Irish traditional song lyrics — collected by Beer Belly Band.
The Policeman walked out, oh, so proud on his beat,
When a vision came to him of stripes on his sleeve
Promotion he whispered, I’ll try for today;
So come with me, Mister Ri-Tooral-i-ay.
Come tell me your name, says the limb of the law.
To the little fat man selling wares on the straw.
What’s that sir, me name sir? Why ’tis there on display,
And it’s Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ay.
Now the trial came on and lasted a week.
One Judge said ’twas German; another ’twas Greek.
Prove your Irish said the policeman and beyond it say nay;
And we’ll sit on it, Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ay.
Now, the prisoner stepped up there as stiff as a crutch.
Are you Irish or English or German or Dutch?
I’m a Jew sir; I’m a Jew sir, that came over to stay,
And my name it is Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ay.
Were two of a kind said the judge to the Jew;
You’re a cousin of Brisco and I am one too.
This numskull has blundered and for it will pay.
Wisha that’s right, says Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ay.
There’s a garbage collector who works down our street
He once was a policeman, the pride of his beat.
And he moans all the night and he groans all the day,
Singing, Moses Ri-Tooral-i-ooral-i-ay.