-by, babe not mine.
Shoheen, &c.

How many there, of fairest faces!
Hush-a-by, babe not mine,
Bright-eyed boys, with manly graces!

Hush-a-by, babe not mine,
Gold-haired girls with curling tresses!
Hush-a-by, babe not mine,

— There, mothers nurse with sad caresses,
Hush-a-by, babe not mine.
Shoheen, &c.

Ah, bid my husband haste to-morrow,
Hush-a-by, babe not mine,
A waxen taper he shall borrow,

Hush-a-by, babe not mine,
A black knife bring to cross my sorrow,
Hush-a-by, babe not mine,

And stab their first steed coming thoro',
Hush-a-by, babe not mine.
Shoheen, &c.

Say, pluck the herb where gate-thorns quiver,
Hush-a-by, babe not mine,
And wish a wish that God deliver,

Hush-a-by, babe not mine,
If he come not then — he need come never,
Hush-a-by, babe not mine.

For they'll make me Fairy Queen for ever!
Hush-a-by, babe not mine!
Shoheen, shoheen, shoheen, shoheen,

Sho-hu-lo, sho-hu-lo,
Shoheen, shoheen, shoheen, shoheen,
'Tis not thou my baby O!