The young gentleman came riding past on a snow-blue winter's day 
He asked to 
drink by our fire and I was pleased to let him stay 
He drank there quietly 
for a while and then he turned and said to me

Your eyes are green like 
summer grass 
Your lips are red like a fresh-cut rose 
Your hair is soft 
like an Irish stream 
And your voice is filled with sweet beauty

* And 
the last words I heard him say were
I shall return for you my love on 
Christmas Day

And the night will come but I won't sleep as I watch the 
stars that lead him
I cannot place where he is but still my heart goes with 
him 
I'm saving all my Sunday clothes for the day that I'll be leaving 

Father knows, my sister knows

And my friends, they're happy for me 
and the priest he says 
You should thank God for the blessing of such 
beauty

[Repeat *]

I shall return for you my love on Christmas 
Day

And the last words I heard him say 
Were the last words I ever 
heard him say

I shall return for you my love on Christmas Day 
I said 
I will return on Christmas Day 
And yes, I shall return on Christmas day 

I shall return, for you, on Christmas Day 
My love, I will return on 
Christmas Day 
I shall return, my love, on Christmas Day 
On Christmas 
Day