The Rake

I am a young fellow from the County Tyrone

In the town of Strabane shur I'm very well known

For down to the alehouse I'm frequently goin'

With Kitty and Ginny and Mary

My father rebuked me for being such a rake

And for spending me money on whiskey and cakes

But the lassies are sweet and it's all for their sakes

And it keeps me lighthearted and merry

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry

I will court all the lassies or at least I will try

And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die

Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se

If I chance for to wander on down to the fair

All the lassies all around me do flock on the square

I'll pull out me fiddle and play an auld air

And soon we're all off on the spree

There's Peggy and Jane from the banks of Loch Nee

There's Kitty and Molly down Dungannon Way

And there's another one from Cookstown who makes me head sway

Such a fuss they all make over me

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry

I will court all the lassies or at least I will try

And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die

Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se

To quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined

For the greatest of misers must leave them behind

So me money I spend with no thought in me mind

But to kick up our heels and carrouse

For the rich never spend any gold of their own

Sure they hold it away like a dog and it's bone

But they end on their back among nettles and stones

And I hear there're no pockets in shrouds

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry

I will court all the lassies or at least I will try

And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die

Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se

Now some say I'm foolish and some say I'm wise

For loving the women and the whiskey like wives

But the son of King David had ten hundred wives

And his wisdom was highly regarded!

So I'll call for the lassies and ask them to wed

And we'll all be content in the one marriage bed

While the rich count their gold we'll count children instead

And we'll raise them up true and stout-hearted

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry

I will court all the lassies or at least I will try

And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die

Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se

Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se