Lyrics

SPANCIL HILL (Irish traditional)

It's been on twenty-third of June the day before the fair
When Ireland's sons and daughters
and friends who gambled there
The young, the old, the brave and the bold
came their duties to fulfil
At the Parish Church in Clooney a mile from Spancil Hill

I went to see my neighbours to see what they might say
The old ones were all dead and gone
the young ones turning grey
But I met the tailor Queagley he's as bold as ever still
How he used to make my britches when I lived in Spancil Hill

I paid a flying visit to my first and only love
She's as white as any lily, gentle as a dove
And she threw her arms around me
saying, Johnny I love you still
As she's now the farmer's daughter and the bride of Spancil Hill

I turned, I held and kissed her as in the days of yore
Ah Johnny you're only joking as many as the time before
When the cock he crew in the morning
he crew both loud and shrill
I awoke in California many miles from Spancil Hill