In the days when I was courtin', I was never tired resortin'
To an alehouse or a playhouse or where a girl resides
But I told my brother Séamus I'm off to come right famous
And before that I'll return again I'll sail homeward while

[Chorus]
Singing, "Goodbye, Mrs Durkin, I'm sick and tired of workin'
No more I'll dig the praties, no longer I'll be fooled
For as sure as me name is Barney I'll be off to Californy
Instead of diggin' praties I'll be diggin' lumps of gold"

Now I've courted girls in Blarney, in Kanturk and in Killarney
In Passage and in Newport, that's in the Cobh of Cork
But enough now for me leisure, I'm off to make me treasure
And the next time you will hear from me is a letter from New York

[Chorus]
Singing, "Goodbye, Mrs Durkin, I'm sick and tired of workin'
No more I'll dig the praties, no longer I'll be fooled
For as sure as me name is Barney I'll be off to Californy
Instead of diggin' praties I'll be diggin' lumps of gold"

Farewell to all the boys at home, I'm sailing far across the foam
I'm off to make me fortune in far Americay
There's gold and silvers plenty for the poor and for the gentry
And when I come back home again I never more will stray
[Chorus]
Singing, "Goodbye, Mrs Durkin, I'm sick and tired of workin'
No more I'll dig the praties, no longer I'll be fooled
For as sure as me name is Barney I'll be off to Californy
Instead of diggin' praties I'll be diggin' lumps of gold"

[Ad-lib]
Da da do-un-do-un-da, da dooten dooten dooten da
Da do-un-do-un-da, da dooten da dun da, da
Da da do dooten da, dooten dooten dooten da
Da do-un-do-un-da, da dooten da dun da, da