Auld Lange Syne

Verse 1: 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, an' never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, an' auld lang syne*? (*pronunciation: ALD lang sign = times long since)

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, ma dear, for auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

Verse 2: 

An' surely, you'll buy your pint-cup, an' surely, I'll buy mine,

An' we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

Verse 3: 

We twa hae run a-boot the braes, an' picked the daisies* fine, (Scots for "daisies" is "gowans")

But we've wandered mony a weary foot, since auld lang syne.

Verse 4: 

We twa hae paddled in the burn*, from morning sun 'til dine, (*a brook or stream)

But seas be-tween us, broad hae roared, since auld lang syne.

Verse 5: 

An' there's a hand my trusty friend, an' gi'e me a hand o' thine,

An' we'll tak a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.

Band Played Waltzing Matilda

Verse 1:

When I was a young man, I carried a pack and I lived the free life of a rover,

From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback, I waltzed my Ma-til-da all over,

Then in 1915, my country said, "Son, it's time to stop rambling, 'cause there's work to be done,"

So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun and they sent me a-way to the war.

1st Chorus:

And the band played Waltzing Ma-til-da as our ship pulled a-way from the quay,

And a-midst all the cheers, the flag waving, and tears, we sailed for Gal-li-po-li.

Verse 2:

How well I re-mem-ber that terrible day, how our blood stained the sand and the water,

And how in that hell they called Suvla Bay, we were butchered like lambs at the slaughter,

Johnny Turk, he was ready, he'd primed himself well, he rained us with bullets and he showered us with shells,

And in five minutes flat, they'd blown us to hell, nearly blew us clear back to Aus-tra-lia.

2nd Chorus:

And the band played Waltzing Ma-til-da as we stopped to gather our slain,

And we buried ours and the Turks buried theirs and we started all over a-gain.

Verse 3:

Those who were living did their best to survive in that mad world of death, blood and fire,

And for ten weary weeks, I kept myself alive while around me, the corpses piled higher,

Then a big Turkish shell knocked me arse over head, and when I awoke in my hospital bed,

And saw what they had done, I wished I was dead, never knew there were worse things than dying.

3rd Chorus:

For no more, I'll go Waltzing Ma-til-da all around the green bush far and near,

For to hang tent and pegs, a man needs both legs, no more Waltzing Ma-til-da for me.

Verse 4:

They collected the wounded, the crippled, the maimed, and shipped us back home to Aus-tra-lia,

The armless, the legless, the blind and insane, the proud, wounded heroes of Suvla,

And as our shipped pulled into Circular Quay, I looked at the place where my legs used to be,

And thanked Christ. - there was no one there waiting for me to mourn and to grieve and to pity.

4th Chorus:

And the band played Waltzing Ma-til-da as they carried us down the gang-way,

But nobody cheered, they just stood there and stared, then they turned all their faces a-way.

Verse 5:

So now every April, I sit on my porch and I watch the pa-rade pass be-fore me,

I see my old comrades, how proudly they march, reliving their days of past glory,

I see the old men, all twisted and torn, the forgotten heroes of a forgotten war,

And the young people ask me, "What are they marching for?" And I ask my-self the same question.

5th Chorus:

And the band plays Waltzing Ma-til-da and the old men still answer the call,

But year after year, their numbers get fewer, someday no one will march there at all.

Finish:

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, who'll come a'waltzing Ma-til-da with me?

And their ghosts can be heard as they march by the billabong, "Who'll come a'waltzing Ma-til-da with me?"

Barnyards of Delgaty

Verse 1:

As I went down to Turra market, Turra market for to fee,

I fell in with a market farmer, the barn-yards of Del-gat-y.

Chorus: Linten addie toorin addie, linten addie toorin ee,

Linten lowrin, lowrin, lowrin, the barn-yards of Del-gat-y.

Verse 2:

He promised the finest horse that e’er I set my eyes upon,

When I got to the barnyards, there was nothin’ there but skin and bone!

Verse 3:

As I gang down to the Kirk on Sunday, it’s many’s the bonny lass I see,

Sittin’ by her father’s side and winkin’ o’er the pews at me!

Verse 4:

Now I can drink and no be drunk, I can fight and no be slain,

I can court with a-noth-er man’s lass and still be welcome to me ain!

Verse 5:

Now my candle is burnt out, my snotter’s fairly on the wane,

Fare thee well, ye barnyards, you’ll not see me here a-gain!

Battle of New Orleans

Verse 1:

In eighteen-fourteen, we took a little trip,

A-long with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip',

We took a little bacon and we took a little beans,

And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.

1st Chorus:

We fired our guns and the British kept a'coming,

But there wasn't quite as many as there was a while a-go,

We fired once more an' they commenced to runnin',

On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mex-i-co.

Verse 2:

We looked down the river and we seed the British come,

And there must have been a hunderd of 'em beatin' on the drum,

They stepped so high and they made their bugles ring,

We stood behind our cotton bales and didn't say a thing.

Verse 3:

Old Hick'ry said we could take 'em by surprise,

If we didn't fire our muskets 'til we looked 'em in the eyes,

We held our fire 'til we see'd their faces well,

Then we opened up with squirrel guns and really gave 'em hell!

1st Chorus

2nd Chorus:

They ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles,

And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit wouldn't go,

They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em,

On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mex-i-co.

Verse 4:

We fired our cannon 'til the barrel melted down,

So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round,

We filled his head with cannonballs and powdered his behind,

And when we touched the powder off, the 'gator lost his mind!

Beer Medley

Do, the stuff I buy beer with, Ra, the guy I buy beer from,

Me, the guy who drinks my beer, Fa, the distance to the beer,

So, I'll have another beer! La, la, la, la, la, beer!

Ti? No thanks, I'll have a beer! Which brings us back to...

Chorus 1:

Beer, beer, beer, tid-i-ly, beer, beer, beer,

Beer, beer, beer, tid-i-ly, beer!

Verse 1:

If it wasn't for all o' the Guinness, I'd have gone home a long time a-go,

I'd have been straight, I'd have been sober, not staggering to and fro,

I re-member the words of me father as I order up one more,

No matter how much you stagger and such, you can never fall off of the... (Chorus 1: Floor, floor, floor...)

Verse 2:

I often give the water to me son and to me daughter, I sometimes give the wine to me wife,

Her mother's big and scary, she drinks up all the sherry, the baby takes the milk to save it's life,

Oh, me father drinks poteen for to keep his thinkin' clean, it keeps his mind so dapper and so clear,

But of all the liquifiers, for me-self and me desires, I find there's none that's quite so wet as... (Chorus)

Verse 3:

It's a mystery to me why some people drink the tea, it's only just a bitter form of rain,

And them, without a reason, who drink the nasty squeezin’s of the apple and the orange are in-sane*.

Oh, some drink the soda-pop, 'til the dying makes 'em stop, they're kilt of malnutrition every year,

But them as wise as I are gonna live until they die, Survived by just an empty jar of... (Chorus)

Verse 4:

Oh, I drink it out of bottles or from cans, or right out of the tap from where it stands,

I drink it out of jars, under bridges, or in bars_; Some-times, I do not even use my hands!

I drink it from a mug or from a glass, I drink it on a Sunday after Mass,

I drink until I think, "I could not drink another drink_," and then I drink until I fall upon my...

Second Verse 1:

A long time ago, way back in his-to-ry,

When all they had to drink, was nothin' but cups o' tea.

A man came along, by the name of Charlie Mopps,

And he invented a wonderful drink, and he made it out of hops!

Chorus 2:

Oh, he must have been an admiral, a sultan, or a king!

And to his praises, we shall always sing!

Look what he has done for us, he's filled us up with cheer!

The Lord blessed Charlie Mopps, the man who invented...

Beer, beer, beer, tid-i-ly, beer, beer, beer,

Beer, beer, beer, tid-i-ly, beer!

Second Verse 2:

The Brazen Head, Biddy Mulligan's, the (pub we're at) as well,

There's one thing you can be sure of, it's Charlie's beer they sell.

So come on all you lucky lads, at five* o'clock, we stop,

For five short seconds, to remember Charlie Mopps... One, two, three, four, five... (Chorus 2)

Second Verse 3:

A bushel of malt, a barrel of hops, you stir it with a stick,

The type of lubrication that'll make your engine tick.

Forty pints o' wallop a day will keep away the quacks!

It's only eight-pence, ha'-penny a pint, and one-and-six in tax...

(Chorus)

End:

The Lord Bless Charlie Mopps!

Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms

Verse 1:

Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,

Which I gaze on so fondly today,

Were to change by tomorrow and fleet from my arms,

Like fairy gifts, fading away.

Thou would still be adored as this moment, thou art,

Let thy loveliness fade as it will,

And a-round the dear ruin, each wish of my heart,

Would en-twine itself verdantly still.

Verse 2:

It is not while beauty and youth are thine own,

And thy cheeks, unprofaned by a tear,

That the fervour and faith of a soul can be known,

To which, time will but make thee more dear.

For the heart that has truly loved, ne'er forgets,

But as truly, loves on to the close,

Just as the sunflower turns on her god when he sets,

The same look that she gave when he rose.

Biddy Mulligan

Chorus:

You may travel from Clare to the County Kildare,

From Dublin, right down to Mac-room,

But where would you see a fine widow like me?

Biddy Mulligan, the pride of the Coombe, me boys,

Biddy Mulligan, the pride of the Coombe

Verse 1:

I'm a buxom, fine widow that lives in a part of Dublin that's known as the Coombe,

Me shop and me stall are laid out in the street, and me palace con-sists of one room.

Verse 2:

By Patrick's Street corner for thirty-five years, I stood in me stall, that's no lie,

And while I was there, there's no one would dare, to say black was the white of me eye!

Verse 3:

I sell apples, and oranges, nuts, and split peas, bulls-eyes, and sugar sticks, sweet,

On Saturday night, I sell second-hand clothes from me stall on the floor of the street.

Verse 4:

Now I have a son, Mick, who plays on the pipe, he be-longs to the Longford Street Band,

It would do your heart good, just to see them march out, on a Sunday to Sandymount Strand.

Big Strong Man

Verse 1:

Have you heard about the big, strong man? He lives in a ca-ra-van!

Have you heard about the Jeffries-Johnson fight? Oh Lord, what a hell of a fight!

You can take all the heavy-weights you got,* (*What'cha got?)

Got a lad that'll beat the whole lot!* (*Whole lot!)

He used to skin the hides off the bison, now he's gonna fight Mike Tyson!

Chorus:

He was me brother, Sylvest!* (*What's he got?)

Got a row of forty medals on his chest!* (*Big chest!)

He killed fifty vermin in the west, he knows no rest;

Bigger the man, hell's fire, don't push, don't shove, plenty o' room for you and me.

He's got an arm like a leg,* (*Lady's leg!)

And a punch that would sink a bat-tle-ship!* (*Big ship!)

It takes all the army and the navy, to put the wind up Syl-vest!

Verse 2:

He thought he'd take a trip to Italy, and he thought that he'd go by sea,

He jumped off the harbor in New York, and he swam like a man of Cork!

He saw the Lusitania in distress,* (*What'd he do?)

He put the Lusitania on his chest!* (*Big chest!)

Then he drank all the water in the sea, and he walked all the way to It-al-y!

Verse 3:

He thought he'd take a trip to ol' Japan, they brought out the whole brass band,

He played ev'ry instrument they got, like a lad, sure he played the whole lot!

Now the old church bells will ring!* (*Ding dong!)

And the whole church choir will sing!* (*Sing song!)

They all turned out, to say farewell, to my big brother Sy-vest!

Finish:

He was me brother, Sylvest!* (*What's he got?)

Got a row of forty medals on his chest!* (*Big chest!)

He killed fifty vermin in the west, he knows no rest;

Bigger the man, hell's fire, don't push, don't shove, plenty o' room for you and me.

He's got an arm like a leg,* (*Lady's leg!)

And a punch that would sink a bat-tle-ship!* (*Bullshit!)

It takes all the army and the navy, to take the belt off Adam West!

Black Velvet Band

Verse 1:

In a neat little town they call Belfast, apprentice to trade I was bound,

And it's many an hour of sweet happiness, I spent in that neat little town,

But bad misfortune came o'er me and caused me to stray from the land,

Far a-way from my friends and relations, to follow the Black Velvet Band.

Chorus:

Her eyes, they shone like the diamonds,

You'd think she was queen of the land,

And her hair hung over her shoulder,

Tied up with a black velvet band.

Verse 2:

Well, I went out strolling one evening, not meaning to go very far,

When I met with a frolicsome damsel, she was selling her trade in the bar,

A watch she took from a customer and slipped it right into me hand,

On the very first day that I met her, bad luck to her black velvet band!

Verse 3:

Next morning, before judge and jury, for trial I had to appear,

And the judge, he said "My young fellow, the case against you is quite clear,

I’ll give you long years penal servitude, You're going to Van Diemen's Land,

Far a-way from your friends and relations, to follow the Black Velvet Band."

Verse 4:

Now, come all ye jolly young fellows, I'll have you take warning by me,

And whenever you're out on the liquor, me lads, be-ware of the pretty colleens,

For they'll fill you with whiskey and porter, 'til you are not able to stand.

And the very next thing that you know, me lads, you've landed in Van Diemen's Land.

Blackleg Miner

Verse 1:

It's in the evening, after dark, the blackleg miner creeps ta wark*, (*work rhymes with dark)

In his moleskin pants and dirty shirt, there gaans* the blackleg miner. (*goes)

Verse 2:

He takes his tools and doon, he gaans*, to hew the coal that lies below, (*down he goes)

There's not a woman in this town, will look at the blackleg miner.

Verse 3:

For Deleval is a terrible place, they rub wet clay in the blackleg's face,

Around the pits, they run a race, to catch the blackleg miner.

Verse 4:

And divvant gaan* to the Seghill mine, across the way, they've stretched a line, (*don't go)

To catch the throat and break the spine, of the dirty blackleg miner.

Verse 5:

They grab his pick and his duds as well, and hoy* them down in the pit of hell, (*hurl)

Doon ye gaan*, and fare ye well, you dirty blackleg miner. (*down you go)

Verse 1:

It's in the evening, after dark, the blackleg miner creeps ta wark*, (*work rhymes with dark)

In his moleskin pants and dirty shirt, there gaans* the blackleg miner. (*goes)

Verse 6:

So join the union while you may, divvin't* wait until your dying day, (*don't)

For that may not be far away, you dirty blackleg miner.

Finish:

You dirty blackleg miner!

You dirty blackleg miner!

Botany Bay

Chorus:

Farewell to your bricks and mortar, farewell to your dirty lies,

Farewell to your gangers and your gangplanks, and to hell with your over-time!

For the good ship Ragamuffin, is lying at the quay,

For to take ol’ Pat, with a shovel on his back, to the shores of Botany Bay.

Verse 1:

As I roved out this morning, where the ships at anchor lay,

To command a gang of navvies, that they told me to engage,

I thought I would stop in for a while, be-fore I went a-way,

For to take a trip, on an emigrant ship, to the shores of Botany Bay.

Verse 2:

The boss came up this morning, and he says, “Well, Pat, you know,

If you don’t get your navvies out, I’m afraid that you’ll have to go,

So I asked him for my wages, and demanded all my pay,

And I told him straight, I was going to emigrate, to the shores of Botany Bay.

Verse 3:

And when I reach Australia, I’ll go and dig for gold,

There’s plenty there for the digging up, or so I have been told,

Or else, I’ll go back to my trade, and a hundred bricks, I’ll lay,

And I’ll work all day, for an eight hour pay, on the shores of Botany Bay.

Brennan on the Moor

Verse 1:

Oh, it's of a brave young highwayman, this story I will tell,

His name was Willie Brennan and in Ireland, he did dwell,

'Twas on the Kilworth Mountain, he com-menced his wild car-eer,

And it's many the wealthy nobleman, be-fore him shook with fear.

Chorus:

And it's Brennan on the moor, Brennan on the moor,

Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan on the moor!

Verse 2:

One day upon the highway, as Willie, he went down,

He met the mayor of Cashel a mile outside of town,

Well, the mayor, he knew his features and he said, "Young man," said he,

"Your name is Willie Brennan, you must come along with me." (Chorus)

Verse 3:

Now Brennan's wife had to gone to town, provisions for to buy,

And when she saw her Willie, she began to weep and cry,

He said, "Hand to me that tenpenny," and as soon as Willie spoke,

She handed him a blunderbuss from underneath her cloak. (Chorus)

Verse 4:

Now with this loaded blunderbuss, the truth I will unfold,

He made the mayor to tremble and he robbed him of his gold,

One hundred pounds was offered for his apprehension there,

So he went, horse and saddle, to the mountains to rappaire.

Verse 5:

Now Brennan made an outlaw upon the mountainside,

Cavalry and infantry, to catch him, they did try,

He laughed at them with scorn until at last, 'twas said,

By a false-hearted woman, he was truly betrayed.

Verse 6:

They hanged Brennan at the crossroads, in chains, he hung and dried,

But still they say that in the night, some do see him ride,

They see him with his blunderbuss all in the midnight chill,

Along, along the King's Highway, rides Willie Brennan still!

Broad Black Brimmer

Verse 1:

There's a uniform still hanging in what's known as father's room,

A uniform so simple in it's style,

It's got no braid of gold, nor silk, nor hat with feathered plume,

Yet me mother has preserved it all the while.

One day, she made me try it on, a wish of mine for years,

In memory of your father dear, she said,

And as I placed the Sam Browne on, she was smiling through her tears,

As she placed the broad, black brimmer on me head.

Chorus:

It's just a broad, black brimmer, it's ribbons frayed and torn,

By the careless whisp of many's a mountain breeze,

An old trench coat that's all battered, stained, and worn,

And breeches almost threadbare at the knees.

A Sam Browne belt with a buckle, big and strong,

And a holster that's been empty many's a day, (All: But not for long!)

But when men claim Ireland's freedom, the one you'll choose to lead 'em,

Will wear the broad, black brimmer of the I. R. A.

Verse 2:

It was the uniform being worn by me father long a-go,

When he rreached me mother's homestead on the run,

It was the uniform he wore in that little church be-low,

When ol' Father Mac, he blessed the pair as one.

And after truce and treaty, and the parting of the waves,

He wore it when he marched out with the rest, (All: And the best!)

And when they bore his body down the rugged heather breas,

They placed the broad, black brimmer on his chest.

Carrickfergus

Verse 1:

I wish I was in Carrickfergus, only for nights in Ballygrant,

I would swim over the deepest ocean, the deepest ocean, to be by your side.

But the sea is wide, and I can't swim over, and nor have I the wings to fly,

If I could find a handsome boatman to ferry me over to my love and die.

Verse 2:

My childhood days bring sad reflections of happy times spent long ago,

My boyhood friends and my own relations have all passed on like melting snow.

I'll spend my days in endless roving, soft is the grass, and my bed is free,

Oh, to be home, in Carrickfergus, on the long road down to the salt sea.

Verse 3:

And in Kilkenny, it is reported, on marble stone as black as ink,

With gold and silver, I did support her, but I'll sing no more 'til I get a drink.

