The Limerick Rake

 
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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 Ginnie and Molly.

My father rebuked me for being such a rake
For spending my time in such frolicsome ways,
But I ne'er could forget the good nature of Jane,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

Me parents, they reared me to shake and to sow,
To plough and to harrow, to reap and to mow;
But my heart was too airy to drop it so low,
I set out on a high speculation.

On paper and parchment they made me to write
And in Euclid and grammar they opened my eyes,
But in multiplication, in truth, I was bright,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

Both Poetry and Logic they taught me so Right
But my heart, it was stolen by a pair of brown thighs
That came from the mountains, her stockings are white,
I'd love to be tied to her garter.
                                
Ever Chance for to go to the town of Rathkeale                               
the maids all around me do flock on the square    
Some offer me poteen and others sweet cakes
And treats me unknown to thier parents 
  
Theres one from Askeaton and one of the Pike 
an another from Arda, me heart sas beguiled 
now being from the mountains they're stockings are White 
and I'd like to tightening here garters
                               
                                
To quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined,
For the greatest of misers must leave them behind;
I'll buy me 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 was twenty times more,
But he's laid on his back among nettles and stones,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

If I chance for to go to the market at Croom,
With a cock in my hat 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 spree,
Such a combing of locks as there was about me,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

There's some say I'm foolish, there's more say I'm wise,
For love of the women I'm sure 'tis no crime;
For the son of King David had ten hundred wives
And his wisdom is highly regarded. 

I'll till a good garden and live at my ease
And the women and children can partake of the same,
If there's war in the cabin, themselves are to 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 treated me kind;
And I'll marry them all on the morrow, by and by
If the clergy agree to the bargain.

And when I am dead and my soul is at peace
The women will crowd and keen at my wake,
And their sons and their daughters will utter their prayers
To the Lord for the soul of their father

Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.