Låttexter
Ye lovers of mirth, I pray pay attention
And 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 roved along I met an old woman
Who sat 'neath a gap just a-milking her cow
She was jigging a tune called Come Haste To The Wedding
Or some other ditty, I can't tell you now
On looking around me I spied an old tinker
Who only by chance came a-strolling the same way
The weather being fine, sure he sat down beside her
"What news, honest man?" this old woman did say
"That's no news at all, ma'am," replied the bold tinker
"But the people will wish that he never had been
It's that damnable rogue of a Daniel O'Connell
He's now making children in Dublin be seen"
"Are it children, a-ro?" then replied the old woman
"Or honum and jowl, is he crazy at last?
Is there sign of a war or a sudden rebellion
Or what is the reason he wants them so fast?"
"It's not that at all, ma'am," replied the bold tinker
"But the children of Ireland are getting so small
It's O'Connell's petition to the new Lord Lieutenant
To not let us make them the old way at all"
"By this pipe in me mouth then," replied the old woman
"And that's a great oath on me soul for to say
I'm only a woman but if I was near him
I'd bet you me life it's little he'd say
For the people of Ireland 'tis very well known
They gave him their earnings though needing it bad
And now he is well recompensing them for it
By taking what little devotion they had"
"Long life to your courage," replied the bold tinker
"And long may you live and have youth on your side
And if all the young girls in Ireland were like you
O'Connell could throw his steam engine one side"
"I think every girl that is in this old country
Should begin making children as fast as they can
So if ever Her Majesty asks for an army
We'll be able to send her as many as Dan"
