I am a young fellow that's easy and bold
In Castletown Connors I'm very well known
In Newcastle West I spent many a note
With Kitty and Judy and Mary
Me parents rebuked me for being such a rake
And for spending me time in such frolicsome ways
I ne'er could forget the good nature of Jane
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé
My parents had reared me to shake and to mow
To plough and to harrow, to reap and to sow
Me heart being too airy to drop it too low
I set out on a high speculation
On paper and parchment they taught me to write
And in Euclid and grammar they opened my eyes
And in multiplication in truth I was bright
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé
If you chance for to go to the town of Rathkeal
The girls all around me do flock on the square
Now some offer me apples and others sweet cakes
And they treat me unknown to their parents
There's one from Askeaton and one from the Pike
And another from Ardagh, my heart has beguiled
Tho' being from the mountains
Her stockings are white
And I'd love to be tightening her gathers
Now the quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined
For the greatest of misers that must leave all behind
But I'll purchase a cow that'll never run dry
And I'll milk her by twisting her horn
John Damer of Shronel had plenty of gold
And Lord Devonshire's treasures
Are twenty times more
But we should be laid on our backs
Amidst nettles and stones
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé
The old cow could be milked without clover or grass
She's pampered on barley, sweet corn and the hops
She'll be warm and she'll be stout
She'd be free in her pap's
And she'd milk without spancel or halter
And the man that would drink it he'd cock his caubeen
And if anyone laughs we'll have wigs on the green
And the feeble old hag she'd get supple and free
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé
Now there's some say I'm foolish
And there are some say I'm wise
To be fond of the women I think is no crime
Sure the Son of King David had ten hundred wives
And his wisdom was highly regarded
I'll till a good garden and work at me ease
And each woman and child could partake of the same
If there'd be a war in the cabin
Themselves they could blame
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé
But now for the fortune I think I'll get wise
And I'll marry all those women who acted so kind
And I'll marry them all on the morrow by and by
If the clergy'd agree to the bargain
And then when I'll be old and me soul be at rest
All those children and wives
They could keen at me wake
And they'd all gather round
And they'd offer their prayers
To the Lord for the soul of their father