The Limerick Rake

I am a young fellow that’s easy and bold
In Castleconnors I’m very well known,
In Newcastlewest I spent many an note
With Kitty and Judy and Mary
My father rebuked me for being such a rake
And spending my time in such frolicksome ways,
But I’ll never forget the good nature of Jane
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé.


My parents they reared me to shake and to mow,
To plough and to harrow to rep and to sow
but my heart being to airy to drop it so low
I set out upon 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 fágaimid siúd mar atá sé.

If I chance for to go to the town of Adare
The girls all round me do flock on the square
Some give me a bottle and others sweet cakes
To treat me unknown to their parents.
There is one from Askeaton and one from the Pike
And another from Ardagh my heart has beguiled
Though’ being from the mountains her stockings are white
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé.

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

This cow she will milk without clover or grass
For she’s pampered with corn, good barley and hops
She’s warm and stout and she’s free in her paps
And she’ll milk without spancel or halter.
The man that will drink it will cock his caubeen
And if any one cough there’ll be wigs on the green
And the feeble old hag will get supple and free.
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé.

If I chance for to go to the market of Croom
With a tilt in my hat and my pipes in good tune,
I am welcome at once and brought up to a room
Where Bacchus is sporting with Venus
There’s Peggy and Jane from the town of Bruree
And Biddy from Bruff and we all on a spree
Such a combing of lock as there is about me
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé.

There’s some says I’m foolish and there’s some says 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 till 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 can blame
Agus fágaimid siúd mar atá sé.

And now for the future I mean to be wise
And I’ll send for those women that acted so kind
And I’ll marry them all on the morrow bye and bye
If the clergy agree to the bargain.
And when I’m on my back and my soul is at peace
These women will gather to cry at my wake
And their sons and their daughters will offer their prayers
To the Lord for the soul of their father.