[Verse 1: Ciarán Bourke]

I am a young fellow that's easy and bold

In Castletown conners I'm very well known

In Newcastle West I spent many a note

With Kitty and Judy and Mary

Me parents rebuked me for being such a rake

And spending my time in such frolicsome ways

I ne'er could forget the good nature of Jane

Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

[Verse 2: Ciarán Bourke]

My parents had reared me to shake and to mow

To plough and to harrow, to reap and to sow

Me heart being too airy to drop it too low

I set out on a high speculation

On paper and parchment they thought me to write

In Euclid and Grammar they opened my eyes

And in Multiplication in truth I was bright

Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

[Verse 3: Ciarán Bourke]

If I chance for to go to the town of Rathkeale

The girls all round me do flock on the square

Some offer me apples and others sweet cake

And treats me unknown to their parents

There is one from Askeaton and one from the Pike

And another from Arda, my heart was beguiled

Though being from the mountains her stockings are white

And I'd love to be tied in her garters

[Verse 4: Ciarán Bourke]

To quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined

For the greatest of misers, they must leave all behind

But I'll purchase a cow that will never run dry

And I'll milk her be twisting her horn

John Damer of Shronel had plenty of gold

And Lord Devonshire's treasures are twenty times more

But he's laid on their backs amidst nettles and stones

Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

[Verse 5: Ciarán Bourke]

The old cow could be milked without clover or grass

For she's pampered with barley, sweet corn and the hops

She'd be warm, she'd be stout, she'd be free in the paps

And she'll milk without spancil or halter

The man that will drink it, he'd cock his caubeen

And if anyone laughs we'll have wigs in the green

And the feeble old hag, she'd get supple and free

Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

[Verse 6: Ciarán Bourke]

Now, there's some say I'm foolish and some say I'm wise

Though being fond of the women I think is no crime

Sure, the son of King David, he had ten thousand wives

And his wisdom was highly recorded

I'll till a good garden and live at me ease

And each woman and child could partake of the same

If there's war in the cabin, themselves they could blame

Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé

[Verse 7: Ciarán Bourke]

But now for the future I think I'll get wise

And I'll marry all those women who acted so kind

Aye, I'd marry them all on the morrow by and by

If the clergy agreed to the bargain

And then when I'd be old and my soul be at rest

All those children and wives they could keen at me wake

Aye, they'd all gather round and they'd offer a prayers

To the Lord for the soul of their father