Intro:  A - E 
  
               A                            
1. 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.? 
  
            D 
    And the last words I heard him say 
     - - - - - - -  A           D        E             - A 
    were, ? I shall return, for you, my love, on Christmas Day. 
  
             A                               
2. 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. 
  
            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. 
  
    A - E    A - E    A - E      A - E   (?) 
  
             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?..?