For I'm drunk today, and I'm seldom sober, a handsome rover, from town to town,

Oh, but I am sick, and my days are numbered,

So come on ye young men and lay me down.

The Catalpa

Chorus:

So come all you screw warders and jailers, remember Perth Regatta Day,

Take care of the rest of your Fenians, or the Yankees will steal them a-way!

Verse 1:

A noble whale ship, the Catalpa, set out from New Bed-ford one day,

She sailed off to western Australia, and took six poor Fenians a-way.

Verse 2:

Seven long years, they had served here, and seven long more, had to stay,

For defending their country, old Ire-land, they were chained and trans-port-ed a-way.

Verse 3:

You kept them in western Australia, 'til their hair had be-gun to turn grey,

When a brave whaling ship and commander, came out here and stole them a-way!

Verse 4:

Now all the Perth boats were a'-racing, and making short tacks for the spot,

But the Yankee tacked into Freemantle, and took the best prize of the lot!

Verse 5:

The Georgette, she sailed out with guns read-y, intending the Yankee, to take,

But they hoisted their star-spangled banner, and left the Georgette in their wake!

Verse 6:

So remember those six Fenian he-roes, who es-caped o'er to Am - er - i - cay,

And join in a toast to the bravery, of the Yankees who stole them a-way! (Chorus)

Verse 7:

Now they've landed safe in New York harbor, and the crowd there to greet them, did cry,

So we'll hoist up the green flag and sham-rock, for old Ireland, we'll fight and we'll die!

Come by the Hills

Verse 1:

Come by the hills to the land where fancy is free,

And stand where the peaks meet the sky and the lochs meet the sea,

Where the rivers run clear and the bracken is gold in the sun,

Ah, the cares of tomorrow can wait 'til this day is done.

Verse 2:

Come by the hills to the land where life is a song,

And sing while the birds fill the air with their joy all day long,

Where the trees sway in time and even the wind sings in tune,

Ah, the cares of tomorrow can wait 'til this day is done.

Verse 3:

Come by the hills to the land where legend re-mains,

Where stories of old fill the heart and may yet come a-gain,

Where our past has been lost and the future has still to be won,

Ah, the cares of tomorrow can wait 'til this day is done.

Come Out Ye Black and Tans

Verse 1:

I was born on a Dublin street, where the royal drums do beat,

And the loving English feet, they tramped all over us.

And each and every night, when me father'd come home tight,

He'd invite the neighbors outside with this chorus:

Chorus:

Come out, ye Black and Tans! Come out and fight me like a man!

Show your wives how you won medals down in Flanders.

Tell them how the I. R. A. made you run like hell away,

From the green and lovely lanes of Killeshandra.

Verse 2:

Come, let me hear you tell, how you slandered great Pernell,

When you thought us well and truly persecuted.

Where are the sneers and jeers, that you loudly let us hear,

When our leaders of 'six-teen were executed?

Verse 3:

Come, tell us how you slew them old Arabs, two by two,

Like the Zulus, they had spears, and bows and arrows.

How you bravely faced each one with your sixteen-pound of gun,

And you frightened them poor natives to the marrow.

Verse 4:

Allen, Larkin, and O'Brien, how you bravely called them swine!

Robert Emmet, who you hung, and drew, and quartered!

High u-pon that scaffold high, how you murdered Henry Joy!

And our Croppy Boys from Wexford, you did slaughter!

Verse 5:

The day is coming fast, and the time is here at last,

When each yeoman will be cast aside before us.

And if there be a need, sure, my kids will sing, "Godspeed!"

To a verse or two of Steven Behan's chorus.

Courtrin' in the Kitchen

Verse 1:

Come single belle and beau, unto me pay at - ten - tion,

Don’t ever fall in love, ‘tis the devil’s own in - ven - tion,

For once I fell in love with a maiden so bewitchin’,

Miss Henrieta Bell, out of Captain Kelly’s kitchen.

Chorus:

With me too - ra - loo - ra - la, with me too - ra - loo - ra - lad - dy,

With me too - ra - loo - ra - la, too - ra - loo - ra - lad - dy,

Verse 2:

At the age of seventeen, I was ‘prenticed to a grocer,

Not far from Stephen’s Green, where Miss Bell, she used to go, sir,

Her manners were so fine and she set me heart a’twitchin’,

When she invited me to a hooley in the kitchen.

Verse 3:

Well, Sunday bein’ the day, we were to have the flare-up,

I dressed meself quite gay and I frizzed and oiled me hair up,

The captain had no wife and he had gone a’fishin’,

And we kicked up high life down be - low stairs in the kitchen!

Verse 4:

Just as the clock struck six, we sat down to the table,

She handed tay and cakes and I ate while I was able,

I had hot punch and tay ‘til me side had got a stich in,

And the hours pass quick away when you’re courtin’ in the kitchen!

Verse 5:

With me arms around her waist, she coyly hinted marriage,

When to the door in dreadful haste, came Captain Kelly’s carriage,

Her eyes soon filled with hate and poison, she was spittin’,

That she wished I’d get to hell or somewhere from the kitchen!

Verse 6:

She flew up off me knees, full five feet up or higher,

And over head and heels, threw me, slap, into the fire,

Me new Repealer’s Coat, that I bought from Mr. Mitchell,

With a twenty-shilling note, went to blazes in the kitchen!

Verse 7:

I grieved to see me duds all smeared with soot and ashes,

When a tub o’ dirty suds, right in me face, she dashes,

As I lay on the floor, and the water, she kept pitchin’,

The footman broke the door and marched straight into the kitchen!

Verse 8:

When the captain came downstairs and saw me situation,

In spite of all me prayers, I was marched off to the station,

For me, they’d take no bail, though to get home, I was itchin’,

And I had to tell the tale of how I came into the kitchen.

Verse 9:

I said she did invite me, but she gave a flat denial,

For assault, she did indict me and I was sent for trial,

She swore I robbed the house in spite of all her screechin’

And I got six months hard for me courtin’ in the kitchen!

Croppy Boy

Verse 1:

‘Twas early, early all in the spring, the birds did whistle and sweetly sing,

Changing their notes from tree to tree, and the song they sang was “Old Ireland Free!”

Verse 2:

‘Twas early, early all in the night, the Yeoman Calvary gave me a fright,

The Yeoman Calvary was my downfall, and I was taken by Lord Cornwall.

Verse 3:

As I was walking up Wexford Hill, oh, who could blame me for to cry my fill,

I looked behind and I looked be-fore, but my agéd mother, I saw no more.

Verse 4:

As I was walking up Wexford Street, my own first cousin, I chanced to meet,

My own first cousin, did me be-tray, and for one bare guinea, sold my life away.

Verse 5:

As I was standing on the platform high, my agéd father was standing by,

My own dear father, did me deny, and the name he gave me was the Croppy Boy.

Verse 6:

‘Twas in Duncannon, this young man died, and in Dun-cannon, his body lies,

So all good people who do pass by, just shed a tear for the Croppy Boy.

Cruiscin Lan

Verse 1:

Let the farmer praise his grounds, let the huntsman praise his hounds,

Let the shepherd praise his dewy, scented lawn,

Oh, but I, more wise than they, spend each happy night and day,

With me darlin' little crúiscín lán, lán, lán, me jolly little crúiscín lán.

Chorus:

Grádh mo chroidhe mo crúiscín, sláinte geal mhúirnín,

Grádh mo chroidhe mo crúiscín lán, lán, lán,

O grádh mo chroidhe mo crúiscín lán.

Verse 2:

Immortal and divine, great Bacchus, god of wine,

Create me by adoption, your own son,

In hopes that you'll comply that me glass shall ne'er run dry,

Nor me darlin' little crúiscín lán, lán, lán, me jolly little crúiscín lán.

Verse 3:

And when grim death appears in the few but happy years,

And says, "Now won't you come along with me?"

I'll say, "Begone ye knave, for King Bacchus gave me lave,

To fill another crúiscín lán, lán, lán, to have another crúiscín lán.

Verse 4:

So lift your glasses high, let's not part with lips a-dry,

For the lark, it now proclaims it is the dawn,

And since we can't remain, may we shortly meet again,

To fill another crúiscín lán, lán, lán, to have another crúiscín lán.

Danny Boy

Verse 1:

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling,

From glen to glen, and down the mountain - side,

The summer's gone and all the roses falling,

It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,

Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,

It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,

Oh Danny Boy, oh Danny Boy, I love you so.

Verse 2:

But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,

If I am dead, as dead I well may be,

You'll come and find the place where I am lying,

And kneel and say an Ave there for me.

And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,

And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,

For you will bend and tell me that you love me,

And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.

Devil is Dead

Verse 1:

Some say the devil is dead, the devil is dead, the devil is dead,

Some say the devil is dead and buried in Kilarney,

More say he rose again, more say he rose again,

More say he rose again and joined the British army!

Verse 2:

Feed the pigs and milk the cow, and milk the cow, and milk the cow,

Feed the pigs and milk the cow, and milk the cow, and earlye in the morning,

Cock your leg, oh Paddy dear, Paddy dear, I’m over here,

Cock your leg, oh Paddy dear, it’s time to stop your yawning!

Verse 3:

Katy, she is tall and thin, she’s tall and thin, and tall and thin,

Katy, she is tall and thin and likes a drop o’ brandy,

Drinks it in the bed each night, drinks it in the bed each night,

Drinks it in the bed each night, it makes her nice and randy!

Verse 4:

My wife, she has a hairy thing, a hairy thing, hairy thing,

My wife, she has a hairy thing, she showed it to me on Sunday,

She bought it in a furrier’s shop, furrier’s shop, furrier’s shop,

She bought it in a furrier’s shop, it’s going back on Monday!

Dicey Reilly

Chorus:

Oh, poor old Dicey Reilly, she has taken to the sup, (Clap, clap!)

And poor old Dicey Reilly, she will never give it up, (Clap, clap!)

It's off each morning to the pop*, and then she's in for another little drop! (*pawn shop, Dublin slang)

Oh, the heart of the rowl is Dicey Reilly!

Verse 1:

She walks down Fitzgibbon Street with an independent air,

And then, it's down to Summerhill; at her, the people stare,

She says, "It's nearly half-past one, so I'll nip in for another little one!"

Oh, the heart of the rowl is Dicey Reilly!

Verse 2:

Now at two, pubs close, and out she goes, as happy as a lark,

She'll find a bench to sleep it off down at Saint Patrick's Park,

She'll wake at five, feelin' in the pink, and say, "'Tis time for another little drink!"

Oh, the heart of the rowl is Dicey Reilly!

Verse 3:

Now she'll travel far to a dockside bar, to have another round,

And after one, or two, or three, she doesn't feel quite so sound,

After four, she's a bit unstable; after five, underneath the table!

Oh, the heart of the rowl is Dicey Reil-ly!

Verse 4:

Well, they carry her home at twelve o'clock, as they do every night,

They bring her inside, put her in bed, and then put out the light,

Next morning, she'll get out of bed, and she'll look for a cure for her head!

Oh, the heart of the rowl is Dicey Reil-ly!

Dick Darby

Verse 1:

Oh, me name is Dick Darby, I’m a cobbler; I served out me time at old camp,

Some call me an old ag-i-ta-tor_, but now I’m re-solved to re-pent.

Chorus: With me ingtwing of an ingthing of an idoe, with me ingtwing of an ingthing of an i-day,

With me roo-boo-boo roo-boo-boo randy, and me lapstone keeps beatin’ way.

Verse 2:

Me father was hung for sheep-stealing, me mother was burned as a witch,

Me sister’s a dandy house-keeper, and I’m a mech- an -i-cal switch!

Verse 3:

For forty long years, I have travelled, all by the contents of me pack,

Me hammers, me awls, and me pincers, and I carry ’em all on me back!

Verse 4:

My wife, she is humpy, she’s lumpy; my wife, she’s the divil, she’s black!

And no matter what I may do with her; her tongue, it goes clickety-clack!

Verse 5:

It was early one fine summer’s morning, a little before it was day,

I dipped her three times in the river, and carelessly bid her, “Good day!”

Dirty Old Town

Verse 1:

I met my love by the gasworks wall,

Dreamed a dream by the old canal,

Kissed a girl by the factory wall,

Dirty old town, dirty old town.

Verse 2:

Clouds a' drifting across the moon,

Cats a' prowling on their beat,

Spring's a girl in the street at night,

Dirty old town, dirty old town.

Verse 3:

Heard a siren from the docks,

Saw a train set the night on fire,

Smelled the spring on the smokey wind,

Dirty old town, dirty old town.

Verse 4:

I'm going to make a good, sharp axe,

Shining steel, tempered in the fire,

Will chop you down, like an old, dead tree,

Dirty old town, dirty old town.

Do You Want Your Old Lobby Washed Down

Verse 1:

I've a nice little cot and a small bit of land and a place by the side of the sea,

And I care about no one be-cause I believe that nobody cares about me,

My peace is destroyed, yes I'm fairly an-noyed, by a lassie who works in the town,

She sighs every day as she passes the way, "Do you want your old lobby washed down?"

Chorus 1:

Do you want your old lobby washed down, Con Shine? Do you want your old lobby washed down?

She sighs every day as she passes the way, "Do you want your old lobby washed down?"

Verse 2:

The other day, the old landlady came by for her rent, I told her no money I had,

Besides, 'twas unfair for to ask me to pay, for times, they were awfully bad,

She felt discontent at not getting her rent and she shook her grey head in a frown,

Says she, "I'll take half," and says I with a laugh, "Do you want your old lobby washed down?"

Chorus 2:

Do you want your old lobby washed down, Con Shine? Do you want your old lobby washed down?

Says she, "I'll take half," and says I with a laugh, "Do you want your old lobby washed down?"

Verse 3:

Now the boys look so nervous when they goes out courtin', they seem to be so very shy,

Why to kiss a young maid, sure they seem half afraid, but they would if they could on the sly,

But me, I do things in a different way, I don't give a nod or a frown,

When I goes to court, I says, "Here girls, for sport, do you want your old lobby washed down?

Chorus 3:

Do you want your old lobby washed down, Con Shine? Do you want your old lobby washed down?

When I goes to court, I says, "Here girls, for sport, do you want your old lobby washed down?

Finish:

Do you want your old lobby washed down, Con Shine? Do you want your old lobby washed down?

She sighs every day as she passes the way, "Do you want your old lobby washed down?"

Donald Where's Your Trousers?

Verse 1:

I've just come down from the isle of Skye, I'm no very big and I'm awful shy,

And the lassies shout when I go by, "Donald, where's your troo-sers?"

Chorus:

Let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low, through the streets in me kilt, I'll go,

All the lassies say, "Hello! Donald, Where's your troo-sers?"

Verse 2:

A lassie took me to a ball and it was slippery in the hall,

And I was 'feared that I would fall, for I had nae on me troo-sers!"

Verse 3:

I went down to London Town and I had some fun in the Underground,

And the ladies turned their heads around, saying, "Donald, where are your trousers?"

Verse 4:

To wear the kilt is my delight, it is not wrong, I know it's right,

The highlanders would get a'fright if they saw me in the troo-sers!

Verse 5:

The lassies want me, every one, just let them catch me if they can,

Ye canna' tak the breeks off a highland man, and I don't wear the troo-sers!

Drink It Up Men

Verse 1:

At the pub at the crossroads, there's whiskey and beer,

There's brandy, strong cognac, that's aging for years.

But for killing the thirst and for easing the gout,

There's nothing at all beats a pint of good stout!

Chorus:

Drink it up men, it's long after ten!

Verse 2:

At the pub at the crossroads, I first went astray,

There I drank enough drink for to fill Galway Bay!

Going up in the morning, I wore out me shoes,

Going up to the Cross for the best of good booze! (Chorus)

Verse 3:

Some folks o'er the water think bitter is fine,

And others, they swear by the juice of the vine.

But there's nothing that's squeezed from the grape or the hop,

Like the black liquidation with the froth on the top! (Chorus)

Verse 4:

I've traveled in England, I've traveled in France,

At the sound of good music, I'll sing or I'll dance!

So hear me then, mister, and pour me one more,

If I can't drink it up, then throw me out the door!

Verse 5:

It's Guiness' porter that has me this way,

For it's sweeter than buttermilk and stronger than tay!

And when in the morning, I feel kind of rough,

Me curse on the Lord Iveagh, who brews the damn stuff!

Farewell to Carlingford

Verse 1:

When I was young and in my prime, and could wander, wild and free,

There was always a longing in my mind, to follow the call of the sea.

Chorus:

So I'll sing farewell to Carlingford, and farewell to Greenore,

And I'll think of you both day and night, until I return once more,

Until I return once more.

Verse 2:

On all the stormy seven seas, I have sailed before the mast,

And every voyage I ever made, I swore it would be my last.

Verse 3:

I had a girl called Mary Doyle, and she lived in Greenore,

And the foremost thought within her mind was to keep me safe on shore.

Verse 4:

A landman's life is all his own, he can go or he can stay,

But when the sea gets in your blood, when she calls, you must obey!

Fiddler's Green

Verse 1:

As I walked by the dockside on an evening so fair,

To view the salt waters and take the salt air,

I heard an old fisherman singing a song,

Oh, take me away boys, me time is not long."

Chorus:

Wrap me up in me oilskin and jumpers,

No more on the docks, I'll be seen.

Just tell me old shipmates, "I'm taking a trip, mates,

And I'll see you someday in Fiddler's Green."

Verse 2:

Now Fiddler's Green is a place, I've heard tell,

Where the fishermen go if they don't go to hell,

Where the skies are all clear and the dolphins do play,

And the cold coast of Greenland is far, far away.

Verse 3:

Where the skies are all clear and there's never a gale,

And the fish jump on board with one swish of their tail.

Where you lie at your leisure and there's no work to do,

And the skipper's below, making tea for the crew!

Verse 4:

When you get back on the docks and the long trip is through,

There's pubs, and there's clubs, and there's lassies there too,

Where the girls are all pretty and the beer, it is free,

And there's bottles of rum grown from every tree!

Verse 5:

Now I don't want a harp or a halo, not me,

Just give me a breeze on a good, rolling sea,

I'll play me old squeezebox as we sail along,

With the wind in the rigging to sing me a song.

Fields of Athenry

Verse 1:

By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling,

“Michael they have taken you away.

For you stole Trevelyen’s corn, so the young might see the morn,

Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay.”

Chorus:

Low Lie the Fields of Athenry,

Where once we watched the small free birds fly.

Our love was on the wing,

We had dreams and songs to sing,

It’s so lonely ‘round the Fields of Athenry.

Verse 2:

By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young man calling,

“Nothing matters, Mary, when you’re free.

Against the famine and the crown, I rebelled, they cut me down,

Now you must raise our child with dignity.”

Verse 3:

By a lonely harbor wall, she watched the last star falling,

As the prison ship sailed out against the sky.

For she lived to hope and pray, for her love in Botany Bay,

It’s so lonely ‘round the fields of Athenry.

Finnegan's Wake

Verse 1:

Tim Finnegan lived on Walkin Street, a gentleman Irish, mighty odd,

He'd a beautiful brogue, both rich and sweet, and to rise in the world, he carried a hod,

But Tim had a bit of the tippler's way, with a love of the liquor, poor Tim was born,

And to help him on with his work each day, he'd a drop o' the craythur ev'ry morn!

