The Wolfe Tones
Macushla Mavourneen
Oh, the pig is in the mire and the cow is in the grass
A man without a woman true this world will sadly pass
Me mother likes the ducks and the ducks love the drakes
And little Biddy Mulligan, I'd die for her sake
For Biddy, she is fair as the flowers on the lea
She's as neat and complete from her neck to her knee
We met the other night and me heart she surely stole
I set me Biddy down by the old bog hole
[Chorus]
Macushla Mavourneen, oh will you marry me?
Oh grá mo chroí Mavourneen, oh will you marry me?
Macushla Mavourneen, a-married we will be
And be happy in the valley winding down to the sea
Oh, Biddy, she blushed and she hung down her head
"Say Barney, oh you blaggard, it's you I'd like to wed
But you were such a rogue and you were such a rake"
"Don't believe it, now", says I. "Sure, it's all a mistake"
"I can handle a hook and a shovel and a spade
I'll keep you in potatoes and bacon with me trade
And turf I will procure, it's better now than coal
And I'll dig you to me knees in the old bog hole"
[Chorus]
Macushla Mavourneen, oh will you marry me?
Oh grá mo chroí Mavourneen, oh will you marry me?
Macushla Mavourneen, a-married we will be
And be happy in the valley winding down to the sea
"Oh, children we'll have, for I will to see to that
There'll be Barby and Judy and Barney and Pat
And Mary so meek and Katie now so rough,"
"Oh Barney now, achora, don't you think you have enough?"
"Oh no, me Biddy dear, I will not be content
Until I have a chiseler for ev'ry day of Lent
And people will stare when we go for a stroll
And we go promenadin' down the old bog hole
[Chorus]
Macushla Mavourneen, oh will you marry me?
Oh grá mo chroí Mavourneen, oh will you marry me?
Macushla Mavourneen, a-married we will be
And be happy in the valley winding down to the sea
"By the hokey," says she, "I can hardly now refuse
For Barney, you're the devil when the blarney you use
Me heart you have won with the picture you have drawn
If I knew that I could trust ya, I'd be married in the morn"
"Now Biddy, you can trust me, I'd never do you wrong
I'd give you a cuddle evr'y evening 'til the morn'
We'll be happy and content if at first me heart you stole
And children we'll contour from the old bog hole"
[Chorus]
Macushla Mavourneen, oh will you marry me?
Oh grá mo chroí Mavourneen, oh will you marry me?
Macushla Mavourneen, a-married we will be
And be happy in the valley winding down to the sea