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My father was once a great merchant, As any in Ireland is found; But faith! he could ne'er save a shilling, Though tatoes he sold by the pound. So says he to my mother one night, To England suppose you and I go; And the very next day by moonlight They took leave of the county Sligo Sing, fal de ral lal de ral la fal la de, &c.

That the land is all covered with water, 'Twixt England and Ireland you'll own, And single misfortunes, they say, To an Irishman ne'er came alone: So my father, poor man, was first drowned, Then shipwreck'd in sailing from Cork; But my mother she got safe to land, And a whisky shop opened in York. Sing, fal de ral, &c.

Just a year after father was dead, One night about five in the morn, An odd accident happen'd to me, For 'twas then that myself was first born: