Lyrics The Dubliners

The Dubliners

O'Connell's Steam Engine

Oh people of heart, I pray pay attention

Listen to what I'm about to relate

Concerning a couple I overheard talking

As I was returning late home from a wake

As I rode along sure I saw an old woman

Who's sat in a gap, she was milking her cows

She was jigging that tune called:

"Make haste to the wedding"

Or some other ditty I can't tell you now

Ah, the next came along, it was a bold tinker

Who happened by change to be passing that way

The day being fine they sat down together

What news of that mam, the old woman did say

There's no news at all man, replied the bold tinker

But the people all wish that he never had bin

He's a dammed of a rogue of a Daniel O'Connell

And he's now making babies in Dublin by steam

Ah, the children are ruined replied the old woman

Or has the quare fellow gone crazy at last

Or is it the sign of a war or rebellion

Or what is the reason he wants them so fast

It's not that at all, mam, replied the bold tinker

The children of Ireland are getting too small

It's O'Connell's petition to the new Lord Lieutenant

That he won't let us make them the old way at all

By this pipe in me mouth, replied the old woman

And that's a strong oath on me soul for to say

But I am an old woman and if I was near him

I bet you me life that he'd rue the day

For the people of Ireland they're very well known

They gave them their earnings when needed them bad

And now that he is recompensing them for it

By taking the only diversion they have

I light to your coach mam replied the bold tinker

Long may you live now with youth on your side

If all the young girls in Ireland were like you

O'Connell could throw his steam-engine aside

If I had the young men of Ireland around me

And girls making babies as fast as they can

And whenever Her Majesty wanted an army

We'd be able to send her as many as Dan