kenobrien

<p>In the sweet country Lim'rick, one cold winter's night</p><p>All the turf fires were burning when I first saw the light</p><p>And a drunken old midwife went tipsy with joy</p><p>As she danced round the floor with her slip of a boy</p><p>Singing ban-ya-na mo if an-ga-na</p><p>And the juice of the barley for me</p><p>Well when I was a gossoon of eight years old or so</p><p>With me turf and me primer to school I did go</p><p>To a dusty old school house without any door</p><p>Where lay the school master blind drunk on the floor</p><p>Singing ban-ya-na mo if an-ga-na</p><p>And the juice of the barley for me</p><p>At the learning I wasn't such a genius I'm thinking,</p><p>But I soon bet the master entirely at drinking,</p><p>Not a wake or a wedding for five miles around,</p><p>But meself in the corner was sure to be found.</p><p>Singing ban-ya-na mo if an-ga-na</p><p>And the juice of the barley for me</p><p>One Sunday the priest thread me out from the altar</p><p>Saying you'll end up your days with your neck in a halter;</p><p>And you'll dance a fine jig between heaven and hell</p><p>And his words they did frighten me the truth for to tell</p><p>Singing ban-ya-na mo if an-ga-na</p><p>And the juice of the barley for me</p><p>So the very next morning as the dawn it did break</p><p>I went down to the vestry the pledge for to take,</p><p>And there in that room sat the priests in a bunch</p><p>Round a big roaring fire drinking tumblers of punch</p><p>Singing ban-ya-na mo if an-ga-na</p><p>And the juice of the barley for me</p><p>Well from that day to this I have wandered alone</p><p>I'm a jack of all trades and a master of none,</p><p>With the sky for me roof and the earth for me floor,</p><p>And I'll dance out my days frinking whiskey galore</p><p>Singing ban-ya-na mo if an-ga-na</p><p>And the juice of the barley for me</p>