Johnny Doyle Lyrics

You sons of Dan O′Connell's Isle
Pray pay attention to my ditty
For it′s all about a fair young man
His birthplace it was Dublin City
My song is for to demonstrate
A story with a pious moral
Beginning by the Carlisle bridge
And ending on the Isles of Coral

A schooner stood by George's Quay
With sails all furled one sultry season
A maiden paced upon that quay
She wept like one bereft of reason
O Johnny Doyle's me love it′s true
It′s true but full of deep contrition
For what will all the neighbours say
About yourself and my condition

Well the sails unfurled while the capstan turned
The schooner scudded down the Liffey
The maid she gave one piercing wail
She was a mother in a jiffy
They sailed across the Harbour Bar
And headed east for foreign waters
To China where they think their wives
And drown at birth their surplice daughters

Now years and years had come and gone
Till Mary's child grew self-supporting
But how her poor old heart would break
When that young buck went out a-courting
He′ll leave me all alone she said
He'll leave me lone and melancholy
I′ll dress meself in man's attire
And sail the seven seas for Johnny

She signed on board of a pirate bark
That raided round the hot equator
And with them hairy buccaneers
There sailed a sweet and virtuous critter
While the captain thought her name was Bill
His character it was nefarious
And with them hairy buccaneers
Her situation was precarious

Now in the Sargasso sea
Two rakish barques were idly lolling
And Mary on the quarter deck
The middle watch was she patrolling
She gazed upon the neighbouring bark
And suddenly became exclaimant
For there upon that gilded poop
Stood Johnny Doyle in gorgeous raiment

They′re happy now in sweet Ringsend
The jewel that sparkles on the Dodder
They lead a peaceful merchant's life
And do a trade in oats and fodder
By marriage lines she's Mrs Doyle
She keeps a stall of periwinkles
When she says she′s in that way again
His one good eye with joy it twinkles