Red-Haired Mary

The song is mostly about the suitor of the red-haired heroine. But by the end, she's setting her own terms. I've also modified this song into a duet.

I was going to the fair at Dingle Late on morning last July When up the road ahead of me A red-haired girl I chanced to spy. I went up to her and said, "Ah, young lady, My doney, he can carry two." "Well, seein' as you have a donkey To the Dingle Fair I'll ride with you." Now when we reached the fair at Dingle I kissed her hand to say goodbye When her tinker man stepped up to me And he belted me in my right eye! CHORUS 1: Keep your hands off red-haired Mary Her and I will soon be wed We'll see a priest this very morning And tonght we'll lie in a marriage bed Now I was feeling kind of peevish And me poor old eye was sad and sore So I gently nudged him with me hobnails And he flew back through Murphy's door! CHORUS 1 A policeman came around the corner And he said, "Young man, you've broke the law." Me donkey kicked him in the kneecaps And he fell down and broke his jaw CHORUS 1 Then the tinker went and found his brother The biggest man you ever did meet He gently tapped me with his knuckles And I was minus two front teeth CHORUS 1 But the red-haired girl, she kept on smilin' "I will go with you, young man," she said. "Forget the priest this very morning And tonight we'll lie in Murphy's bed!" CHORUS 2 Keep your hands off red-haired Mary Her and I won't soon be wed Forget the priest this very morning And tonight we'll lie in Murphy's shed We wandered 'round the fair together My black eye and her red hair Smilin' gaily at the tinkers And, begod, we made a handsome pair! CHORUS 2

Cantaria has a tune for this song and their own version of the lyrics.

Last updated 06/13/99 Email me: sca_bard@yahoo.com