The 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’r could forget the good nature of Jane
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se

My parents, they reared me to shake and to sow
To plough and to harrow, to reap and to mow
But my heart was too airy to drop it so low
I set out on a high speculation
On paper and parchment they taught me to write
And in Euclid and grammar they opened my eyes
But in multiplication, in truth, I was bright
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se

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 fagaimid siud mar ata se

If I chance for to go to the market at Croom
With a cock in my hat and my pipes in full 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 the spree
Such a combing of locks as there was about me
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se

There’s some say I’m foolish, there’s more say I’m wise
For love of the women I’m sure ’tis no crime
For the son of King David had ten hundred wives
And his wisdom is highly recorded
I’ll till a good garden and live at my ease
And the women and children can partake of the same
If there’s war in the cabin, themselves are to blame
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se

And now for the future I mean to be wise
And I’ll send for the women that treated me kind
And I’ll marry them all on the morrow, by and by
If the clergy agree to the bargain
And when I’m on my back and my soul is at peace
The women will crowd for to cry at my wake
And their sons and their daughters will utter their prayers
To the Lord for the soul of their father