The Limerick Rake

Traditional


I am a young fellow that's easy and bold,
In Castletown Corners I'm very well known,
And in Newcastle West I spent many an oat
With Kitty, and Judy, and Maire.
Me Father rebuked me for being such a rake, 
And spending me time in such frolicsome ways,
But I ne'er could forget the good nature of Jane,
Agus fagfamíd siúd mar atá sé

Me parents had reared me to shake and to mow
To plow and to harrow, to reap and to sow,
But me heart being tooairy it drop it so 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,
But in muliplication in truth I was bright
Agus fagfamíd siúd mar atá sé

If I chance for to go to the market at Croome, 
With a cock in me hat and me pipes in full tune,
I'm made welcome at once and sent up to a room,
Where Bacchus is sporting with Venus.
There's Kitty and Jane from the town of Brooree
And Biddy from Bruff and we all on the spree,
Such a combing of locks as there was about me,
Agus fagfamíd siúd mar atá sé

If I chance for to go to the town of Rathkeale,
The girls all around me do flock on the square,
Some offer me apples, and others sweet cake,
And they treats me unknown to their parents
There's one from Askeaton and one from the pike, 
And another from Ardagh me heart has beguiled
Although being from the mountains her stockings are white,
And I'd love to be tightening her garters

Now to toil fer 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 be twistin' her horns.
John Damor of Shrodel had plenty of gold,
And Devonshire's treasure is twenty times more,
But he's laid on his back in the nettles and stones,
Agus fagfamíd siúd mar atá sé

There's some says I'm foolish, there's some 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 widely regarded
I'll till a good garden and work at me ease,
And each woman and child can partake of the same.
If there's war in the cabin themselves they can blame,
Agus fagfamíd siúd mar atá sé

And now for the future I think I'll get wise
I'll go marry all those women who acted so kind
Sure I'll marry them all, or the morrow, bye and bye,
When the clergy agree to the bargain
And when I am dead and me soul is at rest,
All these women and children can keen at me wake.
Sure they'll all gather round and offer a prayer, 
To the Lord for the soul of their father.