| lyric | As I roved out to Galway town to seek for recreation,
[As I rode down to Galway town to seek for recreation]
on the seventeenth of August my mind was elevated,
There were nuktitudes assembled with their tickets at the station,
my eyes began to dazzle and they goin’ to see the races.
Chorus:
With me Whack, fol the do,
fol the didleley, idle ay.
There were passengers from Limerick and passengers from Nenagh
And passengers from Dublin and sportsmen from Tipp’rary.
There were passengers from Kerry and all the quarters of the nation,
And our member, Mr. Hasset for to join the Galway Blazers.
There were multitudes from Aran and members from New Quay shore,
The boys from Connemara and the Clare unmarried maidens.
There were people from Cork city who were loyal, true and faithful,
That brought home Fenian prisoners from dying in foreign nations.
It’s there you’ll see confectioners with sugarsticks and dainties,
The lozenges and oranges, the lemonade and raisins.
The gingerbread and spices to accommodate the ladies,
And a big crubeen for threepence to be picking while you’re able.
It’s there you’ll see the gamblers, the thimbles and the garters,
And the sporting Wheel of Fortune with the four and twenty quarters.
There were others without scruple peltin g wattles at poor Maggy,
And her father well contented and he looking at his daughter.
It’s there you’ll see the pipers and the fiddlers competing,
And the nimble-footed dancers and they tripping on the daisies.
There were others crying ‘Cigars and lights and bills of all the races With the colours of the jockeys and the prize and horses’ ages.’
It’s there you’d see the jockeys and they mounted on most stately,
The pink and blue, the red and green, the emblem of our nation.
When the bell was rung for starting all the horses seemed impatient,
I thought they never stood on ground, their speed was so amazing.
There was half a million people there of all denominations,
The Catholic, the Protestant, the Jew and Presbyterian.
There was yet no animosity, no matter what persuasion,
But failte and hospitality inducing fresh acquaintance. |