The boys in the farm are working the plow
They're picking potatoes and milking the cow
But we haven't time for shovel or sow
We work at the roving trade

Here's to the music and here's to the night
And here's to the whiskey the water of life
Here's to the lassies we're holding them tight
And here's to the roving trade

Back on the road we're going to be
Rogues and romances of high degree
The lassies are happy whenever they see
The boys of the roving trade

Here's to the music and here's to the night
And here's to the whiskey the water of life
Here's to the lassies we're holding them tight
And here's to the roving trade

Dublin and Cork and Galway are fine
And Limerick is beautiful most of the time
But Belfast is never to far from me mind
I miss her whenever I roam

Here's to the music and here's to the night
And here's to the whiskey the water of life
Here's to the lassies we're holding them tight
And here's to the roving trade
We've traveled the world for many's a mile
Singin' and playin' and bringin' a smile
And soon we'll be back in the Emerald Isle
For Paddy is headed for home

Here's to the music and here's to the night
And here's to the whiskey the water of life
Here's to the lassies we're holding them tight
And here's to the roving trade

"Diddly doo dum" to the tune of the chorus twice