Taken down by me, February, 1881, from the recitation of
Ellen Healy, as repeated to her by a young girl at
"Lackabairn," Kerry, Ireland, about 1868.
| 1 |
'Where was you all day, my own pretty boy?
Where was you all day, my comfort and joy?'
'I was fishing and fowling; mother, make my bed soon,
There's a pain in my heart, and I mean to lie down.' |
| 2 |
'What did you have for your breakfast, my own pretty boy?
What did you have for your breakfast, my comfort and joy?'
'A cup of strong poison; mother, make my bed soon,
There's a pain in my heart, and I mean to lie down.' |
| 3 |
'I fear you are poisoned, my own pretty boy,
I fear you are poisoned, my comfort and joy!'
'O yes, I am poisoned; mother, make my bed soon,
There's a pain in my heart, and I mean to lie down.' |
| 4 |
'What will you leave to your father, my own pretty boy?
What will you leave to your father, my comfort and joy?'
'I'll leave him my house and my property; mother, make my bed soon,
There's a pain in my heart, and I mean to lie down.' |
| 5 |
'What will you leave to your mother, my own pretty boy?
What will you leave to your mother, my comfort and joy?'
'I'll leave her my coach and four horses; mother, make my bed soon,
There's a pain in my heart, and I mean to lie down.' |
| 6 |
'What will you leave to your brother, my own pretty boy?
What will you leave to your brother, my comfort and joy?'
'I'll leave him my bow and my fiddle; mother, make my bed soon,
There's a pain in my heart, and I mean to lie down.' |
| 7 |
'What will you leave to your sister, my own pretty boy?
What will you leave to your sister, my comfort and joy?'
'I'll leave her my gold and my silver; mother, make my bed soon,
There's a pain in my heart, and I mean to lie down.' |
| 8 |
'What will you leave to your servant, my own pretty boy?
What will you leave to you servant, my comfort and joy?'
'I'll leave him the key of my small silver box; mother, make my bed soon,
There's a pain in my heart, and I mean to lie down.' |
| 9 |
'What will you leave to your children, my own pretty boy?
What will you leave to your children, my comfort and joy?'
'The world is wide all round for to beg; mother, make my bed soon,
There's a pain in my heart, and I mean to lie down.' |
| 10 |
'What will you leave to your wife, my own pretty boy?
What will you leave to your wife, my comfort and joy?'
'I'll leave her the gallows, and plenty to hang her; mother, make my bed soon,
There's a pain in my heart, and I mean to lie down.' |
| 11 |
'Where shall I make it, my own pretty boy?
Where shall I make it, my comfort and joy?'
'Above in the churchyard, and dig it down deep,
Put a stone to my head and a flag to my feet,
And leave me down easy until I'll take a long sleep.' |