Chorus:

Whack fol the da now, dance to your partner, welt the floor, your trotters shake,

Wasn't it the truth, I told ya? Lot's o' fun at Finnegan's wake!

Verse 2:

One morning, Tim felt rather full, his head felt heavy, which made him shake,

He fell from a ladder and he broke his skull, they carried him home, his corpse to wake,

Oh, they wrapped him up in a nice clean sheet and laid him out upon the bed,

With a noggin o' whisky at his feet and a barrel o' porter at his head!

Verse 3:

Tim's friends assembled at the wake and Mrs. Finnegan called for lunch,

First, they brought in tay and cakes, then pipes, tobacco and whisky punch,

Then Biddy O'Brien began to cry, "Such a nice, clean corpse did you ever see?"

And, "Tim, mavourneen, why did you die?" "Arrah, hold your gob!" said Paddy McGee.

Verse 4:

Then Mary O'Connor took up the job, "Oh Biddy," says she, "you're wrong, I'm sure."

Biddy fetched her a belt in the gob and sent her sprawling on the floor!

Civil war did soon engage, 'twas woman to woman and man to man,

"Shillelagh law" was all the rage and the row and the ruction soon began!

Verse 5:

Well, Mick Maloney ducked his head when a bottle of whisky flew at him,

It missed and landing on the bed, the liquor scattered over Tim,

Tim revives, see how he rises! Timothy rising from the bed!

Saying, "Whirl your whisky around like blazes! Connaught-men dear, do you think I'm dead?"

Foggy Dew

Verse 1:

As down the glen, one Easter morn to a city, fair, rode I,

There arméd lines of marching men, in squadrons passed me by,

No pipe did hum, no battle drum did sound it's dread tat-too,

But the Angelus Bell, o'er the Liffey's swell, rang out through the foggy dew.

Verse 2:

Right proudly high o'er Dublin town, they hung out the flag of war,

'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky than at Suvla or Sedd el Bahr,

And from the plains of royal Meath, strong men came hurrying through,

While Brittania’s Huns with their long range guns, sailed in through the foggy dew.

Verse 3:

Oh the night fell black and the rifle’s crack made perfidious Albion reel,

‘Mid the leaden rain, seven tongues of flame did shine o’er the lines of steel,

By each shining blade, a prayer was said that to Ireland, her sons be true,

And when morning broke, still the green flag shook out it’s folds in the foggy dew.

Verse 4:

‘Twas England bade our “Wild Geese” go that small nations might be free,

But their lonely graves are by Suvla’s waves o'er the fringe of the great North Sea,

But had they died by Pearse’s side or fought with Cathal Brugha,

Their graves, we’d keep where the Fenians sleep, ‘neath the shroud of the foggy dew.

Verse 5:

But the bravest fell and the requiem bell rang mournfully and clear,

For those who died that Eastertide in the springing of the year,

And the world did gaze with deep a-maze at those fearless men but few,

Who bore the fight that freedom’s light might shine through the foggy dew.

Verse 6:

Back through the glen, I rode again and my heart with grief, was sore,

For I parted then with valiant men, who I never shall see more,

But to and fro, in my dreams, I go and I kneel and pray for you,

For slavery fled, oh glorious dead, when you fell in the foggy dew.

Follow Me Up To Carlow

Verse 1:

Lift, Mac Cahir Og, your face, brooding o'er the old dis-grace,

That black Fitzwilliam stormed your place and drove you to the Fern.

Grey said victory was sure, soon the firebrand, he'd se-cure,

Until he met at Glenmalure, Fiach Mac-Hugh O'-Byrne.

Chorus:

Curse and swear, Lord Kildare, Fiach will do what Fiach will dare,

Now Fitzwilliam have a care, fallen is your star low.

Up with halberd, out with sword! On we go, for by the Lord,

Fiach MacHugh has given the word, "Follow me up to Carlow!"

Verse 2:

From Tassagart to Clonmore, flows a stream of Saxon gore,

Great is Rory Og O'More at sending loons to Hades.

White is sick and Grey is fled, now for black Fitzwilliam's head,

We'll send it over, dripping red, to Liza and her ladies!

Verse 3:

See the swords of Glen Imaal flashing o'er the English Pale,

See all the children of the Gael, be-neath O'Byrne's banners.

Rooster of the fighting stock, would you let a Saxon cock,

Crow out upon an Irish rock,

Fly up and teach him manners!

Forty Shades of Green

Verse 1:

I close my eyes and picture the emerald of the sea,

From the fishing boats at Dingle to the shores of Dunadee,

I miss the River Shannon and the folks at Skibbereen,

The moorlands and the meadows with their forty shades of green.

Chorus:

But most of all, I miss a girl in Tipperary town,

And most of all, I miss her lips as soft as eiderdown,

Again, I want to see and do the things we've done and seen,

Where the breeze is sweet as Shalimar and there's forty shades of green.

Verse 2:

I wish that I could spend an hour at Dublin's churning surf,

I'd love to watch the farmers drain the bog and spade the turf,

To see again the thatching of the straw the women gleen,

I'd walk from Cork to Larn to see the forty shades of green.

Gallant Forty Twa

Verse 1:

You may talk about your lancers or your Irish Fusiliers,

The Aberdeen Militia, or the Queen’s own volunteers,

Or any other regiment that’s lying far awa’,

Come give to me the tartan of the gallant Forty Twa.

Chorus:

And strolling through the green fields on a summer’s day,

Watching all the country girls a’ working at the hay,

I really was de - light - ed and he stole my heart awa’,

When I saw him in the tartan of the gallant Forty Twa.

Verse 2:

Oh, I never will forget the day his regiment marched past,

The pipes, they played a lively tune, but my heart was aghast,

He turned around and smiled farewell and then from far awa’,

He waved to me the tartan of the gallant Forty Twa.

Verse 3:

Once again, I heard the music of the pipers from afar,

They tramped and tramped, the weary men returning from the war,

And as they nearer drew, I brushed a woeful tear awa’,

For me and my braw laddie of the gallant Forty Twa.

Galway Girl

Verse 1:

Well, I took a stroll on the old, long walk, on a day - ai - ay, ai - ay,

I met a little girl and we stopped to talk, on a fine, soft day - ai - ay,

And I ask you friend, what's a fella to do, 'cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue,

And I knew right then, I'd be takin' a whirl, 'round the Salt Hill prom with a Galway girl.

Verse 2:

We were halfway there when the rain came down, on a day - ai - ay, ai - ay,

And she asked me to her flat downtown, on a fine, soft day - ai - ay,

And I ask you friend, what's a fella to do, 'cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue,

So I took her hand, and I gave her a twirl, and I lost my heart to a Galway girl.

Verse 3:

When I woke up, I was all alone...

With a broken heart and a ticket home...

And I ask you friend, what's a fella to do, 'cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue,

And I've traveled around, been all over this world, boys, I ain't never seen nothin' like a Galway girl.

God Save Ireland

Verse 1:

High upon the gallows-tree, swung the noble-hearted three,

By the vengeful tyrant, stricken in their bloom,

But they met them face-to-face, with the courage of their race,

And they went with souls undaunted, to their doom.

Chorus:

“God save Ireland!” said the heroes, "God save Ireland!" said they all,

Whether on the scaffold high, or the battlefield, we die,

Oh, no matter when for Ireland, dear, we fall.

Verse 2:

Girt a-round with cruel foes, still their courage proudly rose,

For they thought with hearts that loved them far and near,

Of the millions true and brave, o'er the ocean-swelling wave,

And the friends of holy Ireland, ever dear.

Verse 3:

Climbed they up the rugged stair, rang their voices out in prayer,

Then with England's fatal cord, around them cast,

Close be-side the gallows-tree, kissed like brothers lovingly,

True to home and faith and freedom to the last.

Verse 4:

Never 'til that latest day, shall their memories pass a-way,

Oh, the gallant lives thus given for our land,

But on the cause must go, to the joy, the weal, or woe,

'Til we make our isle a nation, free and grand!

Golden Jubilee

Verse 1:

Way down in the County Kerry in a place they call Tralee,

A fine old couple, they lived there, Kate and Pat McGee,

They were going to have a party on their Golden Jubilee,

Now Kate, says she to Pat McGee, "Come listen here to me,"

Chorus:

"Put on your old knee-britches and your coat of emerald green,

Take off that hat, me darlin' Pat, put on your old caubeen,

For today's our Golden Wedding and I'll have you all to know,

How we looked when we were wed, fifty years a-go!"

Verse 2:

"Oh, well do I remember how we danced on the village green,

You held me in your arms, dear Pat, and called me your colleen,

Your hair was like a raven's wing, but now it's turning grey,

Come over here, old sweetheart dear, and hear what I have to say,"

Verse 3:

"And well do I remember when first, I was your bride,

In the little chapel on the hill where we stood side by side,

Of good friends, we've had many, of troubles we've had few,

Come over here, old sweetheart dear, and here's what you must do,"

Greenland Whale Fisheries

Verse 1:

In eighteen-hundred-and-forty-two, on March, the eighteenth day,

We hoisted our colors to the top of the mast,

And for Greenland, sailed a-way, brave boys, and for Greenland, sailed a-way.

Verse 2:

The lookout on the crosstrees stood with spyglass in his hand,

"There's a whale, there's a whale, and a whalefish," he cried,

And she blows at every span, brave boys, and she blows at every span.

Verse 3:

The captain stood on the quarter-deck, the ice was in his eye,

"Over-haul! Overhaul! Let your gibsheets* fall!" (*jib sheets)

And you'll put your boats to sea, brave boys, and you'll put your boats to sea.

Verse 4:

Our harpoon struck and the line played out, with a single flourish of his tail,

He capsized the boat and we lost four men,

And we did not catch the whale, brave boys, and we did not catch the whale.

Verse 5:

The losing of those four jolly men, it grieved the captain sore,

But the losing of that fine whalefish,

How it grieved him ten times more, brave boys, how it grieved him ten times more.

Verse 6:

Oh, Greenland is a barren land, a land that bears no green,

Where there's ice and snow, and the whale fishes blow,

And the daylight's seldom seen, brave boys, and the daylight's seldom seen.

He Loved Her Still

Verse 1:

You hear of great brewers, who cook in the hills,

Moonshine, poteen, and punch in their stills,

Katy's one of the greats, you could never deny,

Her brew was s'grand, it made all the boys cry.

Chorus:

Brewers and drinkers, and rovers and all,

Only one lad stood out, as they all came to call,

Their love, brewed as one, by her house on the hill,

She loved him dearly, yet he loved her Still.

Verse 2:

When Pat supped her brew, the Saints chorused above,

When he drained a second, he knew it was love,

She gazed up at him, with a thirst in her eyes,

They'd make a fine blend, he'd not have to buy.

Verse 3:

Katy spent her days all, brewing her punch,

While Pat drank it down, breakfast, dinner, and lunch,

She thought that he loved her, that he'd always be true,

But, what he truly loved, was that glorious brew.

Verse 4:

One day, she died, and flew up to Heav'n,

The Angels rejoiced, when she started dis-till-in',

Pat was then left, to wait for his time,

To once more par-take, in that rare dew, so fine.

Hills of Connemara

Chorus:

Gather up the pots and the old tin can, the mash, the corn, the barley, and the bran.

Run like the devil from the Excise Man, keep the smoke from rising Barney.

Verse 1:

Keep your eyes well peeled to - day, the Excise Man is on his way,

Searchin’ for the mountain tay, in the Hills of Connemara.

Verse 2:

Swing to the left and swing to the right, the Excise Man will dance all night,

Drinkin’ up the tay till the broad day - light, in the Hills of Connemara.

Verse 3:

A gallon for the butcher, a quart for Tom, a bottle for poor old Father John,

To help the poor old man a - long, in the Hills of Connemara.

Verse 4:

Stand your ground, it is too late, the excise man is at the gate.

Glory be to God, he's drinkin’ it Nate, in the hills of Connemara.

Holy Ground

Verse 1:

Adieu to you, my Dinah, a thousand times adieu,

For we're going a-way from the Holy Ground and the girls that we love true,

We will sail the salt sea over and return again for sure,

To see a-gain the girls we love and the Holy Ground once more! (Yell: Fine girl you are!)

Chorus:

You're the girl I do a-do-re,

And still I live in hopes to see the Holy Ground once more! (Yell: Fine girl you are!)

Verse 2:

And now the storm is raging and we are far from shore,

And the good old ship is tossing a-bout and the rigging is all tore,

In the secret of my mind, my dear, you're the girl I do a-do-re,

And still I live in hopes to see the Holy Ground once more! (Yell: Fine girl you are!)

Verse 3:

And now the storm is over and we are safe and well,

We will go in-to a public house and we'll sit and drink like hell, (Yell: Like hell!)

We will drink strong ale and porter and we'll make the rafters roar,

And when our money is all spent, we will go to sea once more!

If I Ever Leave this World Alive

Verse 1:

If I ever leave this world alive, I'll thank ya for all the things you did in my life.

If I ever leave this world alive, I'll come back down and sit beside your feet tonight.

Wherever I am you'll always be, more than just a memory,

If I ever leave this world alive.

Verse 2:

If I ever leave this world alive, I'll take on all the sadness that I left behind.

If I ever leave this world alive, the madness that you feel will soon subside.

So in a word don't shed a tear, I'll be here when it all gets weird.

If I ever leave this world alive

Bridge:

So when in doubt just call my name, just before you go insane.

If I ever leave this world, hey I may never leave this world,

But if I ever leave this world alive.

Verse 3:

She says I'm okay; I'm alright, though you have gone from my life,

You said that it would, now everything should be alright.

She says I'm okay; I'm alright, though you have gone from my life,

You said that it would, now everything should be alright.

Yeah, should be alright.

I’ll Tell Me Ma

Verse 1:

I’ll tell me ma when I go home, the boys won’t leave the girls alone,

They pulled my hair and stole my comb, but that’s alright when I go home

She is handsome, she is pretty, she is the bell of Belfast City,

She comes a’courting, one, two, three, please won’t you tell me who is she?

Verse 2:

Albert Mooney says he loves her, all the boys are fighting for her,

They rap at the door and they ring at the bell, saying, “Oh my true love, are you well?”

Out she comes as wan as a rose, with rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,

Old Jenny Murphy says she’ll die, if she doesn’t get the fellow with the roving eye.

Verse 3:

Let the wind and the rain and the hail blow high, let the snow come tumbling from the sky,

She’s as nice as apple pie, she’ll get her own lad by and by,

When she gets a lad of her own, she won’t tell her ma when she gets home,

Let the boys come as they will, it’s Albert Mooney that she loves still.

I’m a Rover

Verse 1:

Though the night be dark as dungeon, nae a star to be seen above,

I will be guided without a stumble, into the airms o' my ain true love.

Verse 2:

He steppéd up to her bedroom window, kneelin' gently upon a stone,

He rappéd at her bedroom window, "Darlin' dear, do you lie a-lone?"

Chorus:

I'm a rover and seldom sober, I'm a rover o' high degree,

And when I'm drinking, I'm always thinking, how to gain my love's com-pan-y

Verse 3:

She raised her head on her snaw-white pillow, wi' her arms aboot her breast,

Say, "Who is that at my bedroom window, disturbin' me at my lang night's rest?"

Verse 4:

"It's only me, your ain true lover, open the door an' let me in,

For I hae come on a lang journey, and I'm near drenched to the skin." (Chorus)

Verse 5:

She opened the door with the greatest pleasure, she opened the door and let him in,

They baith shook hands and embraced each other, until the mornin', they lay as one.

Verse 6:

The cocks were crawin', the birds were whistlin', (M, B) the burns, they ran free abune the brea,

"Remember lass, I'm a ploughman laddie, and the fairmer, I must o-bey." (Chorus)

Verse 7:

"No', my lass, I must gang and leave thee, and though the hills, they are high above,

I will climb them wi' greater pleasure, since I been in the airms o' my love."

In the Rare Old Times

Verse 1:

Raised on songs and stories, heroes of renown,

Ah, the passing tales and glories that once was Dublin town,

The hallowed halls and houses, the haunting children's rhymes,

That once was part of Dublin, in the rare old times.

Chorus:

Ring-a ring-a rosey, as the light declines,

I remember Dublin City in the rare old times.

Verse 2:

Well, me name, it is Sean Dempsey, as Dublin as can be,

Born hard and late in Pimlico, in a house that ceased to be,

By trade, I was a coo-per, lost out to redundancy,

Like my house that fell to progress, my trade's a memory.

Verse 3:

And I courted Peggy Dignan, as pretty as you please,

A rogue and child of Mary, from the rebel lib-er-ties,

I lost her to a student chap, with skin as black as coal,

When he took her off to Birmingham, she took away my soul.

Verse 4:

The years have made me bit - ter, the gargle dims me brain,

'Cause Dublin keeps on changing, and nothing seems the same,

The Pillar and the Met have gone, the Royal, long since pulled down,

As the grey, unyeilding concrete, makes a city of my town.

Verse 5:

Fare thee well, sweet Anna Liffey, I can no longer stay,

And watch the new glass cages, that spring up along the quay,

My mind's too full of memories, too old to hear new chimes,

I'm part of what was Dublin town, in the rare old times.

Irish Rover

Verse 1:

In the year of our Lord, eighteen-hundred-and-six,

We set sail from the coal quay in Cork, (Cork! Cork!)

We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks,

For the grand city hall in New York.

Oh, we'd an elegant craft, she was rigged 'fore and aft,

And how the trade winds drove her,

She had twenty-three masts, and she stood several blasts,

And we called her the Irish Rover.

Chorus:

So fare thee well, my pretty, little girl, for I am bound a-way,

Fare thee well, my pretty, little girl, for I am bound a-way,

Verse 2:

There was Barney McGee from the banks of the Lee,

There was Hogan from County Tyrone, (Darlin' boy!)

There was Johnny McGurk, who was scared stiff of work,

And a chap from Westmeath, named Ma-lone.

There was "Slugger" O'Toole, who was drunk as a rule,

And "Fighting Bill" Tracy from Dover,

And your man, Mick McCann, from the banks of the Bann,

Was the skipper of the Irish Rover.

Verse 3:

We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags,

We had two million barrels of bone,

We had three million bales of old nanny goat's tails,

We had four million barrels of stone.

We had five million hogs, and six million dogs,

And seven million barrels of porter,

We had eight million hides of old blind horses' hides,

In the hold of the Irish Rover.

Verse 4:

We had sailed seven years when the measels broke out,

And our ship lost her way in a fog, (Big fog!)

And the whole of the crew was reduced down to two,

'Twas me-self and the captain's old dog. (Big dog!)

Then the ship struck a rock! Oh Lord, what a shock!

And nearly tumbled over,

She turned nine times around, and the poor old dog was drowned,

I'm the last of the Irish Rover!

Isn’t it Grand, Boys

Verse 1:

Look at the coffin with golden handles. Isn't it grand boys to be bloody well dead?

Chorus:

Let's not have a sniffle, let's have a bloody good cry.

