Lyrics

Come pull up a barstool me sad-hearted lad
Sure, a woman?s been troubling your mind
I was young once like you in the year ?22
And where love cast its light I was blind
While me brother was fighting to keep what was his
I gave me own heart away
I squandered me youth on a woman named Ruth
God knows where me Ruth is today

Now, Ruth was a fine buxom Roscommon girl
With a smile like the deep Irish Sea
Eyes blue as blue water, this publican?s daughter
Was lovely as lovely can be
She taunted and teased me for many long weeks
Then one night to me arms she did stray
I squandered me youth on a woman named Ruth
God knows where me Ruth is today

She gave me her sweet lips and sometimes her soul
But her future she would not bestow
Some things from her past she said always would last
Aye, the scars on her heart did still show
I tried to assure her that my love was true
Till that gray night when she went away
I squandered me youth on a woman named Ruth
God knows where me Ruth is today

Now, dreams of me Ruth?s wild passion
Had kindled desire to flame
For try as I might through those cold Dublin nights
I could find not another the same
I searched through the thirty-two counties of green
From Wexford out to Galway Bay
I squandered me youth on a woman named Ruth
God knows where me Ruth is today


Well, I never did find me dear sweetheart
Though I drank and I drank for the pain
While me country was dying me pitiful crying
Was just to see Ruthie again
Soon I?d become such a wreck of a man
No woman would have me, no, nay
I squandered me youth on a woman named Ruth
God knows where me Ruth is today

So bartender pull our young stranger more stout
And fiddler strike up a tune
?Tis better to sing than to worry ?bout things
Till your old as the man in the moon
Me poor brother Tom lost his life to a bomb
While mine slowly wasted away
I squandered me youth on a woman named Ruth
God knows where me Ruth is today