Now, Mrs McGrath, the sargent said
Would you like a soldier of your son Ted?
With a scarlet cloak and a big cocked hat
Mrs McGrath, wouldn't you like that?
Too-ri-aa, folly diddle-aa
Too-ri, oo-ri, oo-ri-aa
Too-ri-aa, folly diddle-aa
Too-ri, oo-ri, oo-ri-aa.

Now Mrs McGrath lived on the shore
And after seven years or more
His battleship come into the bay
With her son from far away
Oh captain, dear, where have you been
Have you been sailing on the Mediterranean
Have any news of my son Ted
Is he living or is he dead?
Too-ri-aa, folly diddle-aa
Too-ri, oo-ri, oo-ri-aa
Too-ri-aa, folly diddle-aa
Too-ri, oo-ri, oo-ri-aa.

Now came Ted without any legs
And in their place two wooden pegs
She kissed him a dozen times or two
Saying, my God, Ted is it you?
Now were you drunk or were you blind
When you left your two fine legs behind
Or was it walking upon the sea
That wore your two fine legs away?
Too-ri-aa, folly diddle-aa
Too-ri, oo-ri, oo-ri-aa
Too-ri-aa, folly diddle-aa
Too-ri, oo-ri, oo-ri-aa

No, I wasn’t drunk, and I wasn’t blind
When I left my two fine legs behind
A cannon ball on the fifth of May
Tore my two fine legs away
Oh Teddy, my boy, the widow cried
Your two fine legs was your mother's pride
The stumps of a tree won't do at all
Why didn't you run from the cannon ball?
Too-ri-aa, folly diddle-aa
Too-ri, oo-ri, oo-ri-aa
Too-ri-aa, folly diddle-aa
Too-ri, oo-ri, oo-ri-aa

All foreign wars, I do proclaim
Between Juan and the King of Spain
I'd rather my son as he used to be
Than the King of France and his whole navy
Too-ri-aa, folly diddle-aa
Too-ri, oo-ri, oo-ri-aa
Too-ri-aa, folly diddle-aa
Too-ri, oo-ri, oo-ri-aa