Limerick Rake

I am a young fellow that's easy and bold

In Castletown conners I'm very well known

In Newcastle West I spent many a note

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 could forget the good nature of Jane

Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

My parents had reared me to shake and to mow

To plough and to harrow, to reap and to sow

But my heart being airy to drop it so low

I set out on 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 fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

If I chance for to go to the town of Rathkeale

The girls all round me do flock on the square

Some give me a bottle and others sweet cakes

To treat me unknown to their parents

There is one from Askeaton and one from the Pike

Another from Arda, my heart was beguiled

Tho' being from the mountains her stockings are white

Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

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 he's laid on his back among nettles and stones

Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

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 spancil or halter

The man that will drink it will cock his caubeen

And if anyone coughs there'll be wigs on the green

And the feeble old hag will get supple and free

Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

If I chance for to go to the market at Croom

With a cock in my hand and my pipes in full tune

I am 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 the spraoí

Such a combing of locks as there was about me

Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

There's some say I'm foolish and more say I'm wise

But being fond of the women I think is no crime

For the son of King David had ten hundred wives

And his wisdom was highly recorded

I'll take 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 may blame

Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

And now for the future I mean to be wise

And I'll send for the women that acted so king

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

These women will crowd for to cry at my wake

And their sons and their daughters will offer their prayer

To the Lord for the soul of their father