The Rake

I am a young fellow from the County Tyrone
In the town of Strabane shur I'm very well known
For down to the alehouse I'm frequently goin'
With Kitty and Ginny and Mary

My father rebuked me for being such a rake
And for spending me money on whiskey and cakes
But the lassies are sweet and it's all for their sakes
And it keeps me lighthearted and merry

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry
I will court all the lassies or at least I will try
And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die
Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se

If I chance for to wander on down to the fair
All the lassies all around me do flock on the square
I'll pull out me fiddle and play an auld air
And soon we're all off on the spree

There's Peggy and Jane from the banks of Loch Nee
There's Kitty and Molly down Dungannon Way
And there's another one from Cookstown who makes me head sway
Such a fuss they all make over me

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry
I will court all the lassies or at least I will try
And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die
Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se

To quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined
For the greatest of misers must leave them behind
So me money I spend with no thought in me mind
But to kick up our heels and carrouse

For the rich never spend any gold of their own
Sure they hold it away like a dog and it's bone
But they end on their back among nettles and stones
And I hear there're no pockets in shrouds

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry
I will court all the lassies or at least I will try
And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die
Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se

Now some say I'm foolish and some say I'm wise
For loving the women and the whiskey like wives
But the son of King David had ten hundred wives
And his wisdom was highly regarded!

So I'll call for the lassies and ask them to wed
And we'll all be content in the one marriage bed
While the rich count their gold we'll count children instead
And we'll raise them up true and stout-hearted

I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry
I will court all the lassies or at least I will try
And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die
Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se

Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se