Mrs. McGrath

"Oh, Mrs. McGrath," the sergeant said

"Would you like to make a soldier out of your son Ted

With a scarlett coat, a big cocked hat

Mrs. McGrath, wouldn't you like that?"

Now, Mrs. McGrath lived on the sea shore

For the space of seven years or more

Till she saw abig ship sailing in the bay

"Here’s my son Ted, will you clear the way!"

"Oh captain dear, where have you been

Have you been to the Mediterranean

Will you tell me nth news of my son Ted

Is the poor boy living or is he dead?"

Up came Ted without any legs

And in their place, two wooden pegs

She kissed him a dozen times or two

And said "My god, Ted is it you ?"

"Now were you drunk or were you blind

When you left your two fine legs behind

Or was it while walking upon the sea

Wore your two fine legs from the knees away?"

"No, I wasn't drunk and I wasn't blind

When I left my two fine legs behind

But a cannon ball on the fifth of May,

Tore my two fine legs and my knees away"

"My Teddyboy," the widow cried

"Your two fine legs were your mother’s pride

That stumps of a tree wouldn’t do at all

Why didn't you run from the cannon ball?"

"All foreign wars I do proclaim

Between Don John and the King of Spain,

I’d rather have my son as he used to be

Than the King of France and his whole navy"