Sault Antlers' Song Book

47 • THE MERRY PLOWBOY
I am the merry plowboy and I plow the fields all day
And I’m off to Dublin in the morn to join the IRA.
And we’re all off to Dublin in the green, in the green
Where the helmets glisten in the sun.
Where the bayonets flash and the rifles crash
To the echo of a Thompson gun.
I leave behind me pick and spade. I leave behind me plow.
And I leave behind my old gray mare. No more will I need her now.
I leave behind my Mary. She’s the girl I do adore.
And I wonder what she’ll think of me when she hears them cannons roar.
There’s some men fight for silver, and there’s others fight for gold.
But the IRA will fight for their land that the Saxons stole.
48 • OULD ORANGE FLUTE
In the County Tyrone near the town of Dungannon
Where’s many a runction meself had a hand in
Bob Williamson lived a weaver by trade
And all of thought him a stout Orange blade.
On the twelfth of July as it yearly did come
Bob played with his flute to the sound of a drum
You may talk of your harp your piano or lute
But there’s none could compare with the Ould Orange Flute.
But Bob did disfavor he took us all in
He married a Papist called Bridgette McGinn
Turned Papist himself and forsook the old cause
That gave us our freedom, religion and laws.
Now the boys of the place made some comment upon it
And Bob had to fly to the province of Connacht.
He fled with his wife and his fixins to boot
And along with the latter his Ould Orange Flute.
At the chapel on Sundays to atone for past deeds
Said Paters and Aves and counted his beads.
Till after some time at the priest’s own desire
28
5 • SUZANNE WAS A LADY
Suzanne was a lady with plenty of class.
Who knocked the boys dead when she wiggled her
Eyes at the fellows, as girls sometimes do.
To make it quite plain, that she wanted to
Go for a walk or a stroll through the grass,
Then hurry back home for a nice piece of
Ice cream and cake and a piece of roast duck.
Then after the meal she was ready to
Go for a walk or a stroll on the dock
With any young man with a sizeable
Roll of green bills and a pretty good front.
And if he talked nice she would show him her
Little pet dog, who is subjected to fits.
And maybe let him grab a’ hold of her
Little white hand with a movement so quick.
Then she would lean over and tickle his
Chin while she showed what she once learned in France.
And asked the poor fellow to take off his
Coat while she sang, “Off the Mandalay Shore.”
For whatever she was, Suzanne was no bore.
5