Bold Doherty

Bold Doherty

As sung by Mary Ann Carolan

Me name is Bold Doherty from the north country,

Where there's a still upon every stream.

Lady be quicker and pour me more liquor

And fill me a glass of the stronger than cream,

If I had you Molly so pleasant and jolly,

Although it's a folly to ask you at all

I'd fill up me glass with a mile to the bottom

And I'd drink to you Molly beside Donegal.

With me fol the dol do, fol the dol do with me,

Fol the dol do with me, fol the dol day,

Fol the dol do, fol the dol do with me,

Fol the dol do with me, fol the dol day.

I've a new pair of clogs I brought home from the market,

I craved an excuse to get into the town,

I told me old mother the seams they were ripped

And I needed some nails for to rivet them down.

She clothed me hand with a bright bit of shilling,

She thought the remainder would be her own

Saying, "When you go to town you can buy the full nagan,

But beware you bring none of your fancibles home".

When crossing the fields of me brave Enniskillen

I went into an ale-house for to take a dram

When I saw two tinkers dividing a saucepan,

Although they were arguing about the ten can.

One of them then made a blow at the other one,

He said you young villain I will take your life"

Saying "your saucepans are leaking and won't hold the water

Since 'ere the Bold Doherty spoke with your wife"

Oh when I got home the door it was bolted,

I rapped up me mother for to let me in,

"Be gone ore the place" was the words that she mentioned,

"For inside this house you'll not enter in

You may go away to wherever you came from

For to keep you out now I'm sure it's no sin"

Says I, "me gay woman, you may keep your temper,

'Cause I can find lodging with Nora McGlynn"