And always remember the longer you live, the sooner you'll bloody well die.

Verse 2:

Look at the preacher, bloody sanctimonious. Isn't it grand boys to be bloody well dead?

Verse 3:

Look at the widow, bloody great woman. Isn't it grand boys to be bloody well dead?

Verse 4:

Look at the flowers, all bloody wilted. Isn't it grand boys to be bloody well dead?

Verse 5:

Look at the mourners, bloody great hypocrites. Isn't it grand boys to be bloody well dead?

Verse 6:

Look at the tombstone, bloody great boulder. Isn't it grand boys to be bloody well dead?

Verse 7:

Look at the whiskey, in buckets and bottles. Isn't it grand boys to be bloody well dead?

It’s a Long Way to Tipperary

Verse 1:

Up to mighty London came an Irishman one day,

As the streets were paved with gold, sure, everyone was gay,

Singing songs of Piccadilly, Strand, and Leicester Square,

'Til Paddy got excited, and he shouted to them there.

Chorus:

It’s a long way to Tipperary, it's a long way to go,

It's a long way to Tipperary, to the sweetest girl I know,

Goodbye Piccadilly, farewell Leicester Square!

It's a long, long way to Tipperary, but my heart's right there.

Verse 2:

Paddy wrote a letter to his Irish Molly-o,

Saying, "Should you not receive it, write and let me know!"

"If I make mistakes in spelling, Molly dear," said he,

"Remember it's the pen that's bad, don't lay the blame on me."

Verse 3:

Molly wrote a neat reply to her Irish Paddy-o,

Saying, "Mike Maloney wants to marry me, and so,

Leave the Strand and Piccadilly, or you'll be to blame,

For love has fairly drove me silly. Hoping you're the same!"

Jack Stewart

Verse 1:

My name is Jack Stewart, I'm a canny, young man,

And a rambling, young fellow, I have been.

Chorus:

So be easy and free when you're drinkin' with me,

I'm a man you don't meet every day.

Verse 2:

I have acres of land, I have men at command,

I've always a shilling to spare.

Verse 3:

Well, I took out my dog, and with him, I did shoot,

All down in the County Kildare.

Verse 4:

So come fill up your glasses with brandy and wine,

Whatever it costs, I will pay.

Johnston’s Motorcar

Verse 1:

As down by Brocka’s Corner, one morning I did stray,

I met a fellow rebel and to me, he did say,

“I’ve orders from the Captain to assemble at Dun-bar,

But how are we to get there with-out a motor car?”

Verse 2:

Oh Barney dear, be of good cheer and I’ll tell you what we’ll do,

The Specials they are plentiful and the I.R.A. are few,

We’ll wire to Doctor Johnston to meet us at Stranorlar, (*Stran-lar)

And we’ll give the boys a bloody good ride in Johnston’s motor car!

Verse 3:

When Doctor Johnston got that wire, he soon put on his shoes,

He said “This is an urgent case and there is no time to lose,

He put on his fancy caster hat, and on his breast, a star,

You could hear the din all through Glenfin of Johnston’s motor car.

Verse 4:

But when he got to the Railway Bridge, the rebels he saw there,

And Johnston knew the game was up for at him, they did stare,

He says “I have a permit to travel near and far.”

"To Hell with your English permit! We want your motor car!”

Verse 5:

“What will my loyal brethren say when they hear the news?

My car, it has been commandeered by the rebels at Dun-loos!”

“We’ll give you a receipt for it, all signed by Captain Barr,

And when Ireland gets her freedom, boy, you’ll get your motor car!”

Verse 6:

Well we set the car in motion and filled her to the brim,

With guns and bayonets shining, which made old Johnston grim,

Barney hoisted up the Sinn Féin* flag and it fluttered like a star, (*shin-FAYN)

And we gave three cheers for the I.R.A. and Johnston’s motor car!

Jolly Roving Tar

Verse 1:

Well, ships may come and ships may go, as long as the sea doth roll,

Each sailor lad, just like his dad, he loves the flowing bowl,

A trip ashore, he doth adore, with a girl that is plump and round,

When your money is gone, ‘tis the same old song, “Get up Jack; John, sit down.”

Chorus:

Come along, come along, you jolly brave boys, there is lots of grog in the jar,

We’ll plow the briny ocean with the jolly roving tar!

Verse 2:

When Jack gets in, ‘tis then he’ll steer to some old boarding house,

They’ll welcome him with rum and gin, they’ll feed him on port souse,

He’ll lend and spend and not offend ‘til he lies drunk on the ground,

When your money is gone, ‘tis the same old song, “Get up Jack; John, sit down.”

Verse 3:

‘Tis then, he’ll sail on board some ship for India or Japan,

In Asia there, the ladies, fair, all love the sailor man,

He’ll go ashore and on a tear and he’ll buy some gal a gown,

When your money is gone, ‘tis the same old song, “Get up Jack; John, sit down.”

Verse 4:

When Jack gets old and weather-beat, too old to roam a - bout,

In some rum shop, they’ll let him stop ‘til eight bells calls him out,

He’ll raise his eyes up to the sky, sayin’, “Boys, we’re homeward bound,”

When your money is gone, ‘tis the same old song, “Get up Jack; John, sit down.”

Jug of Punch

Verse 1:

One pleasant evening in the month of June, as I was sitting with my glass and spoon,

A small bird sat on an ivy bunch, and the song he sang was "The Jug of Punch."

Too-ra loo-ra loo, too-ra loo-ra lay, too-ra loo-ra loo, too-ra loo-ra lay,

A small bird sat on an ivy bunch, and the song he sang was "The Jug of Punch."

Verse 2:

What more diversion can a man desire, than to sit him down by an ale-house fire?

Upon his knee, a pretty wench, and on the table, the jug of punch!

Too-ra loo-ra loo, too-ra loo-ra lay, too-ra loo-ra loo, too-ra loo-ra lay,

Upon his knee, a pretty wench, and on the other, another wench!

Verse 3:

Let the doctors come with all their art, they'll make no impression upon my heart,

Even the cripple forgets his crutch, when he's snug outside of the jug of punch!

Too-ra loo-ra loo, too-ra loo-ra lay, too-ra loo-ra loo, too-ra loo-ra lay,

Even the cripple forgets his crutch, when he's snug outside of the jug of punch!

Verse 4:

And if I get drunk, well, me money is me own, and them that don't like me, they can leave me alone,

I'll tune me fiddle and I'll rosin me bow, and I'll be welcome wherev-er I go!

Too-ra loo-ra loo, too-ra loo-ra lay, too-ra loo-ra loo, too-ra loo-ra lay,

I'll tune me fiddle and I'll rosin me bow, and I'll be welcome wherever I go!

Verse 5:

And when I'm dead and in my grave, no costly tombstone, will I have,

Just lay me down in my native peat, with a jug of punch at my head and feet!

Too-ra loo-ra loo, too-ra loo-ra lay, too-ra loo-ra loo, too-ra loo-ra lay,

Just lay me down in my native peat, with a jug of punch at my head and feet!

Juice of the Barley

Verse 1:

In the sweet County Limerick, one cold winter's night,

All the turf fires were burning when I first saw the light,

And a drunken old midwife went tipsy with joy,

As she danced 'round the room with her slip of a boy!

Chorus:

Singing ban-ya na mo ish na goana,

And the juice of the barley for me!

Verse 2:

When I was a gossoon of eight years or so,

With me turf and me primer, to school I did go,

To a dusty old school house with-out any door,

Where lay the school master blind drunk on the floor!

Verse 3:

At the learning, I wasn't such a genius, I'm thinkin',

But I soon beat the master entirely at drinkin',

Not a wake or a weddin' for five miles a-round,

But meself in the corner, was sure to be found!

Verse 4:

One Sunday, the priest read me out from the altar,

Saying, "You'll end up your days with your neck in a halter,

And you'll dance a fine jig between heaven and hell,"

And his words, they did frighten, the truth for to tell!

Verse 5:

So the very next morning as the dawn, it did break,

I went down to the vestry, the pledge, for to take,

And there in that room, sat the priests in a bunch,

'Round a big, roaring fire drinking tumblers of punch!

Verse 6:

Well from that day to this, I have wandered alone,

I'm a jack of all trades and a master of none,

With the sky for me roof and the earth for me floor,

And I'll dance out my days drinking whiskey galore!

Katy Dailey

Chorus:

Come down the mountain, Katy Dailey, come down the mountain, Katy, do,

Oh, can't you hear us calling, Katy Dailey? We want to drink your rare old mountain dew!

Verse 1:

Katy's old man, he came from Tipperary, all in the pioneering year of forty-two,

Katy's old man was shot in Tombstone City, for the brewin' of the rare old mountain dew!

Verse 2:

Wake up and pay attention, Katy Dailey; I am the judge that's going to sentence you,

And all the boys in court have drunk your whiskey, and to tell the truth, dear Kate, I've drunk some too!

Verse 3:

So off to jail, they took poor Katy Dailey, but very soon, the gates, they opened wide,

An angel came for poor old Katy Dailey and took her far across the great divide.

Verse 4:

Well at the golden gates, there stood poor Katy; St. Peter said, "Good brewers, they are few,

So step inside the golden gates, good Katy, and start to brew your heavenly mountain dew!"

Kelly the Boy from Killane

Verse 1:

What's the news, what's the news, oh my bold Shelmalier,

With your long-barreled gun from the sea?

Say what wind from the south brings his messenger here,

With a hymn of the dawn for the free?

Goodly news, goodly news do I bring, youth of Forth,

Goodly news do I bring, Bargy man,

For the boys march at morn from the south to the north,

Led by Kelly, the boy from Killane!

Verse 2:

Tell me who is that giant with the gold curling hair?

He who rides at the head of your band,

Seven feet is his height with some inches to spare,

And he looks like a king in command.

Ah my lads, that's the pride of the bold Shelmaliers,

Among our greatest of heroes, a man,

Fling your beavers aloft and give three ringing cheers,

For John Kelly, the boy from Killane!

Verse 3:

Enniscorthy's in flames and old Wexford is won,

And the Barrow, tomorrow we will cross,

On a hill by the town, we have planted a gun,

That will batter the gateway to Ross.

All the Forth men and Bargy men march over the heath,

With brave Harvey to lead in the van,

But the foremost of all in the grim gap of death,

Will be Kelly, the boy from Killane!

Verse 4:

But the gold sun of freedom grew darkened at Ross,

And it set by the Slaney's red waves,

And poor Wexford, stripped naked, hung high on a cross,

And her heart pierced by traitors and slaves.

Glory-oh, glory-oh to her brave sons who died,

For the cause of long down-trodden man,

Glory-oh to Mount Leinster's own darling and pride,

Dauntless Kelly, the boy from Killane!

Leaving of Liverpool

Verse 1:

Farewell to Prince's Landing Stage, River Mersey, fare thee well,

I am bound for Cali forniay, a place that I know right well.

Chorus:

So fare thee well, my own true love,

For when I return, united, we shall be,

It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me,

But my darling, when I think of thee.

Verse 2:

I have signed on a Yankee trading ship, Davy Crockett is her name,

And Burgess is the captain of her, and they say that she's a floating shame.

Verse 3:

I have shipped with Burgess once before, and I think I know him right well,

If a man's a seaman, he can get along, but if not, then he's sure in hell.

Verse 4:

Oh, the sun is on the harbour, love, and I wish I could remain,

For I know it will be a long, long time, before I see you again.

Legion of the Rearguard

Verse 1:

Up the Republic! We raise their battle cry,

Pearse and McDermott will pray for you on high,

Eager and ready, for love of you, they die,

Proud march the soldiers of the Rearguard!

Chorus:

Legion of the Rearguard answering Ireland's call,

Hark, their martial tramp is heard from Cork to Donegal,

Wolfe Tone and Emmett guide you, though your task be hard,

De Valera leads you, soldiers of the Legion of the Rear-guard.

Verse 2:

Glorious the morning, through flame, and shot, and shell,

Now rally Ireland, your sons who love you well,

Pledged to defend you, through death or prison cell,

Wait for the soldiers of the Rearguard.

Verse 3:

Crimson the roadside, the prison wall, the cave,

Proof of their valour, go sleep in peace, ye brave,

Comrade, tread lightly, you're near a hero's grave,

Proud die the soldiers of the Rearguard.

Life of the Rover

Verse 1:

The old ways are changing, you cannot deny, the way of the traveler's over,

There's nowhere to go and there's nowhere to bide, good-bye to the life of the rover.

Chorus:

Fare-well to the tent and the old caravan,

To the tinker, the gypsy, the travelin' man,

Fare-well to the life of the rover.

Verse 2:

Farewell to the songs and the travelling talk, fare-well to the horse and the bridle,

The buyin', the sellin', the old fortune tellin', the knock on the door and the harken.

Verse 3:

You got to move fast to keep up with the times, these days, a man can't a'dander,

There's a by-law to say you must be on your way, and another to say you can't wan-der.

Verse 4:

The old ways are passin' and soon, they'll be gone, and I miss my old friends from my young days,

So I'll sing the old songs when the evenings are long and I'll drink to the life of the rover.

Lily the Pink

Verse 1:

Have you heard of Lydia Pinkham and her love for the human race?

How she sells, her wonderful compound, and the papers publish her face!

Chorus:

We'll drink, we'll drink, we'll drink to Lily the Pink, the Pink, the Pink,

The savior of the human race,

She invented "Medicinal Compound," most efficacious in every case!

Verse 2:

Brother Tony was notably bony, he would never eat his meals,

So they gave him Medicinal Compound, now they move him around on wheels.

Verse 3:

Johnny Hammer had a t-t-terrible stammer, he could hardly say a word,

So they gave him Medicinal Compound, now he's seen but never heard!

Verse 4:

Old Ebenezer thought he was Julius Caesar, so they put him in a home,

Where they gave him Medicinal Compound, now he's the Emporer of Rome!

Verse 5:

Jennifer Eccles had terrible freckles and the boys all called her names,

So she changed with Medicinal Compound, now he plays in all their games!

Verse 6:

Lily the Pink, she took to drink, she filled up with paraffin inside,

And despite her Medicinal Compound, sadly "Picca-Lily" died.

Verse 7:

Up to Heaven, her soul ascended and the church bells, they did ring,

She took with her Medicinal Compound, Hark the herald angels sing!

Loch Lomond

Verse 1:

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,

Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond,

Where me and my true love were ever want to gae,

On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

Chorus:

Oh, ye'll take the high road and I'll take the low road,

And I'll be in Scotland afore ye,

But me and my true love, we'll never meet again,

On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

Verse 2:

'Twas there that we parted, in yon shady glen,

On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lomond,

Where in deep purple hue, the highland hills, we view,

And the moon comin' out in the gloaming.

Verse 3:

The wee birdies sing and the wildflowers spring,

And in sunshine, the waters are sleeping,

But the broken heart will ken nae second spring a-gain,

Though the woeful may cease frae their grieving.

Lonesome Road

Verse 1:

Look up, look down that lonesome road,

Hang down your head and cry, my love,

Hang down your head and cry.

Verse 2:

The darkest night I ever saw,

Was the day I left my home, my love,

Was the day I left my home.

Verse 3:

Look up, look down that lonesome road,

Where all our friends have gone, my love,

Where all our friends have gone.

Verse 4:

The best of friends must surely part,

And why not you and I, my love,

And why not you and I?

Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe

Verse 1:

Oh, come, all you lads and lassies, and listen to me a while.

And I'll sing for you a verse or two that will cause you all to smile.

It's all about a fair young man I'm going to tell you now

How he lately came a-courtin' of the maid of the sweet brown knowe.

Verse 2:

Said he, "My pretty fair maid, will you come along with me?

We'll both go off together, and it's married we will be.

We'll join our hands in wedlock bands I'm speaking to you now,

And I'll do my best endeavor for the maid of the sweet brown knowe."

Verse 3:

This fair and fickle young thing, she knew not what to say.

Her eyes did shine like silver bright and merrily did play.

She said, "Young man, your love's subdued, for I'm not ready now.

And I'll spend another season at the foot of the sweet brown knowe.”

Verse 4:

Said he, "My pretty fair maid, how can you answer so?

Look down on yonder valley where my verdant crops do grow.

Look down on yonder valley where horses, men, and plow

Are at their daily labor for the maid of the sweet brown knowe."

Verse 5:

"If they're at their daily labor, kind sir, it is not for me.

For I've heard of your behavior, I have indeed," said she.

"There is an inn where you call in, I've heard the people say,

That you rap and you call and you pay for all and go home at the break of day.”

Verse 6:

"If I rap and I call and I pay for all, the money it is my own.

And I'll never spend your fortune, for I hear that you have none.

You thought you had my poor heart broken, talking with me now,

But I'll leave you where I found you: At the foot of the sweet brown knowe."

Maids When You’re Young

Verse 1:

An old man came courting me, hey ding do-rum-di,

An old man came courting me, me being young,

An old man came courting me, saying, “Would you marry me?”

Maids, when you’re young, never wed an old man.

Chorus:

For they’ve got no falorum, fal diddle i or um,

They’ve got no fal or um, fal diddle fal day,

They’ve got no falorum, they’ve lost their ding dorum,

Maids, when you’re young, never wed an old man.

Verse 2:

When we went off to church, hey ding do-rum-di,

When we went off to church, me being young,

When we went off to church, he left me in the lurch,

Maids, when you’re young, never wed an old man.

Verse 3:

When we went up to bed, hey ding do-rum-di,

When we went up to bed, me being young,

When we went up to bed, he lay like he was dead,

Maids, when you’re young, never wed an old man.

Verse 4:

I threw me leg over him, hey ding do-rum-di,

Just to oblige him, me being young,

I flung me leg over him, damn well near smothered him,

Maids, when you’re young, never wed an old man.

Verse 5:

When he was fast asleep, hey ding do-rum-di,

When he was fast asleep, me being young,

When he went to sleep, out of bed I did creep

Into the arms of a handsome young man

Chorus 2:

And I found his falorum, fal diddle i or um,

I found his fal or um, fal diddle fal day,

I found his falorum, he got my ding dorum,

Maids, when you’re young, never wed an old man.

Mairi’s Wedding

Chorus:

Step we gaily, on we go, heel for heel and toe for toe,

Arm in arm and row on row, all for Mari’s Wedding.

Verse 1:

Over hillways up and down, myrtle green and bracken brown,

Past the sheilings through the town, all for sake of Mari.

Verse 2:

Red her cheeks as rowans are ,bright her eyes as any star,

Fairest o’ them all by far, is our darlin’ Mairi.

Verse 3:

Plenty herring, plenty meal, plenty peat to fill her creel,

Plenty bonny bairns as well, that’s the toast for Mairi.

Manchester Rambler

Verse 1:

I've been over Snowdon, I've slept upon Crowden, I've camped by the Wainstones as well,

I've sunbathed on Kinder, been burned to a cinder, and many more things I can tell.

My rucksack has oft been my pillow, the heather has oft been my bed,

And sooner than part from the mountains, I think I would rather be dead.

Chorus:

I'm a rambler! I'm a rambler, from Manchester way,

I get all me pleasure the hard moorland way,

I may be a wage-slave on Monday,

But I am a free man on Sunday.

