The Oul’ Bog Hole

Trad

The pig is in the mire, and the cow is on the grass
And a man without a woman is no better than an ass
My mother likes her ducks, and the ducks like the drake
And sweet Judy Flannigan I’d die for her sake
My Judy she’s as fair as the flower on the lea
She’s neat and complete from the neck to the knee
We met ‘tother night our hearts to condole
And I sate Judy down by the Oul’ Bog hole

Singing cushla mavourneen, will you marry me
Arrah cushla mavourneen, will you marry me
Arrah cushla mavourneen, will you marry me
Would you fancy the bouncing young Barney Magee

Then Judy she blushed and hung down her head
Saying Barney you blackguard I’d like to get wed
But they say you’re so rough, and you are such a rake
Don’t believe it says I, for its all a mistake
To keep you genteel I’ll work at my trade
I’ll handle the shovel the hook and the spade
The turf to procure which is better than coal
And I’ll work to my knees in the Oul’ Bog Hole

Singing cushla mavourneen, will you marry me
Arrah cushla mavourneen, will you marry me
Arrah cushla mavourneen, will you marry me
Would you fancy the bouncing young Barney Magee

Arrah, give me your hand, and consent just at once
Sure It’s not every day you will get such a chance
When the priest makes us one, how happy I’ll be
With the beautiful, dutiful, Mrs Magee
Tho’ the meal should be scarce we’ll have praties enough
And if you think long for more delicate stuff
I’ll take out the ould rod which my grandfather stole
And I’ll go out a fishing in the Oul’ Bog Hole

Singing cushla mavourneen, will you marry me
Arrah cushla mavourneen, will you marry me
Arrah cushla mavourneen, will you marry me
Would you fancy the bouncing young Barney Magee

Fine children we’ll have, for we must mind that,
They’ll be Darby, and Barney, and Dennis, and Pat
They’ll be Judy so meek, and Mary so bluff
O stop! stop! she cried, have you not got enough?
I have not says I, sure I’ll not be content
Till you bring home as many as there’s days in the Lent
How the neighbours will stare when we go for a stroll
When we all promenade sound the Cul’ Bog Hole

Singing cushla mavourneen, will you marry me
Arrah cushla mavourneen, will you marry me
Arrah cushla mavourneen, will you marry me
Would you fancy the bouncing young Barney Magee

By the hoky ! says she, I can scarcely refuse
For Barney the blarney you know how to use
You’ve bothered my heart with the picture you’ve drawn
If I thought I could trust you the job might be done
Holy Murther ! says I, do you doubt what I say?
If I thought twould convince you I’d swear half a day
O no, she replied, its of no use at all
Then she whispered consent by the the Oul’ Bog Hole

Then give me a kiss, my joy and delight
Be easy, you blackguard, until it’s all right
Sure, after we’re wed we may kiss and condole
And fish for the eels in the Oul’ Bog Hole

This is a broadside ballad probably published somewhere between 1850 and 1870. The air is Old Zipcoon.

The National Library of Scotland writes:
… ‘Old Zipcoon’ or ‘Old Zip Coon’ seems to have been a name which was used for any tune to which an ‘Old Zip Coon’ quadrille could be danced. As a result of its generic name, tunes which fitted this timing were probably quite widely and well known. The chorus to this song uses the phrase ‘Arrah cushla’, which was a popular tag line amongst broadsides. This would have made it easier to remember the song and shows how many ideas were ‘shared’ amongst authors …