Darby O'Leary - The Dubliners

One evening of late as I happened to stray

To the County Tipperary I straight took my way

To dig the potatoes and work by the day

for a farmer called Darby O’Leary.

I asked him how far we were bound for to go The night being dark and the cold wind did blow

I was hungry and tired and my spirits were low

for I got neither whiskey nor water.

The dirty old miser he mounted his steed

To the Galbally mountains he rode in great speed

I followed behind 'til my poor feet did bleed

when we stopped when his old horse was weary.

When we came to his cottage I entered it first

it seemed like a kennel or a ruined old church

Says I to myself I am left in the lurch

in the house of old Darby O’Leary

I well recollect it was Michalmass night

To a hearty good supper he did me invite

A cup of sour milk that was more green than white

And it gave me the trotting disorder

The wet old potatoes would poison the cats

And the barn where my bed was was swarming with rats

The fleas would have frightened the fearless St. Pat

who banished the snakes o’er the border.

He worked me by day and he worked me by night,

while he held an old candle to give me some light

I wished his potatoes would die of the blight

or himself would go off with the fairies.

It was on this old miser I looked with a frown

When the straw was brought in for to make my shakedown

And I wished I had never seen him nor his town

nor the sky above Darby O’Leary.

I’ve worked in Kilconnel, I’ve worked in Killmore

I worked in Knoockannie and Shamballamore

In Kalisanaker and Sollahed Moore with farmers so decent and cheery.

I’ve worked in Tipperary, the Rag and Ross Green

At the mount of Killfegal, the Bridge of Orleans

But such woeful starvation I never yet seen

As I got from old Darby O’Leary