Verse 2:

The day was just ending as I was descending down Grindsbrook just by Upper Tor,

When a voice cried, "Hey you!" in that way keepers do, he'd the worst face that ever I saw.

And the things that he said were un-pleas-ant, in the teeth of his fury, I said,

"Hey, sooner than part from these mountains, I think I would rather be dead."

Verse 3:

He called me a louse and said, "Think of the grouse." Well, I thought, but I still couldn't see,

Why all Kinder Scout and the moors round-a-bout, couldn't hold all those poor grouse and me.

He said, "All of this land is my master's." and at that, I stood shaking my head,

For no man has the right to own mountains, any more than the deep ocean bed.

Verse 4:

I once loved a maid, a spot welder by trade, she was fair as the rowan in bloom,

While the blue of her eye watched the blue moorland sky, I wooed her from April to June,

On the day that we should have been married, I went for a ramble instead,

For sooner than part from the mountains, I think I would rather be dead.

Verse 5:

So I'll walk where I will, over mountain and hill, and I'll lie where the bracken is deep,

I belong to the mountains, the clear running fountains, where the grey rocks lie ragged and steep.

I've seen the white hare in the gullies, and the curlew fly high overhead,

And sooner than part from the mountains, I think I would rather be dead.

Mary Ellen Carter

Verse 1:

Well, she went down last October in a pouring, driving rain,

The skipper, he'd been drinkin' and the mate, he felt no pain,

Too close to Three-Mile Rock and she was dealt her mortal blow,

And the Mary Ellen Carter settled low.

There was just us five aboard her when she finally was awash,

We worked like hell to save her, all heedless of the cost,

And the groan she made when she went down, it caused us to proclaim,

That the Mary Ellen Carter would rise again

Verse 2:

Well, the owners wrote her off, not a nickel, would they spend,

She gave twenty years of service, boys, and met her sorry end,

But insurance paid the loss to them so they let her lay be-low,

And they laughed at us and said we had to go.

Oh, we talked of her all winter, some days around the clock,

She's worth a quarter million a'floatin' at the dock,

And with every jar that hit the bar, we swore we would remain,

And make the Mary Ellen Carter rise again!

1st Chorus:

Rise again! Rise again!

Let her name not be lost to the knowledge of men,

All those who loved her best and were with her to the end,

Will make the Mary Ellen Carter rise again!

Verse 3:

All spring now, we've been with her on a barge lent by a friend,

Three dives a day in hard-hat suits and twice I've had the bends,

Thank God it's only sixty feet and the currents here are slow,

Or I'd never have the strength to go below.

We patched her rents, stopped her vents, dogged patch and portal down,

Put cables to her 'fore and aft and girded her around,

Tomorrow noon, we hit the air and then take up the strain,

And make the Mary Ellen Carter rise a-gain!

Verse 4:

We couldn't leave her there, you see, to crumble into scales,

She'd saved our lives so many times, a'livin' through the gales

And the drunken, laughin' rats who left her to a sorry grave,

Well, they won't be laughing in another day.

And you, to whom adversity has dealt the mortal blow,

With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go,

Turn to and put out all your strength of arm, and heart, and brain,

And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again!

2nd Chorus:

Rise again! Rise again!

Though your heart, it be broken, or life about to end,

No matter what you lost, be it a home, a love, a friend,

Just like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again!

Mary Mac

Verse 1:

There's a nice wee lass and her name is Mary Mac,

Make no mistake, she's the miss I'm gonna take,

There's a lot of other chaps that would get up on her track,

But I'm thinking that they'll have to get up early.

Chorus:

Mary Mac's father's making Mary Mac marry me,

My father's making me marry Mary Mac,

And I'm gonna marry Mary to get Mary to take care o' me,

We'll all be making merry when I marry Mary Mac!

Verse 2:

Well, this wee lass, she has a lot of class,

She has a lot of brass and her father thinks I'm gas,

So I'd be a silly ass to let the matter pass,

Her father thinks she suits me fairly.

Verse 3:

Now, Mary and her mother gang an awful lot together,

In fact, you hardly ever see the one without the other,

And the fellows often wonder if it's Mary or her mother,

Or the both of them together that I'm courting.

Verse 4:

Well, the wedding day's on Wednesday and everything's arranged,

Her name will soon be changed to mine unless her mind be changed,

And with making the arrangements, I'm just about deranged,

For marriage is an awful undertaking.

Verse 5:

Well, it's sure to be a grand affair and grander than a fair,

A coach and pair for rich and poor and every pair that's there,

We'll dine upon the finest fare, I'm sure to get my share,

If I don't, well, I'll be very much mistaken!

Me and the Moon

Verse 1:

Well, you know I gotta say, I've met a lot of friends this way,

When the sun goes down.

Just hangin' with the crew, knockin' back a brew or two,

A brew or two, a brew or two, a brew or two, or three, or four!

Chorus:

Me and the moon stayed up all night,

I brought the whiskey, he brought the light.

Me and the moon stayed up all night,

I brought the whiskey, he brought the light.

A quarter-to-three, we're feelin' fine, when the sun comes up,

Gonna miss my friend, moon-shine.

Verse 2:

Well, the dogs, and the cats, and those raccoon chaps,

In their furry hats, gathered around.

And the rooks and the ravens started to sing and flap their wings,

Flap, sing! Flap, sing! Flap, sing!

Verse 3:

Well now, the possum screamed as loud as a possum could,

I said, "I understand."

When it's all inside, you gotta let it out,

You gotta scream, shout! Scream, shout! Scream, shout! Scream, shout!

Break:

To this day, they talk about that night,

When the moon, the raccoon, the possum, and the hound,

Danced a-round, danced around, danced around, danced around!

Chorus:

Me and the moon stayed up all night,

I brought the whiskey, he brought the light.

Me and the moon stayed up all night,

I brought the whiskey, he brought the light.

Men of Harlech

Verse 1:

Men of Harlech, march to glory, Vic-tor- y is hov’ring o’er ye,

Bright-eyed freedom stands before ye, Hear ye not her call?

At your sloth, she seems to wonder, Rend the sluggish bonds asunder,

Let the war-cry’s deaf’ning thunder, Every foe appall!

Refrain 1:

Echoes loudly waking, Hill and valley shaking,

‘Til the sound spreads wide around, The Saxon’s courage breaking,

Your foes on every side assailing, Forward press with heart unfailing,

‘Til invaders learn with quailing, Cymru* ne’er can yield! (*kemri)

Verse 2:

Thou, who noble Cambria wrongest, Know that freedom’s cause is strongest,

Freedom’s courage lasts the longest, Ending but with death!

Freedom, countless hosts can scatter, Freedom, stoutest mail can shatter,

Freedom, thickest walls can batter, Fate is in her breath!

Refrain 2:

See now, they are flying, Dead are heaped with dying,

Over might, hath triumphed right, Our land, to foes, denying!

Up-on their soil, we never sought them, Love of conquest hither brought them,

But this lesson, we have taught them, Cymru ne’er can yield!

Merry Ploughboy

Verse 1:

I was a merry ploughboy and I plowed the fields all the day,

‘Til the sudden thought come to my mind that I should go away,

For I’ve always hated slavery, since the day that I was born,

And I’m off to join the I.R.A., and I’m off tomorrow morn!

Chorus:

And we’re all off to Dublin in the green, in the green,

Where the helmets glisten in the sun,

Where the bayonets flash, and the rifles crash,

To the echo of the Thompson gun.

Verse 2:

I’ll leave behind my pick and axe, I’ll leave behind my plow,

And I’ll leave behind my old, grey mare, for no more, I will need them now,

And I’ll leave behind my Mary, she’s the girl I do adore,

And I wonder if she’ll think of me when she hears the cannons roar!

Verse 3:

And when the war is over and dear old Ireland is free,

I’ll take her to the church to wed and it’s a rebel’s wife, she will be!

Mick McGuire

Verse 1:

Oh, me name is Mick McGuire, and I'll quickly tell to you,

Of a young girl I admire called Katy Donahue,

She was fair, and fat, and forty, and believe me, when I say,

That whenever I come into the do', you can hear her Mammy say,

Chorus 1:

"Johnny, get up from the fire! Get up, and gi'e the man a seat*! (*sate)

Can't you see it's Mr. McGuire? Sure, and he's courtin' your sister, Kate,

You know very well he owns the farm a wee bit outta o' the town,

Arrah, get up outta that, you impudent brat, and let Mr. McGuire sit down!"

Diddle-ee dō-dle-dō-dle-dō, diddle-ee dō-dle-dō-dle-dō,

Diddle-ee dō-dle-dō-dle-dō, diddle-ee dō-dle-dō-dle-dō,

You know very well he owns the farm a wee bit outta o' the town,

Arrah, get up outta that, you impudent brat, and let Mr. McGuire sit down!

Verse 2:

Well, the first time that I met her was at the dance at Tarnegie,

And I very plainly asked her if she'd dance a step with me,

Then I asked if I could see her home, if I'd be goin' her way,

Now whenever I come into the do', you can hear her Mammy say,

Verse 3:

Oh, but now that we are married, sure, her mother's changed her mind,

Just because I spent the legacy her father left behind,

She hasn't got the decency to bid me time o' the day,

And whenever I come into the do', you can hear the Old One say,

Finish:

"Johnny, come up to the fire! Come up, you're settin' in the draft!

Can't you see it's old McGuire? Sure, and he nearly drives me daft!

I don't know what's gettin' in 'im, for he's always on the tear,

So, just sit where you are, and never your dare, to give old McGuire the chair!

Diddle-ee dō-dle-dō-dle-dō, diddle-ee dō-dle-dō-dle-dō,

Diddle-ee dō-dle-dō-dle-dō, diddle-ee dō-dle-dō-dle-dō,

I don't know what's gettin' in 'im, for he's always on the tear,

So, just sit where you are, oh, and never your dare,

To give old McGuire the chair!

Minstrel Boy

Verse 1:

The minstrel boy, to the war is gone,

In the ranks of death, you will find him,

His father's sword, he has girded on,

And his wild harp slung behind him!

"Land of song," said the warrior-bard,

Though all the world betrays thee,

One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,

One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

Verse 2:

The minstrel fell, but the foeman's chain,

Could not bring his proud soul under,

The harp he loved ne'er spoke again,

For he tore it's chords asunder.

He said, "No chains shall sully thee,

Thou soul of love and bravery,

Thy songs were meant for the pure and free,

They shall never sound in slavery!"

Molly Malone

Verse 1:

In Dublin's fair city, where the girls are so pretty,

I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,

She wheeled her wheelbarrow through the streets, broad and narrow,

Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh!"

Chorus:

Alive, alive oh, alive, alive oh,

Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh!"

Verse 2:

She was a fish monger, and sure, 'twas no wonder,

That so were her father and mother before,

They wheeled their wheelbarrows through the streets, broad and narrow,

Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh!"

Verse 3:

She died of a fever and no one could save her,

And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone,

Now her ghost wheels her barrow through the streets, broad and narrow,

Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh!"

Monto

Verse 1:

Well if you got a wing-o, take her up to ring-o, Where the waxies sing-O, all the day.

If you had your fill of Porter, and you can't go any further, Give our man the order, back to the quay.

And take her up to Monto, Monto, Monto, Take her up to Monto Lan-ge-ru, to you.

Verse 2:

You heard the Duke of Gloucester, the dirty old imposter, Took his Mot and lost her up the Furry Glen.

He first put on his bowler, and he buttoned up his trousers,

Then he whistled for his growler, and he said “My man.”

Take me up to Monto, Monto, Monto. Take me up to Monto Lan-ge-ru, to you.

Verse 3:

You heard the Dublin Fusileers, the dirty old bamboozileers, They went and got the childer, one, two, three.

Marching from the linin hall, there's one for every cannonball, And Vicki's gonna send them all o're the sea.

But first go up to Monto, Monto, Monto. First go up to Monto Lan-ge-ru to you.

Verse 4:

Now when the Czar of Russia and the king of Prussia, Landed in the Phoinex in a big balloon,

They asked the police band to play ''The Wearing Of The Green'',

But the buggers in the depot didn't know the tune.

So they both went up to Monto, Monto, Monto. They both went up to Monto Lan-ge-ru, to you

Verse 5:

Now the Queen she came to call on us, She wanted to see all of us,

I'm glad she didn't fall on us, she's eighty stone,

Mister Milord the Mayor say's she, Is this all you've got to show for me?

Why no ma’am there's more to see Pog Mo Thoin!

And he took her up to Monto, Monto, Monto, took her up to Monto Lan-ge-ru to you.

Moonshiner

Verse 1:

I've been a moonshiner for many's a year, and I spent all me money on whiskey and beer,

I'll go to some hollow and I'll set up me still, and I'll make you a gallon for a ten-shilling bill!

Chorus:

I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long way from home,

And if you don't like me, you can leave me a-lone,

I'll eat when I'm hungry and I'll drink when I'm dry,

And if moonshine don't kill me, I'll live 'til I die!

Verse 2:

I'll go to some hollow in this country, tens gallons o' wash, I can go on a spree,

No woman to follow, the world is all mine, and I love none so well as I love the moon-shine!

Verse 3:

Oh moonshine, dear moonshine, oh how I love thee, you killed me poor father, but dare you try me,

Bless all moonshiners and bless all moon-shine, for it's breath smells as sweet as the dew on the vine!

Verse 4:

If the ocean were whiskey and I were a duck, I'd swim to the bottom and drink my way up,

But the ocean ain't whiskey, and I ain't a duck, so I'll stick to wild women and trust in my luck!

Verse 5:

It's moonshine for Liza and moonshine for May, it's moonshine for Lou and she'll sing all the day,

It's moonshine for me breakfast and moonshine for me tea, it's moonshine, me hearties, it's moonshine for me!

Mountain Dew

Verse 1:

Let the grasses grow, and the waters flow, in a free and easy way,

But give me enough of the fine, old stuff, that's brewed near Galway Bay,

And peelers all, from Donegal, Sligo, and Lietrim too,

We'll give them the slip when we take a sip of the rare old mountain dew!

Chorus:

Hi-ah diddle-lee-aye-ah-dum, diddle-lee doodle aye-ah-dum,

Diddle-lee-doo-ri diddle-lee-i-day,

Hi-ah diddle-lee-aye-ah-dum, diddle-lee doodle aye-ah-dum,

Diddle-lee-doo-ri diddle-lee-i-day!

Verse 2:

At the foot of the hill, there's a neat little still, where the smoke curls up to the sky,

By the smoke and the smell, you can plainly tell, there's witchy brewin' nearby,

Oh, it fills the air, with odor rare, and betwixt both me and you,

When home you stroll, you can take a bowl or a bucket of the mountain dew!

Verse 3:

Now learnéd men, who use the pen, have wrote your praises high,

That sweet poteen, from Ireland's green, distilled from wheat and rye,

Throw away your pills, it'll cure all ills, whether Christian, or Pagan, or Jew,

Tear off your coat and free your throat with the rare old mountain dew!

Mursheen Durkin

Verse 1:

In the days I went a courtin', I was never tired of sortin'

To the alehouse and the playhouse or manys a house beside,

I told me brother Seamus I'd go off and be right famous,

And I never would return again I'd roam the world wide.

Chorus:

So goodbye Muirsheen Durkin, I'm sick and tired of working.

No more I'll dig the praties, no longer I'll be fooled.

For as sure as me name is Carney, I'll be off to Californy.

Where instead of digging' praties, I'll be diggin' lumps of gold.

Verse 2:

I've courted girls in Blarney, in Kanturk, and in Killarney.

In Passage, and in Queenstown, that is the Cove of Cork.

Goodbye to all me pleasure, for I'm away to get me leisure.

And the next thing that you hear from me, will be a letter from New York.

Verse 3:

Goodbye to all the girls at home, I'm sailing far across the foam

To try to make me fortune, in far Americay.

For there's s gold and jewels in plenty, for the poor and gentry,

And I never will return again, and I never more will stay.

Mush Mush

Verse 1.

It was there I learned readin’ and writin’, at Bill Bracket’s, where I went to school,

And ‘twas there I learned howlin’ and fightin’ from me school-master, Mister O’Toole,

Him and me, we had many a scrimmage, and devil a copy, I wrote,

There was ne’er a gossoon in the village dared tread on the tail o’ me…

Chorus 1:

Mush, mush, mush, tu - ra - li - a - dy, me mush, mush, mush, tu - ra - li - ay,

There was ne’er a gossoon in the village dared tread on the tail o’ me coat.

Verse 2:

Oh, ‘twas there that I learned all me courtin’, many lessons, I took in the art,

‘Til Cupid, the blackguard, while sportin’, an arrow drove straight through me heart,

Miss Judy, she lived just forn’inst me and tender lines to her, I wrote,

If you dare say one hard word a’gin her, I’ll tread on the tail o’ your…

Chorus 2:

Mush, mush, mush, tu-ra-li-ady, me mush, mush, mush, tu - ra - li - ay,

If you dare say one hard word a’gin her, I’ll tread on the tail o’ your coat.

Verse 3:

But a blackguard named Mickey Maloney came and stole her affections away,

He had money and I hadn’t any, so I sent him a challenge next day,

That evening, we met at the woodbine, the Shannon, we crossed in a boat,

And I lathered him with me shillelagh, for he trod on the tail o’ me…

Chorus 3:

Mush, mush, mush, tu-ra-li-ady, me mush, mush, mush, tu-ra-li-ay,

And I lathered him with me shillelagh, for he trod on the tail o’ me coat.

Verse 4:

Oh, my fame went abroad though the nation, the folks came a’ flocking to see,

And they cried without hesitation, “You’re a fighting man, Billy McGee!”

I have cleaned out the Finnegan faction and I’ve licked all the Murphys afloat,

If you’re in for a row or a ruction, just tread on the tail o’ me…

Chorus4 :

Mush, mush, mush, tu-ra-li-ady, me mush, mush, mush, tu-ra-li-ay,

If you’re in for a row or a ruction, just tread on the tail o’ me coat.

A Nation Once Again

Verse 1:

When boyhood’s fire was in my blood, I read of ancient freemen,

For Greece and Rome, who bravely stood, three-hundred men and three men,

And then I prayed I might yet see our fetters rent in twain,

And Ireland long, a province be, a nation once again!

Chorus: A nation once a-gain, a nation once again,

And Ireland, long a province, be a nation once again!

Verse 2:

And from that time, through wildest woe, that hope has shone a far light,

Nor could love’s brightest summer glow out-shine that solemn starlight,

It seemed to watch above my head in forum, field, and fane,

It’s angel voice sang ‘round my bed, “A nation once again!”

Verse 3:

It whispered too, that freedom’s ark and service high and holy,

Would be profaned by feelings dark and passions vain or lowly,

For freedom comes from God’s right hand, and needs a godly train,

And righteous men must make our land a nation once again!

Verse 4:

So as I grew from boy to man, I bent me to that bidding,

My spirit of each selfish plan and cruel passion ridding,

For thus, I hoped someday to aid, oh, can such hope be vain?

When my dear country shall be made a nation once again!

Verse 1:

The canals and the bridges, the embankments and cuts,

They blasted and dug with their sweat and their guts.

