Do bhí bean uasal seal dá lua liom,
's chuir sí suas díom fóraíl ghéar;
Do ghabhas lastuas di sna bailte móra
Mar go dtug sí svae ['sway'] léi os comhair an tsaoil.
Ach dá bhfaighinnse a ceann siúd faoi áirsí an teampaill,
Do bheinn gan amhras ar m'ábhar féin;
Ach anois táim tinn lag 's gan fáil ar leigheas agam.
Is go mbeidh mo mhuintir ag gol im' dhéidh.
I wish I was in Carrickfergus,
only for nights in Ballygran
I would swim over the deepest ocean,
only for nights in Ballygran
But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over
And neither have I the wings to fly
I wish I could find me a handsome boatsman
To ferry me over, to my love and die.
But in Kilkenny, it is reported,
On marble stones there as black as ink
With gold and silver I would support her,
But I'll sing no more now, 'till I get a drink.
For I'm drunk today, and I'm seldom sober,
handsome rover from town to town
Ah, but I'm sick now, my days are numbered,
Come all you young men and lay me down.