The Rake

I am a young fellow from the County Tyrone

In the town of Strabane sure I’m very well known

For down to the ale house I’m frequently going

With Kitty and Judy and Mary

Me father rebuked me for being such a rake

And for spending me money on whiskey and cakes

But the lassies are sweet and it’s all for their sakes

And it keeps me light-hearted and airy

I’ll eat when I’m hungry I’ll drink when I’m dry

I will court all the lassies or at least I will try

And I’ll never conform till the day that I die

Aous fagaimid suid mar atá sé

If I chance for to wander on down to the fair

The lassies all around me do flock on the square

I pull out me fiddle and I play an ould aire

And soon we’re all off on the spree

There’s Peggy and Jane from the banks of Lough Neagh

There’s Kitty and Molly down Dungannon way

And there’s another one from Cookstown who makes me head sway

Such a fuss they all make over me

I’ll eat when I’m hungry I’ll drink when I’m dry

I will court all the lassies or at least I will try

And I’ll never conform till the day that I die

Aous fagaimid suid mar atá sé

To quarrel for riches I ne’er was inclined

For the greatest of misers must leave them behind

So me money I spend with no thought in me mind

But to kick up our heels and carouse

For the rich never spend any gold of their own

They hoarded away like a dog and its bone

But they end on their backs among nettles and stones

And I hear there’s no pockets in shrouds

I’ll eat when I’m hungry I’ll drink when I’m dry

I will court all the lassies or at least I will try

And I’ll never conform till the day that I die

Aous fagaimid suid mar atá sé

Now some say I’m foolish and some say I’m wise

For loving the women and the whiskey likewise

But the son of King David had ten hundred wives

And his wisdom was highly regarded

So I’ll call for the lassies and ask them to wed

And we’ll all be content in the one marriage bed