They never drank water but whiskey by pints,

And the shanty towns rang with their songs and their fights.

Chorus:

Navigator, navigator rise up and be strong,

The morning is here and there's work to be done.

Take your pick and your shovel and the bold dynamite,

For to shift a few tons of this earthly delight,

Yes to shift a few tons of this earthly delight.

Verse 2:

They died in their hundreds with no sign to mark where,

Save the brass in the pocket of the entrepreneur.

By landslide and rock-blast they got buried so deep,

That in death if not life they'll have peace while they sleep.

Verse 3:

Their mark on this land is still seen and still laid,

The way for a commerce where vast fortunes were made.

The supply of an empire where the sun never set,

Which is now deep in darkness, but the railway's there yet.

Newry Highwayman

Verse 1:

In Newry town, I was bred and born,

In Stephen's Green, now I lie in scorn,

I served my time in the saddling trade,

I always was the rovin' blade,

I always was the rovin' blade.

Verse 2:

At seventeen, I took a wife,

I loved her dearer than I loved my life,

And so to keep her both fine and gay,

I went out robbin' on the King's Highway,

I went out robbin' on the King's Highway.

Verse 3:

I never robbed a poor man yet,

Nor lately caused anyone to fret,

But I robbed lords and ladies fine,

And I carried their gold home to me heart's delight,

And I carried their gold home to me heart's delight.

Verse 4:

I robbed Lord Baldwin, I do declare,

And Lady Manswell up in Governor's Square,

I closed the shutters and bade them, "'Night,"

And I carried their gold home to me heart's delight,

And I carried their gold home to me heart's delight.

Verse 5:

To Covent Garden, I made my way,

With me dear wife, for to see a play,

Then Fielding's men, there did me pursue,

And I was taken by that curséd crew,

And I was taken by that curséd crew.

Verse 6:

Me father cried, "Oh, me darlin' son!"

Me wife, she cried, "Now I am un-done!"

Me mother tore her grey locks and cried,

"It's in the cradle, he should have died!"

"It's in the cradle, he should have died!"

Verse 7:

When I am dead, I want for my grave,

A flashy funeral, pray let me have,

Six high-way-men to carry me,

Give them broad-swords and sweet liberty,

Give them broad-swords and sweet liberty.

Verse 8:

Six pretty maidens to bear my pawl,

Give them white roses and garlands all,

And when I'm dead, they'll speak the truth,

"He was a wild and wicked youth,"

"He was a wild and wicked youth."

Night Paddy Murphy Died

Verse 1:

Oh, the night that Paddy Murphy died is a night I'll never forget,

Some of the boys got loaded drunk and they ain't got sober yet,

As long as the bottle was passed around, every man was feelin' gay,

O'Leary came with the bagpipes, some music for to play!

Chorus:

That's how they showed their respect for Paddy Murphy,

That's how they showed their honour and their pride,

They said it was a sin and shame and they winked at one another,

And every drink in the place was full, the night Pat Murphy died.

Verse 2:

As Missus Murphy sat in the corner, pourin' out her grief,

Kelly and his gang, came tearin' down the street,

They went into an empty room, and a bottle of whiskey, stole,

They put the bottle with the corpse to keep that whiskey cold!

Verse 3:

About two-o'clock in the morning, after emptyin' the jug,

Doyle rolls up the ice-box lid to see poor Paddy's mug,

We stopped the clock so Missus Murphy couldn't tell the time,

And at a quarter-after two, we argued it was nine!

Verse 4:

They stopped the hearse on George Street, outside Sundance Saloon,

They all went in at half-past eight and staggered out at noon,

They went up to the graveyard, so holy and sublime,

And found out when they got there, they'd left the corpse behind!

O’Donnel Abu

Verse 1:

Proudly the note of the trumpet is sounding,

Loudly the war-cries arise on the gale,

Fleetly the steed by Lough Swilly is bounding

To join the great squadrons on Saimer's green vale.

On ev'ry mountaineer! Strangers to flight or fear,

Rush to the standards of dauntless Red Hugh,

Bonnaught or galloglas throng from each mountain pass,

With, "Onward for Erin! O'Donnell Abú!"

Verse 2:

Princely O'Neill to our aid is advancing,

With many a cheiftain and warrior clan,

A thousand proud steeds in his vangaurd are prancing

'Neath borderers brave from the banks of the Bann.

Many a heart shall quail, under it's coat of mail,

Deeply the merciless foeman shall rue,

When on his ear shall ring, borne on the breeze's wing,

Tyrconnell's dread war-cry, "O'Donnell Abú!"

Verse 3:

Wildly o'er Desmond, the war-wolf is howling,

Fearless the eagle sweeps o'er the plain,

The fox in the streets of the city is prowling,

And all who would scare them are banished or slain.

Grasp ev'ry stalwart hand, hackbut, and battle-brand,

Pay them all back, the debt so long due,

Norris and Clifford well can of Tyrconnell tell, The Gaelic Cheiftain

Onward to glory! O'Donnell Abú!

Verse 4:

Sacred the cause that Clan Connell's defending,

The alters we kneel at, the homes of our sires,

Ruthless the ruin, the foe is extending,

Midnight is red with the plunderer's fires.

On with O'Donnell then, fight the old fight again,

Sons of Tyrconnell, all valiant and true,

Make the false Saxon feel, Erin's avenging steel,

Strike for your country! O'Donnell Abú!

Old Maid in the Garret

Verse 1:

I have often heard it said from my father and my mother,

That going to a wedding was the making of another,

Well if this be so, then I’ll go without a bidding,

Oh, it’s kind providence, won’t you send me to a wedding?

Chorus:

And it’s oh, dear me, and how would it be,

If I die an old maid in the garret?

Verse 2:

Oh now, there’s my sister, Jean, she’s not handsome or good-looking,

Scarcely sixteen and a fellow, she is courting,

Now she’s twenty-four with a son and a daughter,

Here am I forty-five and I’ve never had an offer.

Verse 3:

I can cook, I can sew, I can keep the house right tidy,

Rise up in the morning and get the breakfast ready,

But there’s nothing in this wide world would make me half so cheery,

As a wee, fat man who would call me his own dearie.

Verse 4:

Oh come landsmen or come kinsman, come tinker or come tailor,

Come fiddler or come dancer, come ploughman or come sailor,

Come rich man, come poor man, come fool or come witty,

Come any man at all who will marry me for pity.

Verse 5:

Oh well, I’m away home for there’s nobody heeding,

There’s nobody heeding to poor Annie’s pleading,

And I’m away home to my own wee bit garret,

If I can’t get a man, then I’ll surely get a parrot.

On the One Road

Chorus:

We're on the one road, sharing the one load, we're on the road to God knows where,

We're on the one road, it may be the wrong road, but we're together now, who cares?

North men! South men! Comrades, all! Dublin! Belfast! Cork and Donegal!

We're on the one road swinging along, singing a soldier's song!

Verse 1:

Though we've had our troubles now and then, now is the time to make them up again,

Sure, aren't we all Irish anyhow? Now's the time to step together now.

Verse 2:

Tinker, tailor, every mother's son! Butcher, baker, shouldering his gun!

Rich man, poor man, every man in line; all together just like auld lang syne!

Verse 3:

Night is darkest just before the dawn! From dissention, Ireland is reborn!

Soon we'll all be United Irishmen; make our land A Nation Once Again!

Outlawed Rapparee

Verse 1:

My spurs are rusted, my coat is rent, my plume is damp with rain,

And the thistle-down and the barley-beard are thick on my horse's mane.

But my rifle's as bright as my sweetheart's eyes, and my arm is strong and free,

What care have I for your king or laws? I'm an outlawed rapparee.

Chorus:

Lift your glasses, friends, with mine, and give your hands to me,

I'm England's foe, I'm Ireland's friend, I'm an Outlawed Rapparee!

Verse 2:

The mountain cavern is my home, high up in the crystal air,

My bed is the limestone, iron-ribbed, and the brown heath smelling fair.

Let George or William only send his troops to burn and loot,

We'll meet them up on equal ground and we'll fight them boot to boot.

Verse 3:

Hunted from out our father's homes, pursued with steel and shot,

A bloody warfare, we must wage or the gibbet* be our lot. (*ji-bet)

Hurrah! The war is welcome work, the hunted outlaw knows,

He steps into his country's love o'er the corpses of his foes.

Paddy Kelly’s Brew

Verse 1:

Paddy Kelly is my name, making poteen is my game

And I live away up there behind the hill

I can make a drop that's pure and there's nothing it won't cure

It surpasses any medicine or pill

Chorus:

For it tastes as sweet as honey as it trickles down your throat

It looks as clear and pure as morning dew

It can make a fellow sing though he didn't have a note

Won't you try a drop of Paddy Kelly's Brew

Verse 2:
It can cure your rheumatism, it can cure a wheezy chest

It can cure you of the gout and gallstones too

It cures toothache, headache, backache, falling hair and all the rest

Fallen arches, corns and bunions and the flu

Verse 3:

I've a pound or two to spend, I've a bottle for a friend

I've got customers galore who buy my brew

At a wedding or a wake, I supply the stuff they take

And I keep a good supply the whole year through

Verse 4:

Now, I know you will confess that the world is in a mess

And the politicians don't know what to do

I'll supply them with a plan that will cure the ills of man

Throw away the guns and hand out Kelly's Brew

Pair of Brown Eyes

Verse 1:

One summer evening drunk to hell I sat there nearly lifeless,

An old man in the corner sang where the waterlilies grow.

And on the jukebox Johnny sang about a thing called love,

and it's how are you kid, and what’s your name,

and how would you bloody know?

Verse 2:

In blood and death 'neath a screaming sky I lay down on the ground

And the arms and legs of other men were scattered all around

Some cursed some prayed some prayed then cursed, then prayed and bled some more

And the only thing that I could see

Was a pair of brown eyes that was looking at me

But when we got back labelled parts one to three

There was no pair of brown eyes waiting for me

Chorus:

And a rovin' a rovin' a rovin' I'll go

For a pair of brown eyes

Verse 43:

I looked at him he looked at me all I could do was hate him

While Ray and Philomena sang of my elusive dream

I saw the streams the rolling hills where his brown eyes were waiting

And I thought about a pair of brown eyes that waited once for me

Verse 4:

So drunk to hell I left the place sometimes crawling sometimes walking

A hungry sound came across the breeze so I gave the walls a talking

And I heard the sounds of long ago from the old canal

And the birds were whistling in the trees where the wind was gently laughing

Chorus:

And a rovin' a rovin' a rovin' I'll go

And a rovin' a rovin' a rovin' I'll go

And a rovin' a rovin' a rovin' I'll go

For a pair of brown eyes

Parting Glass

Verse 1:

Oh, all the money that e’er I had,

I spent it in good company,

And all the harm I’ve ever done,

Alas, it was to none but me,

And all I’ve done for want of wit,

To mem’ry now, I can’t re - call,

So fill to me the parting glass,

Good night and joy be with you all.

Verse 2:

Oh if I had money e - nough to spend,

And leisure time to sit a - while,

There is a fair maid in this town,

That sore - ly has my heart beguiled,

Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips,

I own she has my heart in thrall,

So fill to me the parting glass,

Good night and joy be with you all.

Verse 3:

Oh, all the comrades that e’er I had,

They’re sorry for my going a - way,

And all the sweethearts I’ve ever had,

They’d wish me one more day to stay,

But since it falls unto my lot,

That I should go and you should not,

I gently rise and softly call,

Good night and joy be with you all.

Patriot Game

Verse 1:

Come all ye young rebels, and list while I sing, for the love of one's country is a terrible thing.

It banishes fear with the speed of a flame, and it makes us all part of the patriot game.

Verse 2:

My name is O'Hanlon, and I've just turned sixteen, my home is in Monaghan, and where I was weaned,

I learned all my life cruel England's to blame, So now I am part of the patriot game.

Verse 3:

This Ireland of ours has too long been half free; six counties lie under John Bull's tyranny.

So I gave up my boyhood, to fight and to train, To play my own part in the patriot game.

Verse 4:

It's nearly two years since I went away, With the local battalion of the bold IRA.

For I read of our heroes, and wanted the same, To play out my part in the patriot game.

Verse 5:

And now as I lie here, my body all holes, I think of those traitors who bargained in souls.

And I wish that my rifle had given the same, To those Quislings who sold out the patriot game.

Verse 1:

Come all ye young rebels, and list while I sing, For the love of one's country is a terrible thing.

It banishes fear with the speed of a flame, And it makes us all part of the patriot game.

Pretender Will Come Nay More

Chorus:

Up the claymores! Up the standards! The pretender will come nae more,

Stand your ground for highland* honor, nae deliverer frae the tyrant's force, (*hee-land)

Up the targe then, tae shield fair Scotland, pride o' Wallace, tak the fore,

O, up the claymores! Up the standards! The pretender will come nae more!

Verse 1:

When oppression's darkest hour came, Tyrant Geordie pressed the claim,

The hope of Scotland lay in Charlie, raise the standard for old King James,

Gather 'round him, mighty chieftains, gather 'round, ye sons o' war,

Listen close now, tae Lord George Murray, and we'll knock on London's door!

Verse 2:

Drunken Charlie, where's your spirit? Where's the French you said would come?

Where's the pride in Scotland's highlands, you pro-claimed tae the pipes and drums?

O sad Culloden, scar upon us, Charlie failed tae understand,

Gather 'round now at Ruthven's calling, 'round Lord George now, every clan!

Pub with No Beer

Chorus:

Oh, it's lonesome away from your kindred and all,

By the campfire at night, where the wild dingos call, (All Howl)

But there's nothing so lonesome, so dull, or so drear,

Than to stand in the bar, of a pub with no beer.

Verse 1:

Now the publican's anxious for the quota to come,

There's a faraway look on the face of the bum,

The maid's gone all cranky and the cook's acting queer,

What a terrible place, is a pub with no beer.

Verse 2:

The stockman rides up, with his dry, dusty throat,

He breasts up to the bar, pulls a wad from his coat,

But the smile on his face quickly turns to a sneer,

When the barman says sadly, "The pub's got no beer."

Verse 3:

Then in comes the swagman, all covered in flies,

He throws down his roll, wipes the sweat from his eyes,

But when he is told, he says, "What's this I hear?

I've trudged fifty, flamin' miles to a pub with no beer!"

Verse 4:

There's a dog on the veranda, for his master, he waits,

But the boss is inside, drinking wine with his mates,

He hurries for cover, and he cringes in fear,

It's no place for a dog, 'round a pub with no beer.

Verse 5:

Old Billy, the blacksmith, the first time in his life,

Has gone home cold sober, to his darling wife,

He walks in the kitchen; she says, "You're early, me dear,"

Then he breaks down and he tells her, that the pub's got no beer.

Quare Bungle Rye

Verse 1:

Now Jack was a sailor who roamed on the town

And she was a damsel who skipped up and down

Said the damsel to Jack as she passed him by

Would you care for to purchase some quare bungle rye, roddy rye?

Fol the diddle rye roddy rye roddy rye roddy rye roddy rye

Verse 2:

Thought Jack to himself, "Now what can this be?

But the finest of whiskey from far Germany

Smuggled up in a basket and sold on the sly

And the name that it goes by is quare bungle rye, roddy rye?

Fol the diddle rye roddy rye roddy rye roddy rye roddy rye

Verse 3:

Jack gave her a pound and he thought nothing strange

She said, "Hold you the basket while I run for your change"

Jack peeked in the basket and a baby did spy

“Oh, Begorrah,” said Jack, “this is quare bungle rye, roddy rye.”

Fol the diddle rye roddy rye roddy rye roddy rye roddy rye

Verse 4:

Now to get the child christened was Jack's first intent

For to get the child christened, to the parson he went

Says the parson to Jack, "What will he go by?"

“Bedad now,” says Jack, “Call him quare bungle rye, roddy rye.”

Fol the diddle rye roddy rye roddy rye roddy rye roddy rye

Verse 5:

Said the parson to Jack, "Well now that's a queer name"

Says Jack to the parson, "Tis a queer way he came.

Smuggled up in a basket and sold on the sly

And the name that he'll go by is quare bungle rye, roddy rye?

Fol the diddle rye roddy rye roddy rye roddy rye roddy rye

Verse 6:

Now all you young sailors who roam on the town

Beware of those damsels who skip up and down

Take a peek in their basket as they pass you by

Or they may try to pawn on ya quare bungle rye, roddy rye.

Fol the diddle rye roddy rye roddy rye roddy rye roddy rye.

Queensland Drover Song

Verse 1:

There's a trade you all know well, it's bringing cattle over,

And on every track to the Gulf and back, men know the Queensland drover.

Chorus:

So pass the billy 'round boys, don't let the pintpot stand there,

For tonight, we'll drink the health of every overlander!

Verse 2:

I come from the northern plains where the girls and grass are scanty,

Where the creeks run dry or ten feet high and it's either drought or plenty.

Verse 3:

There are men from every land, from Spain and France and Flanders,

They're a well mixed pack, both white and black, the Queensland overlanders.

Verse 4:

When we've earned a spree in town, we live like pigs in clover,

And the whole years' cheque pours down the neck of many a Queensland drover!

Verse 5:

As I pass along the road, the children raise me dander,

Shouting, "Mother dear, take in the clothes, here comes an overlander!"

Verse 6:

But I'm bound for home once more, on a prad that's quite a goer,

I can find a job with a crawling mob, on the banks of the Maranoa.

Ragland Road

Verse 1:

On Raglan Road, on an autumn day, I saw her first and knew,

That her dark hair, would weave a snare, that I might one day rue,

I saw the danger, yet I passed, along the enchanted way,

And I said, "Let grief, be a falling leaf, at the dawning of the day."

Verse 2:

On Grafton Street, in November, we tripped lightly along the ledge,

Of a deep ravine, where can be seen, the worth of passion's pledge,

The Queen of Hearts, still making tarts, and I, not making hay,

Oh, I loved too much, and by such, by such, is happiness thrown away.

Verse 3:

I gave her gifts, of the mind, I gave her the secret sign,

That's known to the artists, who have known, the true gods of sound and stone,

And word and tint, I did not stint, for I gave her poems to say,

With her own name there, and her own dark hair, like clouds over fields of May.

Verse 4:

On a quiet street, where old ghosts meet, I see her walking now,

Away from me, so hurriedly, my reason must al-low,

That I had wooed, not as I should, a creature made of clay,

When the angel woos the clay, he'll lose his wings at dawn of day.

Rambles of Spring

Verse 1:

There's a piecing wintry breeze blowing through the budding trees,

And I button up my coat to keep me warm.

But the days are on the mend and I'm on the road again,

With my fiddle snuggled close beneath my arm.

Chorus:

I've a fine felt hat and a strong pair of brogues,

I have rosin in me pocket for my bow,

Oh, my fiddle strings are new and I've learned a tune or two,

So I'm well prepared to ramble and must go.

Verse 2:

I'm as happy as a king when I catch a breath of spring,

And the grass is turning green as winter ends.

And the geese are on the wing, and the thrushes start to sing,

And I'm headed down the road to see my friends.

