| O ladies take pity on me
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| Let me in your company mingle
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| I once was merry and free
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| And, like you, I was happy and single
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| Me mother advised me to wed
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| For seventeen years I had tarried
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| So, off to the church I did go —
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| In a trice to a man to be married
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| O I wish that I never was wed
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| For a short time he loved me sincere
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| He used me both kindly and civil;
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| The honeymoon scarcely was o’er
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| When he turned out a quare divil!
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| The bed he took up on his back
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| And off to the pawnshop he carried
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| Oft times I wished I was dead
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| Or better, I never was married
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| O I wish that I never was wed
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| To the landlord he won’t pay the rent
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| He says that he is not able
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| There’s nothin' now left in the house
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| But two broken chairs and a table
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| The bedclothes, the kettle and broom
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| Off to the pawnshop he carried
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| He grunts, he snores, hoe roars
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| O I wish that I never was married
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| O I wish that I never was wed
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| When he buys the meat once a month
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| That’s if I’m not sadly mistaken
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| There’s nothin' but sheep’s head and pluck
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| And a bit of sweet liver and bacon
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| He says bread and butter are dear
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| And these times are shockingly harried
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| All day he drinks whisky and beer
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| O I wish that I never was wed
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| One night he came home in a rage
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| He busted me new shoes asunder
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| The cat he kicked into the grate
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| And the table flew out of the window
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| The bellows he threw at me head
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| Me clothes to the pawnshop he carried
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| That night I wished I was dead
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| Or better, I never was married
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| O I wish that I never was wed
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| If I was but single again
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| I’d sing and be joyous and merry
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| I’d laugh, I’d shout, I’d roar
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| I’d be heard in the Kingdom of Kerry!
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| So maidens single remain
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| By your time, you’ll never be harried
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| If I was bus single again
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| By jingo, I’d never get married
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| O I wish that I never was wed |