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As I roved out through Galway city,
At the hour of twelve in the night,
Who should I see but a handsome damsel,
Combing her hair by candlelight.
"Lassie, I have come a-courting,
Your fine favours for to win;
And if you'll but smile on me,
Next Sunday night I'll call again."
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lah-dee,
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lay;
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lah-dee,
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lay.
"So to me you come a-courting,
My fine favours for to win;
It would give me the greatest pleasure,
If you never did call again.
What would I do when I go a-walking,
Walking out in the morning dew?
What would I do when I go a-walking,
Walking out with a lad like you?"
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lah-dee,
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lay;
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lah-dee,
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lay.
"Lassie, I have gold and silver;
Lassie, I have houses and lands;
Lassie, I have ships on the ocean;
They'll be all at your command."
"What do I want with your ships on the ocean?
What do I want with your houses and lands?
What do I want with your gold and silver?
All I want is a handsome man."
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lah-dee,
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lay;
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lah-dee,
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lay.
Did you ever see the grass in the morning,
All bedecked with jewels so rare?
Did you ever see a handsome damsel,
Diamonds sparkling in her hair?
Did you ever see a copper kettle,
Mended with an old tin can?
Did you ever see a handsome damsel,
Married off to an ugly man?
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lah-dee,
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lay;
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lah-dee,
Whack-fol-dee-too-ra-loo-ra-lay.
This variant arranged and recorded by Ryan's Fancy (Looking Back, ©1972, Audat Records).
See more songs by Ryan's Fancy.
A variant was recorded as Galway City from the singing of Chris Hennessy of Torbay, NL, on the Spree By The Sea Festival CD, celebrating the annual civic holiday of Baie Verte, NL.