Verse 3:

I have friends in every town as I wander up and down,

Making music at the markets and the fairs.

Through the donkeys and the creels, and the farmers making deals,

And the yellow-headed tinkers selling wares.

Verse 4:

Here's a health to one and all, to the big and to the small,

To the rich and poor alike, and foe and friends.

And when I return again, may our foes have turned to friends,

And may peace and joy be with you until then!

Ramblin’ Rover

Chorus:

Oh, there's sober men in plenty, and drunkards, barely twenty,

There are men of over ninety who have never yet kissed a girl,

But gi'e me a ramblin' rover, and frae Orkney, down to Dover,

We will roam the country over, and together, we'll face the world.

Verse 1:

There's many that feign enjoyment from merciless employment,

Their ambition was this deployment from the minute they left the school,

And they save, and scrape, and ponder, while the rest go out and squander,

See the world, and rove, and wander, and are happier as a rule.

Verse 2:

I've roamed through all the nations, ta'en delight in all creation,

And I've tried a wee sensation when the company did prove kind,

And when partin' was no pleasure, I've drunk another measure,

To the good friends that were treasure, for they always are in our minds.

Verse 3:

If you're bent with arthritis, you're bowels have got colitis,

You're gallopin' with bollockitus, and you're thinkin' it's time you died,

If you've been a man of action, though you're lyin' there in traction,

You will get some satisfaction, thinkin', "Jesus, at least I tried."

Red is the Rose

Verse 1:

Come over the hills, my bonnie Irish lass,

Come over the hills, to your darling,

You choose the rose, love, and I'll make the vow,

And I'll be your true love forever.

Chorus:

Red is the rose, that in yonder garden, grows,

Fair is the lily of the valley

Clear is the water, that flows from the Boyne,

But my love is fairer than any.

Verse 2:

'Twas down by Killarney's green woods, we strayed,

The moon and the stars, they were shining,

The moon shone it's rays, on her locks of golden hair,

She swore she'd be my love forever.

Verse 3:

It's not for the parting, that my sister pains,

It's not for the grief of my mother,

'Tis all for the loss, of my bonnie Irish lass,

That my heart is breaking forever.

Reilly’s Daughter

Verse 1:

As I was sittin' by the fire, eatin' spuds and drinkin' porter,

Suddenly a thought came to my mind, I'd like to marry old Reilly's daughter!

Chorus:

Gid-dee-i-ay, gid-dee-i-ay, gid-dee-i-ay for the one-eyed Reilly,

Gid-dee-i-ay, (bang, bang, bang) play it on your own big drum!

Verse 2:

Reilly played on the big bass drum, Reilly had a mind for murder and slaughter,

Reilly had bright red glittering eye and he kept that eye on his lovely daughter!

Verse 3:

Her hair was black and her eyes were blue, the colonel, and the major, and the captain all sought her,

The sergeant and the private, and the drummer boy too, but they never had a chance with Reilly's daughter!

Verse 4:

I got me a ring and a parson too, got me a scratch in the married quarter,

Settled me down to a peaceful life, happy as a king with old Reilly's daughter!

Verse 5:

Suddenly a footstep on the stairs! Who should it be but Reilly out for slaughter?

With two pistols in his hands, lookin' for the man who married his daughter!

Verse 6:

I caught old Reilly by the hair, rammed his head in a pail of water,

Fired His pistols in the air a damned sight quicker than I married his daughter!

Ripple

Verse 1:

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine,

And my tunes were played on the harp un-strung,

Would you hear my voice come through the music?

Would you hold it near as it were your own?

Verse 2:

It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken,

Perhaps they're better left un-sung,

I don't know, don't really care,

Let there be songs, to fill the air!

Chorus:

Ripple in still water,

When there is no pebble tossed,

Nor wind to blow.

Verse 3:

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty,

If your cup be full, may it be a-gain,

Let it be known there is a fountain,

That was not made by the hand of men.

Verse 4:

There is a road, no simple highway,

Between the dawn and the dark of night,

And if you go, no one may follow,

That path is for - your steps a-lone.

Verse 5:

You who choose to lead must follow,

But if you fall, you fall a-lone,

If you should stand, then who's to guide you?

If I knew the way, I would take you home.

Rising of the Moon

1:
"Oh, then tell me Shawn O'Farrell, tell me why you hurry so?"

"Hush, me bhuachaill, hush and listen," and his cheeks were all a'-glow,

I bear orders from the captain, get you ready quick and soon,

For the pikes must be together by the rising of the moon."

Chorus 1: By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon,

For the pikes must be together by the rising of the moon.

2:

"Oh, then tell me Sean O'Farrell, where the gath'rin is to be?"

"In the old spot by the river, right well known to you and me,

One more word for signal token, whistle up the marchin' tune,

With your pike upon your shoulder * by the rising of the moon."

Chorus 2:

By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon,

With your pike upon your shoulder * by the rising of the moon."

3:

Out from many a mud-wall cabin, eyes were watching through the night,

Many a manly heart was beating, for the blesséd morning light,

Murmurs ran along the valley like the banshee's lonely croon,

And a thousand pikes were flashing * by the rising of the moon."

Chorus 3:

By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon,

And a thousand pikes were flashing * by the rising of the moon."

4:

There be-side that singing river, that black mass of men was seen,

High a-bove their shining weapons, flew their own belovéd green,

"Death to every foe and traitor! Forward! Strike the marching tune!"

And, "Hurrah! Me boys, for freedom! 'Tis the rising of the moon!"

Chorus 4:

By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon,

And, "Hurrah! Me boys, for freedom! 'Tis the rising of the moon!"

5:

Well, they fought for poor old Ireland, full bitter was their fate,

Oh, what glorious pride and sorrow fills the name of ninety-eight!

Yet, thank God, e'en still are beating, hearts in manhood, burning noon,

Who would follow in their footsteps by the rising of the moon!

Chorus 5:

By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon,

Who would follow in their footsteps by the rising of the moon!

Rocky Road to Dublin

Verse 1:

In the merry month o’ June, from me home I started,

Left the girls of Tuam nearly broken-hearted,

Saluted father dear, kissed me darlin’ mother;

Drank a pint o’ beer, me grief and tears to smother.

Then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born,

Cut a stout blackthorn, to banish ghost and goblin,

A brand new pair o’ brogues, rattlin’ o’er the bogs, clogs?

Frightenin’ all the dogs, on the rocky road to Dublin!

Chorus:

One, two, three, four, five!

Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road,

And all the way to Dublin, whack-for-lol-de-ra.

Verse 2:

In Mullingar that night, I rested limbs so weary,

Started by daylight, next mornin’, light and airy,

Took a drop o’ the pure, to keep me heart from sinkin’,

That’s the Paddy’s cure, whene’er he’s troubled by thinkin'.

To see the lassies smile, laughin’ all the while,

At my curious style, ‘twould set your heart a-bubblin’

They asked if I was hired, the wages, I required,

‘Til I was almost tired, of the rocky road to Dublin!

Verse 3:

In Dublin, next arrived, I thought it such a pity,

To be so soon deprived, a view of that fine city,

Then I took a stroll, all among the quality,

My bundle, it was stole, in that neat locality;

Something crossed me mind, then I looked behind,

No bundle could I find, upon me stick a-hobblin’,

Enquirin’ for the rogue, they said my Connacht brogue,

Wasn’t much in vogue, on the rocky road to Dublin;

Verse 4:

From there, I got away, me spirits never failin’,

Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailin’,

Captain at me roared, said that no room had he,

When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy;

Down among the pigs, I played some funny rigs,

Danced some hearty jigs, the water ‘round me bubblin’,

When off Holyhead, I wished meself was dead,

Or better far instead, on the rocky road to Dublin;

Verse 5:

The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed,

Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it,

Blood began to boil, temper I was losin’,

Poor old Erin’s Isle, they began abusin’;

“Hurrah, me soul!” says I, shillelagh, I let fly,

Some Galway boys were by, saw I was a-hobblin’,

Then with a loud hurray, they joined in the affray,

We quickly cleared the way, for the rocky road to Dublin;

Roddy McCorley

Verse 1:

Oh, see the fleet-foot host of men, who march with faces drawn,

From hempstead and from fisher's cot, a-long the banks of Ban,

They come with vengeance in their eyes, too late, too late, are they,

For young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome t-day.

Verse 2:

Up the narrow street, he stepped, smiling, proud and young,

About the hemp rope on his neck, the golden ringlets clung,

There was ne'er a tear in his blue eyes, for clarion bright are they,

As young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today.

Verse 3:

When he last stepped up that street, his shining pike in hand,

Behind him marched in grim ar-ray, a stalwart, earnest band,

"For Antrim Town!" For Antrim Town, he led them to the fray,

But young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today.

Verse 4:

There's never a one of all your dead, more bravely fell in fray,

Than he who marches to his fate on the bridge of Toome today,

True to the last! True to the last, he treads the upwards way,

And young Roddy McCorley goes to die on the bridge of Toome today.

Rolling Down to Old Maui

Verse 1:

It's a rough, tough life of toil and strife, we whalemen under-go,

And we don't give a damn, when the gale is done, how hard the winds do blow,

Oh, we're homeward bound, 'tis a damn fine sound, with a good ship, taut and free, (All: Yo!)

We don't give a damn when we drink our rum with the girls of old Maui.

Chorus:

Rolling down to old Maui, rolling down to old Maui,

We're homeward bound from the artic rounds, rolling down to old Maui!

Verse 2:

Once more, we sail with a northerly gale, through the ice, and sleet, and rain,

And them Oahee maids, in their island glades; ah, soon we shall see a-gain,

Six hellish months have passed away in the cold Kamchatka* sea, (All: Yo!) (*cum-cha-ka)

But now, we're bound from the artic rounds, rolling down to old Maui.

Verse 3:

Now we'll heave the lead where old Diamond Head looms up on old Oa-hu,

Though our masts and yards are sheathed in ice, and our decks are hid from view,

Oh, the horrid ice, the sea-cut tiles, the decks, the artic sea, (All: Yo!)

Are miles behind in the frozen wind, since we sailed for old Maui.

Verse 4:

How warm the breeze, of the tropic seas, now the ice is far astern,

And them island maids, in their tropic glades, are a-waiting our return,

Oh, their big black eyes even now look out, hoping one day to see, (All: Yo!)

Our baggy sails running 'fore the gales, rolling down to old Maui.

Verse 5:

And now we're anchored in the bay with the big Kanakas all around,

With chants and soft "Alohas," they greet us, now we're sound,

And now ashore, we'll have good fun, we'll paint them beaches red!

Awakin' in the arms of a island maid with a big, fat, achin' head!

Rosin the Bow

Verse 1:

I've travelled this world all over and now to another, I'll go,

But I know that good quarters are waitin' to welcome old Rosin the Bow.

1st Chorus:

To welcome old Rosin the Bow, to welcome old Rosin the Bow,

Yes, I know that good quarters are waitin' to welcome old Rosin the Bow.

Verse 2:

When I'm dead and laid out on the counter, a voice you will hear from be-low,

Sayin', "Send down a hogshead o' whiskey to drink with old Rosin the Bow."

2nd Chorus:

To drink with old Rosin the Bow, to drink with old Rosin the Bow,

Sayin', "Send down a hogshead o' whiskey to drink with old Rosin the Bow."

Verse 3:

Then get half-a-dozen stout fellows and stack 'em all up in a row,

Let 'em drink out'a half-gallon bottles to the memory of Rosin the Bow,

3rd Chorus:

To the memory of Rosin the Bow, to the memory of Rosin the Bow,

Let 'em drink out'a half-gallon bottles to the memory of Rosin the Bow,

Verse 4:

Then take these same half-dozen fellows and let 'em all stagger and go,

And dig a great hole in the meadow and in it, throw Rosin the Bow.

4th Chorus:

And in it, throw Rosin the Bow and in it, throw Rosin the Bow,

And dig a great hole in the meadow and in it, throw Rosin the Bow.

Verse 5:

Then take ye a couple o' bottles, put one at me head and me toe,

With a diamond ring, scratch upon 'em, the name of old Rosin the Bow.

5th Chorus:

The name of old Rosin the Bow, the name of old Rosin the Bow,

With a diamond ring, scratch upon 'em, the name of old Rosin the Bow.

Verse 6:

Well, I feel that old tyrant approachin', that cruel, remorseless, old foe,

And I lift up me glass in his honor, take a drink with old Rosin the Bow!

6th Chorus:

Take a drink with old Rosin the Bow, take a drink with old Rosin the Bow,

And I lift up me glass in his honor, take a drink with old Rosin the Bow!

The Scotsman

Verse 1:

Well a Scotsman clad in a kilt so fine left a bar one evening fair,

And one could tell by the way he walked that he'd drunk more than his share.

He stumbled round until he could no longer keep his feet,

Then he staggered off in-to the grass to sleep beside the street.

Chorus 1:

A-ring-ding-diddle-diddle-aye-dee-oh, ring-ding-diddle-ee-aye-oh,

He staggered off in-to the grass to sleep beside the sheep!

Verse 2:

Now a-bout that time, two young and lovely maidens happened by,

And one says to the other with a twinkle in her eye.

"See yon sleeping Scotsman, so fair and handsome built,

I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt?"

Chorus 2:

A-ring-ding-diddle-diddle-aye-dee-oh, ring-ding-diddle-ee-aye-oh,

I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt?"

Verse 3:

Well, they crept up on that Scotsman just as quiet as could be,

And they lifted up his kilt just enough so they could see,

And there, behold! for them to view beneath his Scottish skirt,

‘Twas nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth.

Chorus 3:

A-ring-ding-diddle-diddle-aye-dee-oh, ring-ding-diddle-ee-aye-oh,

‘Twas nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth.

Verse 4:

They marveled for a moment, then one said, "We’d best be gone,

But let's leave a present for our friend be-fore we move a-long."

As a gift, they left a blue silk ribbon tied into a bow,

About that bonnie spar the Scotsman's kilt did lift and show.

Chorus 4:

A-ring-ding-diddle-diddle-aye-dee-oh, ring-ding-diddle-ee-aye-oh,

About that bonnie spar the Scotsman's kilt did lift and show.

Verse 5:

The Scotsman woke to nature's call and stumbled toward the trees,

Behind a bush, he lifts his kilt and gawks at what he sees.

In a slightly strangled voice, he says to what's before his eyes,

"Ah laddie, I don't know where you've been, but I see you won first prize."

Chorus 5:

A-ring-ding-diddle-diddle-aye-dee-oh, ring-ding-diddle-ee-aye-oh,

"Ah laddie, I don't know where you've been, but I see you won first prize."

Spancil Hill

Verse 1:

Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by,

My mind being bent on rambling, to Ireland, I did fly,

I stepped aboard a vision and followed with a will,

'Til next, I came to anchor at the cross near Spancil Hill.

Verse 2:

Delighted by the novelty, enchanted with the scene,

Where in my early boyhood where often I had been,

I thought I heard a murmur and I think I hear it still,

It's the little stream of water that flows down Spancil Hill.

Verse 3:

It was on the twenty-second, June, the day before the fair,

When Ireland's sons and daughters, and friends assembled there,

The young and the old, the brave and the bold, came, their duty to fulfill,

At the parish church in Clooney, a mile from Spancil Hill.

Verse 4:

I went to see my neighbors to see what they might say,

The old ones, they were dead and gone, the young ones turning grey,

I met the tailor Quigley, he's as bold as ever, still,

He used to make my britches when I lived at Spancil Hill.

5:

I paid a flying visit to my first and only love,

She's as fair as any lily and gentle as a dove,

She threw her arms around me, crying, "Johnny, I love you still!"

She's still the farmer's daughter and the pride of Spancil Hill.

Verse 6:

I dreamt I hugged and kissed her as in the days of yore,

She said, "Johnny, you're only joking as many the times before."

Well, the cock, he crew in the morning, and he crew both loud and shrill,

And I a-woke in Californiay, many miles from Spancil Hill.

Star of the County Down

Verse 1:

Up in Bainbridge town in the County Down, one morning last July,

Down the bóithrín* green, come a sweet colleen, and she smiled as she passed me by.

She looked so sweet, from her two bare feet, to the sheen of her nut-brown hair,

Such a winsome elf, had to pinch my-self, to be sure I was really there.

Chorus:

From Bantry Bay to the Derry Quay, And from Galway to Dublin town,

No maid, I've seen, like the grand colleen, that I met at the County Down.

Verse 2:

She'd a soft brown eye, and a look so sly, and a smile like a rose in June,

And you craved each note from her lovely throat as she lilted an Irish tune.

At the pattern dance, you'd be held in trance, as she tripped through a jig or reel,

When her eyes, she'd roll, she would lift your soul, and your heart, she would quickly steal.

Verse 3:

And as onward she sped, sure, I scratched my head, and I stood with a feeling rare,

And I said, says I, to a passer-by, "Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?"

Well, he smiled at me and he said, says he, "That's the gem of old Ireland's crown,

Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann, she's the star of the County Down!"

Verse 4:

And at Harvest Fair, she'll be surely there, and I'll dress in me Sunday clothes,

With me hat cut right, and me shoes shined bright, for a smile from the nut-brown rose.

No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke, ‘til me plow is a rust-colored brown,

'Til a smiling bride by my own fire-side, is the star of the County Down!

Streams of Whiskey

1:;

Last night as I slept, I dreamt I met with Behan,

I shook him by the hand and we passed the time of day.

When questioned on his views, on the crux of life's philosophies,

He had but these few, clear, and simple words to say:

Chorus:

I am going, I am going, any which way the wind may be blowing,

I am going, I am going, where streams of whiskey are flowing!

2:

I have cursed, bled, and sworn; jumped bail, and landed up in jail,

Life has often tried to stretch me but the rope always was slack,

And now that I've a pile, I'll go down to the Chelsea,

I'll walk in on my feet but I'll leave there on my back!

3:

Oh, the words that he spoke seemed the wisest of philosophies,

There's nothing ever gained by wet thing called a tear,

When the world is too dark, and I need the light inside of me,

I'll go into a bar and drink fifteen pints of beer!

Three Drunken Maidens

Verse 1:

There were three drunken maidens come down from the Isle of Wight,

They started to drink on Monday, never stopped ‘til Saturday night,

Well, Saturday night did come, me lads, but still they wouldn’t get out,

These three drunken maidens, they pushed the jug about!

Verse 2:

Then in come dancing Sally, her cheeks a rosy bloom,

“Shove o’er you jolly sisters and give young Sal some room,

For I will be your equal before the night is out,”

These three drunken maidens, they pushed the jug about!

Verse 3:

They had woodcock and pheasant, partridge and hare,

They had every sort of dainty, no scarcity was there,

They’d forty gallons of beer, me lads, but still they wouldn’t get out,

These three drunken maidens, they pushed the jug about!

Verse 4:

Then up comes the landlord, he’s looking for his pay,

Forty pounds for beer, me lads, these girls were forced to pay,

That’s ten pounds apiece, me lads, but still they wouldn’t get out,

These three drunken maidens, they pushed the jug about!

Verse 5:

Oh, where are your fancy hats and your mantles rich and fine,

They have all been swallowed up in tankards full of wine,

And where are your maidenheads, you maidens frisk and gay?

