The First Love In Life

I am a young fellow that's fond of my fun,

And Ferlin in Derry is where I've begun.

All over the country, I've spent all my cash.

With Kitty and Ginny and Mary McNash.

My father disowned me for being such a rake.

And for spending my time in such frolicksome ways.

The girls, they are sweet, but I'll have you all know

That my first love in life is the pure whiskey, oh!

Riddley-i-di, riddley-i-di-di, riddley-i-di-day.

If I chance for to go to the town of Kildare

All the girls all around me they flock on the square

Some bring me a bottle and some bring me cake.

And they do it behind their old pure parents' back.

There's one from McCorville and one from Carlisle.

And another one from Derry my heart has beguiled.

But I'd trade every one for a drop of the pure,

For my first love is whiskey. The heart it can cure.

Riddley-i-di, riddley-i-di-di, riddley-i-di-day.

To worry for riches, I'm never inclined.

For the greatest of misers must leave them behind.

With a glass in my hand and a girl on my knee

There's all a man needs for his pleasure, you see.

For I knew a man who had plenty of gold,

And I knew another who had twenty times more.

But they're both on their backs among nettles and stone.

So, my first love is whiskey and whiskey alone.

Riddley-i-di, riddley-i-di-di, riddley-i-di-day.

And now for the future, I mean to be wise.

And I'll look for the women that treated me kind.

I'll marry them all on the next Market Day,

If the clergy agree to the things that I say.

And when I am dead and my soul is at rest,

These women will come for to cry at my wake.

And they'll cover me over with whiskey so pure,

And I'll dance on the lid of my coffin and cheer.

Riddley-i-di, riddley-i-di-di, riddley-i-di-day