Irish Folksongs

It happened to be on a moon-shiney night
 That I took a notion to marry;
 I drew to my hat, took my staff in my hand,
 Just as I had been in a hurry.
 I urged along, where I often had been:
 My heart it rejoiced when my charmer
 was seen; 
I lifted the latch and I bade her good-e’en;
 Says I, ‘I’m from over the mountain’.
 ‘What notion of jesting came into your head?
 I’m glad for to meet you so merry!
 It’s twelve by the clock and the old folks in bed;
 Speak low or you’ll waken my mammy.’
 ‘If that be a jest, then it’s jesting that’s true;
 I’ve courted a year and I think that’ll do.
 So this very night I will marry wi’ you,
 If you venture with me o’er the mountain.’
 The moon and the stars ’luminated the sky,
 The morning star brightly was shining,
 As me and my darling our journey pursued
 Till we came to the altar of Hymen.
 Wi’ fiddling and dancing we spent the whole day,
 And the anger of marriage it soon
 rolled away,
 And I unto my wee lassie did say,
 ‘Do you rue coming over the mountain?’
 ‘O no, my wee laddie, it’s I dinna rue
 I tak’n the advice o’ my laddie;
 And when I am over the mountains wi’ you
 I regard not the friends o’ my daddy.’
 Let that be a lesson to ev’ry fair maid:
 slip out in the dark when the old folks in bed,
 And ne’er be afraid wi’ your laddie to wed,
 Or to venture with him o’er the mountain.