The first of me downfall I walked out the door
At night, oh now and to Carrick-on-Suir
Goin' into Kilkenny, was late in the night
As I went through that city I saw the gaslight
With me fal-de-diddle-air at-aye-air, at-aye-ey

And there in this backstreet there was this gaslamp
And under it sat the chap called the tramp
He asked me for a penny and to him I did say
"Could you should me a place where I could stay?"
With me fal-de-diddle-air at-aye-air, at-aye-ey

He directed me down to sweet Lovers' Lanе
To a place called The Rеfuge, I think that's the name
Stepped inside the door, put me back to the wall
'Twas then I found 'twas a cobbler's hall
With me fal-de-diddle-air at-aye-air, at-aye-ey

The old man in the corner, ready mendin' some brogues
With his hammer and chisel goin' round like a ghost
The old woman inside and to me she did say
"If you gimme a shillin', sir, here you can stay"
With me fal-de-diddle-air at-aye-air, at-aye-ey

She brought me upstairs and she put out the light
And in less than five minutes I had to show fight
For the bugs and the flies, they collected to march
And over me belly they formed an arch
And one big [?] gave me such a nip
I was very near losing the use of me hip
With me fal-de-diddle-air at-aye-air, at-aye-ey
I sat up in the bed and demanded fair play
Sure, if I had me stick I could fight me own way
Jumped out through the window and gathered some stones
Sure, if I had sore sides I gave them broken bones
With me fal-de-diddle-air at-aye-air, at-aye-ey

Now come all ye fair maidens, wherever you be
Wherever you travel, by land or by sea
If you go to Kilkenny and intendin' to stay
Beware of the louse house in sweet Lovers' Lane
With me fal-de-diddle-air at-aye-air, at-aye-ey