Irish traditional song lyrics — collected by Beer Belly Band.
Come all ye loyal heroes and listen on to me.
Don’t hire with any farmer till you know what your work will be
You will rise up early in the morning from the clear day light till the dawn
and you never will be able for to plough the Rocks of Bawn.
My shoes they are worn and my stockings they are thin
My heart is always trembling now for fear they might give in
My heart is always trembling now from clear daylight till the dawn
And I never will be able for to plough the Rocks of Bawn.
Rise up, gallant Sweeney, and get your horses hay
And give them a good feed of oats before they start away
Don’t feed them on soft turnip sprigs that grow on your green lawn
Or they never will be able for to plough the Rocks of Bawn.
My curse upon you, Sweeney boy, you have me nearly robbed
You’re sitting by the fireside now, your feet upon the hob
You’re sitting by the fireside now, from clear daylight till dawn
And you never will be able for to plough the Rocks of Bawn
I wish the Sergeant-Major would send for me in time
And place me in some regiment all in my youth and prime
I’d fight for Ireland’s glory now, from the clear daylight till dawn
Before I would return again to plough the Rocks of Bawn.
Return to the song lyrics index.
The Roads Of Kildare
Johnny was born in a mansion, somewhere in the County of Clare
Rosie was reared by the roadside, somewhere in County Kildare
Destiny brought them together, on the road to Killorglin one day
In her bright pretty shawl she was singing,
And she stole his young heart away
And she said…..
Chorus
Meet me tonight at the camp-fire, come with me over the hill
Let us be married to-morrow, please let me whisper I will
What if the neighbours are talking
Who cares if your friends stop and stare
You’ll be proud to be married to Rosie
Who was reared on the road to Kildare
Think of the parents that reared you, think of the family name
How could you marry a Gypsy? Oh what a terrible shame
Parents and friends stop your pleading, don’t worry about my affair
For I’ve fallen in love with a Gypsy
Who was reared on the road to Kildare
And she said….
Chorus
Johnny came down from his mansion
Just as the sun was going down
Turning his back on his kin-folk, likewise on his own native town
Facing the roads of old Ireland, with the gypsy he loved so sincere
As he came to the light of the camp-fire
These are the words he could hear
And she said….
Chorus