This page is part of an Irish Genealogy web site called From Ireland © Jane Lyons, Dublin

Paddy at the Theatre
Author unknown

From the county of Monaghan lately I came,
I’m a tinker by trade, Laeey Dooly’s my name;
My cousin Tim Murphy, I met yesterday,
Says he, Mr. Dooly’ll come out to play?
Derry down down down, Derry down.

Is it the play that you mean? Are you sure that you’re right?
Tey’re treating the town to Pizzaro tonight:
But the treat as he called it, and the one that I mean,
Bad luck to his treat, it cost me all my tin.
Derry down down down, Derry down.

Well, the green curtain drew up, and a lady I spied,
When a man came to kiss her, she scornfully cried:
Get out you big blackguard, I’ll bother your jig!
When in comes Pizzaro, with a grunt like a pig.
Derry down down down, Derry down.

In the days of ould Goury, a long time ago,
The Spaniards claimed war ‘gainst Peru, you know;
They damned its cash, its jewels and keys,
Whena boy they called Rowler says: No, if you please.
Derry down down down, Derry down.

Then Rowler came in, like a day-star appeared,
He made a long speech and the sojers all cheered;
Says he, Beat well the Spaniards, and do the neat thing,
And then boys, stand up for your country and king.
Derry down down down, Derry down.

Then Mr. Murphy Alonzo somehow went to jail,
He got out by a back door without giving bail!
While Rowler was jumping o’er bridges and greens,
He was shot by some blackguard behind the big screens.
Derry down down down, Derry down.

Then Rowler came forward, and with him a child,
Looking all for the world like a man that was wild:
Here’s your gossoon, dear Cora, it’s my own blood that’s spilt
In defence of your child, blood an’ ounds, I’m kilt!
Derry down down down, Derry down.

The Alonzo and Pizzaro had a terrible fight,
Pizzaro got killed, that seemed perfectly right;
For the audience came down with a shower of applause,
They were all enlisted in the Peruvian’s cause.
Derry down down down, Derry down.

Then Alonzo came forward and handsomely bowed,
Saying : Ladies and gentlemen, meaning the crowd,
By your kind permission, to-morrow, then,
We’ll murder Pizzaro over again.
Derry down down down, Derry down.

Home - Ballads - Ballads first line index - Monaghan

URL http://www.from-ireland.net

©Jane Lyons November 2003

From Ireland ©Jane Lyons April 2001-February 2003