Limerick Rake

Limerick Rake

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 Judy and Mary
My parents rebuked me for being such a rake
And spending my time in such frolicsome ways
But I ne'er could forget the good nature of Jane
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

My parents had reared me to shake and to mow
To plough and to harrow, to reap and to sow
Me heart being too airy to drop it so low
I set out on high speculation
On paper and parchment they taught me to write
In Euclid and Grammar they opened my eyes
And in Multiplication in truth I was bright
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

If I chance for to go to the town of Rathkeale
The girls all round me do flock on the square
Some offer me apple and others sweet cakes
And treats me unknown to their parents
There is one from Askeaton and one from the Pike
Another from Arda, my heart was beguiled
Tho' being from the mountains her stockings are white
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

To quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined
For the greatest of misers must leave them behind
But I'll purchase 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 Lord Devonshire's treasure is twenty times more
But he's laid on his back among nettles and stones
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

This old cow can be milked without clover or grass
For she's pampered with corn, sweet corn and hops
She'll be warm, she'll be stout, she'll be free in her paps
And she'll milk without spancil or halter
The man that will drink it will cock his caubeen
And if anyone laughs there'll be wigs on the green
And the feeble old hag will get supple and free
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

There's some say I'm foolish and more 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 highly recorded
I'll take a good garden and live at my ease
And each woman and child can partake of the same
If there's war in the cabin, themselves they could blame
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

But now for the future I think I'll get wise
And I'll marry all those women who acted so kind
Aye I'll marry them all on the morrow by and by
If the clergy agreed to the bargain
And when I'll be old and my soul be at rest
All those children and wives they could cry at my wake
And they all gather round and they offers their prayers
To the Lord for the soul of their father