Am C F
One evening of late as I happened to stray,
C G
to the county Tipperary I straight took my way,
Am C F
to dig for potatoes and work by the day,
C G Am
for a farmer called Darby O'Leary.
[Verse 2]
Am C
I asked him how far we were bound for to go,
F G
the night being dark and a cold wind did blow,
Am C F
I was hungry and tired and me spirits were low,
C G Am
for I got neither whiskey nor water.
[Verse 3]
Am C F
The dirty old miser he mounted his steed,
C G
to the Galbally Mountains he rode in great speed,
Am C F
I followed behind 'til my poor feet did bleed,
C G Am
when we stopped when his old horse was weary.
[Verse 4]
Am C
When we came to his cottage I entered it first,
F G
it seemed like a kennel or ruined old church,
Am C F
says aye to myself I am left in the lurch,
C G Am
in the house of old Darby O'Leary.
[Verse 5]
Am C F
I well recollect it was Michalmass night,
C G
to a hearty good supper he did me invite,
Am C F
a cup of sour milk that was more green than white,
C G Am
and it gave me the trotting disorder.
[Verse 6]
Am C
The wet old potatoes would poison the cats,
F G
and the barn where me bed was, was swarming with rats,
Am C F
the fleas would have frightened the fearless Saint Pat,
C G Am
who banished the snakes o'er the border.
[Verse 7]
Am C F
He worked me by day and he worked me by night,
C G
while he held an old candle to give me some light,
Am C F
I wished his potatoes would die of the blight,
C G Am
or himself would go off with the fairies.
[Verse 8]
Am C
't Was on this old miser I looked with a frown,
F G
when the straw was brought in for to make my shakedown,
Am C F
and I wished that I'd never seen him nor his town,
C G Am
nor the sky over Darby O'Leary.
[Verse 9]
Am C F
I worked in Kilconnel, I've worked in Kilmore,
C G
I've worked in Knockranny and Shanballymore,
Am C F
and Kalisanaker and Sollahed Moore,
C G Am
with farmers so decent and cheery.
[Verse 10]
Am C
I've worked in Tipperary, the Rag in Ross Green,
F G
at the mount of Killfegal, the Bridge of Orleans,
Am C F
such woeful starvation I never yet seen,
C G Am
as I got from old Darby O'Leary.
