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I am a young fellow that’s aisy and bold,
In Castletown Conners I’m very well known,
In Newcastle West I spent many a night
With Kitty and Judy and Mary.
My father rebuked me for being such a rake,
And spending my time in such frolicsome ways,
But I ne’er shall forget the good nature of Jane,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.
My parents had reared me to shake and to mow,
To plough and to harrow, to reap and to sow,
But my heart being too airy to drop it so low
I set out on a high speculation.
On paper and parchment they taught me to write,
In Euclid and grammar they opened my eyes,
And in multiplication in truth I was bright,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.
If I chance for to go to the town of Rathkeale,
The girls all around me do flock on the square,
Some buy me a bottle and others sweet cakes
To treat me unknownst to their parents.
There is one from Askeaton and one from the Pike,
Another from Ardagh my heart has beguiled,
Though being from the mountains her stockings are white,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.
To quarrel for riches I ne’er was inclined
For the greatest of misers must leave them behind.
I’ll purchase a cow that will never run dry
And I’ll milk her by twisting her horn.
John Damer of Shronel had plenty of gold,
And Devonshire’s treasure is twenty times more,
But they’re stretched on their backs among nettles and stones,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.
This cow can be milked without clover or grass
For she’s pampered with corn, good barley and hops,
She’s warm and stout, and she’s free in her paps,
And she’ll milk without spancel or halter,
The man that will drink it will cock his caubeen,
And if anyone cough there’ll be wigs on the green,
And the feeble old hag will get supple and free,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.
If I chance for to go to the market of Croom
With a cock in my hat and my pipes in full tune,
I’m made welcome at once and brought up to a room
Where Bacchus is sporting with Venus.
There’s Peggy and Jane from the town of Bruree
And Biddy from Bruff and we all on a spree,
Such a combing of locks as there was about me,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.
There’s some say I’m foolish and more say I’m wise,
But being fond of the women I deem it no crime,
For the son of King David had ten thousand wives
And his wisdom was highly regarded.
I’ll till a good garden and live at my ease,
And each woman and child can partake of the same,
If there’s war in the cabin themselves they can blame,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.
And now for the future I mean to be wise,
And I’ll send for the women that acted so kind,
And I’ll marry them all on the morrow by and by
If the clergy agree to the bargain.
And when I’m on my back and my soul is at peace
All the women will crowd for to cry at my wake,
And their sons and their daughters will offer their prayers
To the Lord for the soul of their father.
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