A  E

[Verse 1]
        A
A young gentleman came riding past,
     E
on a snow blue winter's day
   A
He asked to drink by our fire
          E
and I was pleased to let him stay.
   A
He drank there quietly for a while,
            E
and then he turned and said to me :

               A                 E
"Your eyes are green like summer grass,
              A                      E
your lips are red, like a fresh cut rose.
             A                   E
Your hair is soft, like an Irish stream,
         A                       E
and your voice is filled with sweet beauty."

[Chorus]
        D
And the last words I heard him say
                  A             D        E                  A
were, " I shall return, for you, my love, on Christmas Day.

[Verse 2]
        A
And the night will come, but I won't sleep,
     E
as I watch the stars that lead him.
  A
I cannot place where he is,
    E
but still my heart goes with him,
    A
I'm saving all my Sunday clothes
        E
for the day that I'll be leaving.

       A                E
Father knows, my sister knows,
       A                      E
and my friends, they're happy for me.
                  A.                     E
And the priest he says, you should thank God,
        A                 E
for the blessing, of such beauty.

[Chorus]
        D
And the last words I heard him say
                  A            D         E                A   D
were, " I shall return, for you, my love, on Christmas Day.
                A            D         E                   A
" I shall return, for you, my love, on Christmas Day.

[Interlude]
A   E    A   E
A   E    A   E   
A   E    A   E
A   E

[Chorus]
        D
And the last words I heard him say,
         F#m          E       B7                 E
were the last words I ever        heard him sa...y.

            A            D         E
" I shall return, for you, my love, on Christmas Day.
  A          D      E
I swear, I will return, on Christmas Day.
A          D      E
Yes, I shall return, on Christmas Day.
  A        D           E
I shall return, for you, on Christmas Day.
   A        D      E
My love, I will return, on Christmas Day.
  A         D           E
I shall return, for you, on Christmas Day....."