Star of The County Down - Versions

Versions

• German synthpop/electronic artist Disreflect recorded a versión on his 2009 CDM "Rest"
• The Pogues recorded a version on their 1989 album Peace and Love.
• Orthodox Celts recorded a version on their 1997 album The Celts Strike Again, as well as on their 1995 live album Muzičke paralele.
• Michael Card recorded a version on his 1998 album Starkindler.
• Loreena McKennitt recorded a version on her 2010 album The Wind That Shakes the Barley. She also used the melody of "The Star of the County Down" for the carol "The Seven Rejoices of Mary," released on her 2008 album A Midwinter Night's Dream.
• Luar na Lubre used the melody without lyrics for the first part of "Canteixere" included in their 1999 album "Cabo do mundo".
• Brontosauři, a Czech folk band, reworked the ballad to their own song Královna z Dundrum Bay (Queen of Dundrum Bay) about a strong relationship between a man and his horse.
• A popular adaptation (keeping the music, but changing the lyrics) is "The Fighting 69th", which is about the famed Irish Brigade of the American Civil War.
• A version played by The Chieftains featuring Van Morrison on vocals can be found in the DVD The Chieftains Live over Ireland - Water from the Well (2000).
• Ehud Banai has produced a Hebrew version entitled "HaKochav Shel Mahoz Gush Dan"
• Lyriel recorded a version on their 2012 album Leverage.
• The Irish Rovers recorded a version on their 1996 album The Irish Rovers' Gems that included a substantially different third verse.
• The High Kings recorded a version for their 2010 album Memory Lane

She had soft brown eyes with a look so shy
And a smile like the rose in June
And she sang so sweet, what a lovely treat
As she lilted an Irish tune.
At the Lammas dance I was in a trance
As she whirled with the lads of the town,
And it broke me heart just to be apart
From the Star of the County Down.

• Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the current primary hymnal of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, includes a hymn entitled Canticle of the Turning, written by composer Rory Cooney, which sets different words to the tune Star of the County Down.
  

My soul cries out with a joyful shout
That the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things
That you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on the servant's plight,
And my weakness you did not spurn,
So from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?

Chorus: My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of you justice burn.
Wipe away all the tears, for the dawn draws near,
And the world is about to turn.

Though I am small, my God, my all,
You work great things in me,
And your mercy will last from the depths of the past
To the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
And to those who would for you yearn,
You will show your might, put the strong to flight,
For the world is about to turn.

Chorus

From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
Not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
Ev'ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
For the food they can never earn;
These are tables spread, ev'ry mouth be fed,
For the world is about to turn.

Chorus

Though the nations rage from age to age,
We remember who holds us fast:
God's mercy must deliver us
From the conqueror's crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
Is the promise which holds us bound,
'Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God,
Who is turning the world around.