Carrick Fergus

I wish I was in Carrick Fergus,
Only for nights in Ballygrand;
I would swim over the deepest ocean,
Only for nights in Ballygrand.

Ah! But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over,
Nor have I the wings to fly;
I wish I could meet now, a handsome boatman,
To ferry me over, my love and I.

But in Killenny it is reported,
There are marble stones there as black as ink;
With gold and silver I did support her,
But I'll sing no more now till I get a drink.

I am drunk today and I'm seldom sober,
A 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.
Come all you young men and lay me down.

####.... Author unknown. Variant of a recording by Dominic Behan (The Irish Rover, Folklore, 1961) based on the ballad sheet, The Young Sick Lover, printed by Haly of Cork sometime between 1830 and 1840, and archived at the National Library of Ireland per information provided by John Moulden and Philippa in Origins of Carrickfergus, a thread at the Digital Tradition Forum in January, 2000 ....####

See more Ryan's Fancy songs.

A variant was also recorded by Siochána (Cops For Cancer - On The Beat, 2000)

See more Siochána songs.