When I came over from old Rosstrevor,
Here to London Town,
A lonesome spell upon me fell
For Kate and County Down.
'Twas gloomy toil for her glad smile,
Grey stone for grassy track;
Till I took heart at last to start
A garden at the back.

With country mould at morn and eve,
Still I plied my plot;
Then sow'd and set musk, mignonette,
Pink, rose, forget-me-not.
Till bees they flew from out the blue,
And butterflies they'd tack,
O blessed hour, from flow'r to flow'r
Of my garden at the back.

Then when I 'd but the Christmas rose,
To end the flow'ry race,
Around the corner came my scorner
With a sadden'd face.
The cause to guess of her distress
For sure I was not slack,
And now her eyes make Paradise
Of my garden at the back.