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lyrics

THE LIMERICK RAKE

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.
My father rebuked me for being such a rake
And spending my time in such frolicsome ways,
But I ne'er could forget the good nature of Jane,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.

My parents, they reared me to shake and to mow,
To plough and to harrow, to reap and to sow;
But my heart being airy to drop it so low,
I set out on high speculation.
On paper and parchment they taught me to write
In Euclid and grammar they opened my eyes,
But in multiplication, in truth, I was bright,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.

If I chance for to go to the town of Rathkeal
The girls all around me do flock on the square
Some give me a bottle and others sweet cake,
to treat me unknown to their parents.
There is one from Askeaton and one from the Pike,
Another from Arda, my heart was beguiled,
Though being from the mountains here stockings are white,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.

To quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined,
For the greatest of misers must leave them behind;
I'll purchase a cow that will never run dry
And I'll milk her by twisting her horn.
John Dammer of Shronel had plenty of gold
And Devonshire's treasure was twenty times more,
But he's laid on his back among nettles and stones,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.

If I chance for to go to the market at Croom,
With a cock in my hat and my pipes in full tune,
I am welcome at once and brought up to a room
Where Bacchus is sporting with Venus.
There's Peggy and Jane from the town of Bruree,
And Biddy from Bruff and we all on the spree,
Such a combing of locks as there was about me,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.

There's some say I'm foolish, and more say I'm wise,
For being fond of the women can't be no crime;
For the son of King David had ten hundred wives
And his wisdom was highly recorded.
I'll till a good garden and live at my ease
And each women and child can partake of the same,
If there's war in the cabin, themselves they may blame,
Agus fagaimid siud mar ata se.

And now for the future I mean to be wise,
I'll send for the women that acted so kind;
And I'll marry them all in the morn, by and by
If the clergy agree to the bargain.
And when I'm on my back and my soul is at peace
These women will crowd for to cry at my wake,
And their sons and their daughters may offer their prayers
To their Lord for the soul of their father.

credits

from roots to fly (online version), released May 2, 2014

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FlatlandersFolk image

FlatlandersFolk Germany

Fabian - vocals, guitar
Martin - mandolin, vocals

We're a folk-duo from the Lower Rhine area in the West of Germany.

These are recordings from our latest album, live recorded and produced by FLF in 2014.
It's mainly containing traditional Irish folk songs and tunes. We did several cover versions of newer songs, too, but these are only included on the physical CD. ... more

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