Patrick's Arrival - Christy Moore

You’ve heard of St. Denis of France

He never had much for to brag on

You’ve heard of St. George and his lance

Who killed d’old heathenish dragon

The Saints of the Welshmen and Scot

Are a couple of pitiful pipers

And might just as well go to pot

When compared to the patron of vipers:

St. Patrick of Ireland, my dear

He sailed to the Emerald Isle

On a lump of pavin' stone mounted

He beat the steamboat by a mile

Which mighty good sailing was counted

Says he, «The salt water, I think

Has made me unmerciful thirsty;

So bring me a flagon to drink

To wash down the mullygrups, burst ye

Of drink that is fit for a Saint.»

He preached then with wonderful force

The ignorant natives a teaching

With wine washed down each discourse

For, says he, «I detest your dry preaching.»

The people in wonderment struck

At a pastor so pious and civil

Exclaimed, «We're for you, my old buck

And we’ll heave our blind Gods to the divil

Who dwells in hot water below.»

This finished, our worshipful man

Went to visit an elegant fellow

Whose practise each cool afternoon

Was to get most delightful mellow

That day with a barrel of beer

He was drinking away with abandon

Say’s Patrick, «It's grand to be here

I drank nothing to speak of since landing

So give me a pull from your pot.»

He lifted the pewter in sport

Believe me, I tell you, it’s no fable

A gallon he drank from the quart

And left it back full on the table

«A miracle!»

everyone cried

And all took a pull on the Stingo

They were mighty good hands at that trade

And they drank 'til they fell yet, by Jingo

The pot it still frothed o’er the brim

Next day said the host, «It's a fast

And I’ve nothing to eat but cold mutton

On Fridays who’d make such repast

Except an unmerciful glutton?»

Said Pat, «Stop this nonsense, I beg

What you tell me is nothing but gammon.»

When the host brought down the lamb’s leg

Pat ordered to turn it to salmon

And the leg most politely complied

You’ve heard, I suppose, long ago

How the snakes, in a manner most antic

He marched to the county Mayo

And ordered them all into the Atlantic

Hence never use water to drink

The people of Ireland determine

With mighty good reason, I think

For Patrick has filled it with vermin

And snakes and such other things

He was a fine man as you’d meet

From Fairhead to Kilcrumper

Though under the sod he is laid

Let’s all drink his health in a bumper

I wish he was here that my glass

He might by art magic replenish

But since he is not, why alas!

My old song must come to a finish

Because all the drink is gone