“We left them at the alehouse, we drank them clean away!

Three Jolly Coachmen

Verse 1:

Three jolly coachmen sat in an English tavern,

Three jolly coachmen sat in an English tavern,

And they decided,

And they decided, and they decided,

To have another flagon!

Chorus:

Landlord fill the flowing bowl until it doth run over,

Landlord fill the flowing bowl until it doth run over,

For tonight will merry I be,

For tonight will merry I be, for tonight will merry I be,

Tomorrow will be sober!

Verse 2:

Here's to the man who drinks water pure and goes to bed quite sober,

Here's to the man who drinks water pure and goes to bed quite sober,

He falls as the leaves do fall,

Falls as the leaves do fall, falls as the leaves do fall,

He'll die before October!

Verse 3:

Here's to the man who drinks good ale and goes to bed right mellow,

Here's to the man who drinks good ale and goes to bed right mellow,

He lives as he ought to live,

Lives as he ought to live, lives as he ought to live,

He'll die a jolly old fellow!

Verse 4:

Here's to the maid who steals a kiss and runs to tell her mother,

Here's to the maid who steals a kiss and runs to tell her mother,

She's a foolish, foolish thing,

She's a foolish, foolish thing, she's a foolish, foolish thing,

For she'll not get another!

Verse 5:

Here's to the maid who steals a kiss and stays to have another,

Here's to the maid who steals a kiss and stays to have another,

She's a boon to all mankind,

She's a boon to all mankind, she's a boon to all mankind,

For soon, she'll be a mother!

Three Lovely Lassies from Kimmage

1:

There were three lovely lasses from Kimmage, All: From Kimmage!

From Kimmage, All: From Kimmage!

From Kimmage, All: From Kimmage!

And whenever there’s a bit of a scrimmage,

Sure, I was the best of them all. All: Sure, I was the best of them all.

2:

Well the cause of the row is Joe Cashin, All: Joe Cashin!

Joe Cashin, All: Joe Cashin!

Joe Cashin, All: Joe Cashin!

For he told me he thought I looked smashin’,

At the dance at the Adelaide Hall. All: At the dance at the Adelaide Hall.

3:

He told me he thought we should marry, All: Should marry!

Should marry, All: Should marry!

Should marry, All: Should marry!

He said it was foolish to tarry,

So he lent me the price of a ring. All: So he lent me the price of a ring.

4:

When he gets a few jars, he goes frantic, All: Goes frantic!

Goes frantic, All: Goes frantic!

Goes frantic, All: Goes frantic!

But he’s tall and he’s dark and romantic,

And I love him in spite of it all, All: And I love him in spite of it all

5:

Well me Dad said he’d give us a present, All: A present!

A present, All: A present!

A present, All: A present!

A stool and a lovely stuffed pheasant,

And a picture to hang on the wall. All: And a picture to hang on the wall.

6:

I went down to the tenancy section, All: The section!

The section, All: The section!

The section, All: The section!

The T.D. just before the election,

Said he’d get me a house near me Ma. All: Said he’d get me a house near me Ma.

7:

Well I’m getting a house, the man said it, All: Man said it!

Man said it, All: Man said it!

Man said it, All: Man said it!

When I’ve five or six kids to me credit,

In the meantime, we’ll live with me Ma. All: In the meantime, we’ll live with me Ma.

The Torch

Verse 1:

Wash a-way all the lines on your face that show how you've aged,

It's a long way down your back's been broken, you can't make the rounds,

The tables are turned, as the litany goes,

You're a rotten old man who'll be covered in dirt,

On your knees and pray to the Maker that caused you to bleed.

Chorus:

Turn back the hand on the clock,

You're a bitter old man who's done nothing but work,

Your hands to the bone on the assembly lines,

You've grown cold to the touch of the ones that you love.

Ignorance is something you can't overcome,

But you've passed it on down and that's something much worse,

For a bitter, young man is now taking the torch,

For a bitter, young man is now taking the torch.

Verse 2:

Silent scorn you've taken it out on the ones you adore,

Inside rage they've left you before but they'll come back again,

They'll pray for you with all of their love,

But this time, your indifference just can't be excused,

Forced amends it's something that you'll die with, but it goes on for them.

Town I Loved So Well

Verse 1:

In my memory, I will always see,

The town that I have loved so well,

Where our school played ball by the gas-yard wall,

And we laughed through the smoke and the smell.

Going home in the rain, running up the dark lane,

Past the jail and down beside the fountain,

Those were happy days in so many, many ways,

In the town I loved so well.

Verse 2:

In the early morn, the shirt factory horn,

Called the women from Creggan, the Moor, and the Bog,

While the men on the dole played the mother’s role,

Fed the children and then trained the dog.

And when times got tough, there was just about enough,

But they saw it through without complaining,

For deep in-side, was a burning pride,

In the town I loved so well.

Verse 3:

There was music there in the Derry air,

Like a language that we all could understand,

I remember the day that I earned my first pay,

When I played in a small pickup band.

There I spent my youth and to tell you the truth,

I was sad to leave it all behind me,

For I’d learned about life and I found a wife,

In the town I loved so well.

Verse 4:

But when I re-turned, oh my eyes, how they burned,

To see how a town could be brought to it’s knees,

By the armoured cars and the bombed-out bars,

And the gas that hangs on to every breeze.

Now the army’s installed by the old gas-yard wall,

And the damned barbed wire gets higher and higher,

With their tanks and their guns, oh my God, what have they done?

To the town I love so well.

Verse 5:

Now the music’s gone, but they carry on,

For their spirit’s been bruised, never broken,

They will not forget, so their hearts are set,

On tomorrow and peace once again.

For what’s done is done, and what’s won is won,

And what’s lost, is lost and gone forever,

I can only pray for a bright, brand new day,

In the town I loved so well.

Waltzing with Bears

Verse 1:

My Uncle Walter’s not right in the head,

He’s been that way his whole life, my mother said,

It’s not that he’s violent or falls down the stairs,

It’s just; he goes waltzing, waltzing with bears!

Chorus:

He goes wa - wa - wa - wa - waltzing with bears, Try: Wa – wa-wa, Wa – wa-wa

Raggy bears, shaggy bears, baggy bears too,

There’s nothing on earth Uncle Walter won’t do,

So he can go waltzing, wa - wa - wa - waltzing,

So he can go waltzing, waltzing with bears!

Verse 2:

I went upstairs in the middle of the night,

I tiptoed in and I turned on the light,

And to my surprise, there was no one in sight,

My Uncle Walter goes waltzing at night!

Verse 3:

I gave Uncle Walter a new coat to wear,

When he came home, it was covered with hair,

And lately I’ve noticed several new tears,

I’m sure Uncle Walter goes waltzing with bears!

Verse 4:

We told Uncle Walter that he should be good,

And do all the things that we said he should,

But I know that he’d rather be out in the wood,

I’m afraid we might lose Uncle Walter for good!

Verse 5:

We begged and we pleaded, “Oh please won’t you stay?”

We managed to keep him at home for a day,

But the bears all barged in and they took him away!

Now he’s waltzing with pandas and he can’t understand us,

And the bears all demand at least one dance a day!

Water is Alright in Tay

Verse 1:

The French drink wine, the English tay, the Yankee gulps his hot, black coffee,

The child drinks milk nine times a day, the Scotsman sips his whiskey toddy.

You can keep your wine and keep your tay! My curse on him who gives me coffee!

I'll a porter, if I may, it makes me feel content and happy!

Chorus:

Porter quaffed down with a laugh, the gentry have their achin' livers,

Water is alright in tay, for fish and things that swim in rivers.

Verse 2:

The poor man and the beggar too, the poet in the corner thinking,

If they'd money enough to spend, it's pints of porter, they'd be drinking!

Verse 3:

The miser stores and hoards his gold, the bee collects the summer honey,

When that miser's dead and cold, someone else will kiss his money!

Verse 4:

Some go in for counting beads, more go in for chasing women,

The scholar stays at home and reads, give me the glass with porter in it!

Wearing O’ the Green

Verse 1:

Oh Paddy dear, and did you hear, the news that's going 'round?

The shamrock is for-bid by law, to grow on Irish ground,

St. Patrick's Day, no more we'll keep, his color can't be seen,

For there's a cruel law against the wearing o' the green.

And I met with Napper Tandy, and he took me by the hand,

And he said, "How's dear old Ireland, and how does she stand?"

She's the most distressful country that ever has been seen,

They're hanging man and woman there for wearing o' the green!

Verse 2:

And if the color we must wear, be England's cruel red,

Sure, Ireland's sons shall ne'er forget the blood that they have shed,

You can take the shamrock from me hat and cast it on the sod,

But 'twill take root and flourish there, though underfoot 'tis trod!

When the law can stop the blades of grass from growing as they grow,

And the barnyard leaves in summertime, their verdure, they dare not show,

Then I'll gladly change the color that I wear in my caubeen,

But 'til that day, please God, I'll stick, to wearing o' the green!

Whiskey in the Jar

Verse 1:

As I was goin' over the old Kilgarry Mountain,

I met with Captain Ferrell and his money, he was countin',

I first produced me pistol and then produced me rapier,

Sayin', "Stand and deliver for I am a bold deceiver!"

Chorus:

Mush-a-ring-um-a-doo-rum-a-da, (Clap x4)

Whack-fol-the-daddy-o, (Clap x2)

Whack-fol-the-daddy-o,

There's whiskey in the jar!

Verse 2:

I counted out his money and it paid a pretty penny,

I put it in me pocket and I took it home to Jenny,

She spoiled and she swore that she never would deceive me,

But the Devil take the women for they never can be easy!

Verse 3:

I went up to me chamber, all for to take a slumber,

I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure, it was no wonder,

That Jenny stole me charges and she filled them up with water,

And sent for Captain Ferrell to be ready for the slaughter!

Verse 4:

'Twas early in the morning, just before I rose to travel,

Up comes a band of footmen and likewise, Captain Ferrell,

I first produced me pistol for she stole away me rapier,

But I couldn'a shoot the water so a pris'ner, I was taken!

Verse 5:

Well, they took me to jail with neither judge nor writin',

For robbin' Captian Ferrell up on Kilgarry Mountain,

But they didn't take me fists, so I knocked the jailer down,

And bade a fond farewell to that jail in Sligo town!

Verse 6:

If anyone can aid me, 'tis me brother in the army,

If I can find his station in Cork or in Killarney,

And if he'll go with me, we'll go rovin' through Kilkenny,

And I'm sure he'll treat me better than me darlin', sportin' Jenny!

7:

Now there's some take delight in the ramblin' and the rovin',

And others take delight in the singin' and the howlin',

But me, I take delight in the juice of the barley,

And courtin' pretty fair maids in the mornin', bright and early!

Whiskey Row

Verse 1:

Well, I came to Chicago in eighteen-sixty-nine, and I took me a place in Connelly's patch,

Started on the railroad, working the U.P. Line and walking those endless miles of track,

Laying down those crossties and banging on the steel in the cold wind and rain,

From Palmer House, down to Marshall Fields, every day was just the same.

Chorus:

At the end of the day, we'd all wait for the horn to blow,

Then we'd make our way down to the bars on Whiskey Row.

Verse 2:

Over in the stockyards, the packers are winding down, they're all waiting for the closing sign,

They'll rush the front gates, they'll storm the town, and they'll take their seats upon the line,

With their glasses on the counter, their feet up on the rail, a friendly smile and hel-lo,

All the laughing getting louder with every passing tale, those golden days on Whiskey Row.

Verse 3:

Now Palmer House has fallen, the cars are off the tracks, and there ain't no more of Courthouse Square,

Nothing is left standing o'er in Connelly's Patch, since that mighty fire tore through there,

Oh, but someday soon, she'll rise up to the sky, o'er rivers, flames, and smoke,

And she'll keep a lookout with a mother's eye, o'er her boys on Whiskey Row.

Whiskey You’re the Devil

Intro:

Oh whiskey, you’re the devil, you’re leading me a-stray,

O’er hills and mountains and to Americay,

You’re sweeter, stronger, decenter, you’re spunkier than tay,

Oh, but whiskey, you’re me darlin’, drunk or sober.

Verse 1:

And now brave boys, it’s run for march, and not to Portugal or Spain,

The drums are beating, banners flying, the devil a’home, we’ll find tonight!

Chorus:

Love, fare thee well, with me tith-er-I-a-doodle-um-a-da,

Me tith-er-I-a-doodle-um-a-da,

Me right-fol-tour-a-laddie-o, there’s whiskey in the jar!

Oh whiskey, you’re the devil, you’re leading me astray,

O’er hills and mountains and to Americay,

You’re sweeter, stronger, decenter, you’re spunkier than tay,

Oh, but whiskey, you’re me darlin’, drunk or sober.

Verse 2:

We’ll, the French are fighting boldly, men are dyin’ hot and coldly,

Give ev’ry man his flask of powder, his firelock on his shoulder.

Verse 3:

Says the mother, “Do not wrong me, don’t take me daughter from me,

For if you do, I shall torment you and after death, me ghost’ll haunt you.”

Finish:

Oh whiskey, you’re the devil, you’re leading me a-stray,

O’er hills and mountains and to Americay,

You’re sweeter, stronger, decenter, you’re spunkier than tay,

Oh, but whiskey, you’re me darlin’, drunk or sober.

Whistling Gypsy Davy

Verse 1:

The whistling gypsy came over the hill, down to the valley so shady,

He whistled and he sang 'til the green wood rang, he stole the heart of a lady.

Chorus 1:

Ah de do, ah de do da day, ah de do ah de day dee,

He whistled and he sang 'til the green wood rang, he stole the heart of a lady.

Verse 2:

The lord re-turned late at night, asking for his lady,

The servants said, "She's out the door! She's gone with the Gypsy Davy."

Chorus 2:

Ah de do, ah de do da day, ah de do ah de day dee,

The servants said, "She's out the door! She's gone with the Gypsy Davy."

Verse 3:

Well, he sought her up and he sought her down, through the wood and valley so shady,

He sought her down by the water-side, and there, he found his lady.

Chorus 3:

Ah de do, ah de do da day, ah de do ah de day dee,

He sought her down by the water-side, and there, he found his lady.

Verse 4:

What made you leave your house and home? What made you leave you baby?

What made you leave your own wedded lord, to go with the Gypsy Davy?

Chorus 4:

Ah de do, ah de do da day, ah de do ah de day dee,

What made you leave your own wedded lord, to go with the Gypsy Davy?

Verse 5:

I never loved my house and home. I never loved my baby.

I never loved my own wedded lord, as I love the Gypsy Davy.

Chorus 5:

Ah de do, ah de do da day, ah de do ah de day dee,

I never loved my own wedded lord, as I love the Gypsy Davy.

Wild Colonial Boy

Verse 1:

There was a wild colonial boy, Jack Dougan was his name,

He was born and raised in Ireland in a place called Castlemaine,

He was his father's only son, his mother's pride and joy,

And dearly did his parents love their wild colonial boy.

Verse 2:

At the early age of sixteen years, he left his native home,

And to Australia's sunny land, he was inclined to come,

He robbed the rich, he helped the poor, he stabbed James MacEvoy,

A terror to Australia was the wild colonial boy.

Verse 3:

One morning on the prairie, Jack Dougan rode a-long,

While listening to the mockingbird singing a cheerful song,

Out jumped three troopers, fierce and grim; Kelly, Davis, and Fitzroy,

They all set out to capture him, the wild colonial boy.

Verse 4:

"Surrender now, Jack Dougan, come, see there's three to one,

Surrender in the Queen's good name, you are a plundering son!"

Jack drew two pistols from his side and glared upon Fitzroy,

"I'll fight and not surrender!" cried the wild colonial boy.

Verse 5:

He fired a shot at Kelly which brought him to the ground,

He fired point blank at Davis, too, who fell dead at the sound,

But a bullet pierced his brave young heart from the pistol of Fitzroy,

And that was how they captured him, the wild colonial boy.

Wild Rover

Verse 1:

I've been a wild rover for many's a year, and I spent all me money on whiskey and beer,

And now, I'm returning with gold in great store, and I never will play the wild rover no more!

Chorus:

And it's no, nay, never! Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap

No, nay, never, no more! Clap, Clap

Will I play the wild rover? Clap

No, never, no more!

Verse 2:

I went down to an alehouse, I used to frequent, and I told the land lady, me money was spent.

I asked her for credit, she answered me, "Nay! Such a custom like yours, I could have any day!"

Verse 3:

So out of me pocket, I pulled soveriegns bright, and the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight!

She said, "I have whiskeys and ales of the best, and I'll take you upstairs and I'll show you the rest!"

Verse 4:

I'll go home to me parents, confess what I've done, and I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son,

And when* they forgive me, as oft times be-fore, then I never will play the wild rover no more!

Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go

Verse 1:

Oh, the summer-time is coming,

And the trees are sweetly blooming,

And the wild mountain thyme,

Grows around the blooming heather.

Will ye go, lassie, go?

Chorus:

And we’ll all go together,

To pluck wild mountain thyme,

All a-round the blooming heather,

Will ye go, lassie, go?

Verse 2:

I will build my love a bower,

Near yon crystal, flowing fountain,

And on it, I will shower,

All the flowers on the mountain.

Will ye go, lassie, go?

Verse 3:

If my true love, she were gone,

I would surely find no other,

Where the wild mountain thyme,

Grows around the blooming heather.

Will ye go, lassie, go?

Work O’ the Weavers

Verse 1:

We're all met together here to sit and to crack,

Wi' our glasses in our hands and our work upon our back,

There's nae a trade among 'em that can mend or can mack,

If it wadna for the work o' the weavers.

Chorus:

If it wadna for the weavers, what would ye do?

Ye wadna hae the clothes that's made o' wool,

Ye wadna hae the coat o' the black nor the blue,

If it wadna for the work o, the weavers.

Verse 2:

There's soldiers and there's sailors and glaziers and all,

There's doctors and there's ministers and them that live by law,

And our friends in Sooth Americay, though them we never saw,

But we ken they wear the work o' the weavers.

Verse 3:

Oh, weavin' is a trade that can never fail,

As long as we need clothes for ta' keep another hael,

So let us all be merry o'er a bicker o' good ale,

And we'll all drink ta' the health o' the wea - vers.

Worst Day Since Yesterday

Verse 1:

Well, I know I miss more than hit, with a face that was launched to sink,

And I seldom feel that bright re-lease, (All) it's been the worst day since yesterday.

Verse 2:

If there's one thing I have said, is that the dreams I once had now lay in bed,

As the four winds blow my wits through the door, (All) it's been the worst day since yesterday.

Chorus 1:

Fallin' down to you, sweet ground,

Where the flowers, they bloom, well, it's there, I'll be found,

Hurry back to me, my wild colleen, it's been the worst day since yesterday.

Verse 3:

Though these wounds have seen no wars, except for the scars I have ignored,

And this endless crutch, well it's never enough, it's been the worst day since yesterday.

Chorus 2:

Hell says, "Hello;" Well, it's time I should go,

To pastures, green, that I've yet to see,

Hurry back to me, my wild colleen, it's been the worst day since yesterday.