On a night somewhat like this
with a full moon in the sky,
a summer breeze blowing in
from the river flowing by;
a sad song is being played
on guitar somewhere nearby,
the same sadness in her heart
and the tears were in her eye.
She walked slowly through the town
until open field she spied;
she stepped down the lonely road,
further in the countryside.
'Midst a stand of trees she saw
the warm glow of lantern light,
heard music to cheer her heart,
laughter coming from inside.
Oh, she had found the garden of the Moonbi Inn
so full of happy people and she stepped right in;
she had not seen it before,
she was puzzled by its sight,
so glad the Moonbi Inn was there for her that night.
As she slowly looked about,
she could hear a happy tune;
flow'rs bloomed in bright profusion
and gave off a sweet perfume.
'Round the tables people sat,
with the music they did croon,
lifting flagons full of ale
did salute the bright full moon.
Barkeep came upon her then
and he handed her a cup.
"Be welcome to this inn, lass,
"go ahead and drink ye up."
With her lips, she took a taste
then, delighted, bigger sup;
'twas honey sweet and heady
and she couldn't get enough.
Oh, she drank in the garden of the Moonbi Inn,
refilled her empty mug and drank it down again;
it made her feel so happy,
sadness soon was put to flight~
at the Moonbi Inn all troubles were out of sight.
A young man did step forward
and he offered her his hand;
she shook her head quite shyly,
in the corner did she stand.
As she watched, her eye was caught
by a very handsome man;
he came to her, bowed his head,
and said, "Would you care to dance?"
She curtsied and went to him
and they whirled out, hand in hand,
so breathless and excited
as they danced there to the band.
She listened to him tell her
she was fairest in the land
as he spun her in a twirl
until she could hardly stand.
Oh, she danced in the garden of the Moonbi Inn,
she danced in a way she would never dance again.
His eyes were full of promise
and his smile was full of light;
at the Moonbi Inn, did she fall in love that night.
The time was quite forgotten
'til she noticed it was dawn;
she'd never meant to stay there
or to be gone for so long.
"I'll return tonight," she swore
as she left him on the lawn.
He called, "You won't be able
"if once from here you are gone!"
In her hurry, she'd not heard,
only just kept running on;
she was tir'd, yet so happy
as she held back ev'ry yawn.
All day she thought about him,
how that night on him she'd fawn,
but when she tried to find it,
the strange Moonbi Inn was gone.
Oh, she cried for the garden of the Moonbi Inn,
'twas a place she knew she would never see again;
only there she'd been happy,
only there her world was bright,
but the Moonbi Inn now had disappeared from sight.
So if you are unhappy,
if for joy it is you yearn;
if you've lost your direction
and you don't know where to turn,
you may go out a'searching
amidst country flow'r and fern.
Should you find the Moonbi Inn,
there is one thing you must learn.
You may dance, you may drink there,
and your sad life you may spurn;
you may meet handsome strangers
to make heart within you churn;
you may revel through the night
and with new love you may burn,
should you leave the Moonbi Inn,
you can never there return.
Oh, you'll dance in the garden of the Moonbi Inn,
experience things you will never feel again;
unless you become a part
of the Moonbi Inn this night,
then the Moonbi Inn will just vanish out of sight.
