Farewell My Dearest Sister Jane

Farewell my dearest sister Jane, our first and last adieu
At the early age of 35 I now must part from you
For the murder of James Donovan I am now condemned to die
On the month of February '95 upon the scaffold high

John (?) from Castleisland tis true it is my name
I never did commit a crime, fie, I should deny that same
I own I was a sportsman with spirit light and gay
But paid spies and informers my life they swore away

On the 25th of April 1894
That was the night, dear sister Jane, long years you may deplore
When I was taken prisoner the police to me did say:
On the 9th of February '95 will be your dying day

But when I heard my sentence passed, to the judge (?) I did say
The jury found me guilty without the least delay
I swear that James Donovan I never yet did know
May the Lord forgive my enemies who haved proved my overthrow

My blessings on the mayor of Cork and the people there also
In thousands they petitioned me to release me and let go
But my enemies were determined my life they should lay down
For paid spies and informers a traitor to the crown

My last hour is approaching, I hear the death bell toll
The hangman he has (?) me, I must now give up my soul
You know that I am innocent, it is all I have to say
May the Lord forgive my enemies all on their judgment day

Old Bob Riddledy O

Fine folks, I've come to sing you a ditty
I am far from home and that's a pity
To praise myself and that's no shame
For old Bob Riddledy is my name

Refrain:
I'm old Bob Riddledy o
I'm old Bob Riddledy o
I'm old Bob Riddledy e i o
I'm old Bob Riddledy o

Fine folks, I've come from oer the mountain
So many miles that I cannot count them
I left my friends in the old plantation
I came down here for recreation

(Refrain)

The very first time I got a licking
It was in the field of the corn-picking
They made me dance and they made me tribble
And begolly they made me eyeballs jingle

(Refrain)

I went one day for to hunt a buck
I fell in with lots of luck
I was dressed all neat with watch and fob
And for a buck they hunted Bob

(Refrain)

I went one day on a thief's (?) trail
I loaded my gun with a long spike nail
I missed the thief though fast was he
I nailed his shadow to a tree

(Refrain)

They train racehorses at racin schools
But that's not like my own old rule
But the wildest horse to train I tried
I always cured him because he died

(Refrain)

I'm going to take a challenge out
I don't care a hang there are (?) about
But no man but very few
Could do such things as I could do

(Refrain)

You may talk of swimming if you wish
Sure I can lick the fastest fish
Where is the use in men to talk
I swam from London to New York

(Refrain)

My Remembrance of You

The sun it went down in the west, dear
And the evening it falls like the dew
No more will the shamrock be green, dear
For I've lost my remembrance of you

I have lost my remembrance of you, dear
I have lost my remembrance of you
Nevermore will the shamrock be green, dear
For I've lost my remembrance of you

I have but one heart and it's true, dear
It is hard to divide it in two
Take it all though it being mine, dear
For I never loved any but you

I never loved any but you, dear
I never loved any but you
Take it all though it being mine, dear
For I've lost my remembrance of thee

Last night you were in love with another
Neath the shade of an old oaken tree
I hope you leave her in sorrow
All alone as you've gone and left me

And when death in this world will divide us
And we are all gone to decay
Think of the promise you made me
All alone in the bright sunny day

And when we are laid in our cold graves
And our bones are gone to decay
Think of the promise you made me
All alone in that fine summer day

The Bonny Wee Window

There once lived a lass and her name it was Nell
She lived in a cottage which Johnny knew well
The cottage was small and the windows were less
It had but two panes and one wanted glass

It was a bonny wee window, a neat little window
The bonniest window that ever you saw

Though a couple being courting, they hadn't much said
When Granny cried out, Nelly come to your bed
I'm going out, says Nelly, without much delay
So fare thee well, Johnny, come next night again

Put your head in the window, the neat little window
The bonniest window that ever you saw

Well now then, says Nelly, don't think it amiss
For before that I go you must give me a kiss
And to get that kiss Johnny pushed his head through
O what wouldn't love make a fond lover do?

With his head in the window, stuck fast through the window
As fast through the window as ever you saw

Granny hearing the noise she jumped out on the floor
And seizing the poker she made for the door
And on Johnny's back such a blow she laid on
That another like that would have broke his backbone

With his head in the window, stuck fast through the window
As fast through the window as ever you saw

Early next morning, before the daylight
Johnny went to a glazier to make things aright
When he thinks of the window, the poker and pain
He will neer kiss a lass through a window again

With his head in the window, stuck fast through the window
As fast through the window as ever you saw

By the Bright Silvery Light of the Moon

As I strayed from my cot at the break of the day
It was the beginning of June
I spied a fair maid and she walking along
And she telling her tale to the moon

Shine on, silvery moon, guide the stranger on his way
And the nightingale sings a sweet tune
There's no time as sweet as when fond lovers meet
By the bright silvery light of the moon

I bought her a ring, we appointed the day
Saying, We will be wed very soon
But my love fell asleep, left her darling to weep
By the bright silvery light of the moon

Now she's gone and laid in her cold grave
Cut away like a rose in full bloom
Never more will she stray at the break of the day
By the bright silvery light of the moon

The Man That Came Home from Pretorie

At last I have travelled all over the sea
My legs they are ravelled and going with the breeze
And they get me entangled in brambles and trees
Said the man that came home from Pretorie

I thought in my imnd when I was going away
I'd seek a good fortune, get wonderful pay
But alas it is harder to act than to say
Said the man that came home from Pretorie

O me but DeWitt gave us something to do
I remember him well and I think so should you
For the sight of Kitchener turned quite blue
Said the man that came home from Pretorie

O long hours in anguish whilst dodging the Boers
In anguish we languished, patching our sores
Three of those men were a match for three score
Said the man that came home from Pretorie

I slaved like a nigger to come back again
On board an old Roger midst torrents of rain
But the roar of the surgin nigh put me insane
Said the man that came home from Pretorie

After forteen days sailing we came to Dundalk
My limbs they were failing, I scarcely could walk
And the peelers they gazed with the eyes of a hawk
At the men coming home from Pretorie

There was one with a squint that insisted to know
My name and my ways of existence also

Besides, you've no visible means of support

In the Sweet By and By

I know a lot of lazy men, I meet them when I may
They never have a penny, always stony broke they say
With me it's quite the other way, for I'm a man of this:
I'm neer without a shilling in my pocket--here it is

But I can't change it, I can't change it
The reason why I let you know
It's one I made myself and so
I can't change it, no matter how I try
But I hope to cheat a blind man in the sweet by and by

I never was a (?) man, as anyone can see
For passions I don't care about and clothes don't trouble me
I never was a masher I am satisfied you know
I've got one shirt upon my back, but can't say that although

I can't change it, I can't change it
I've got one shirt upon my back
It fits me like a blooming sack
But I can't change it, no matter how I try
But I'll get a change for linen in the sweet by and by

I thought I would get married, like a lot of foolish men
I found a girl, I bought the ring, we got married there and then
But when that job was over I was taken down a peg
Her hair, her teeth, her eyes were false and she had a wooden leg

But I can't change her, I can't change her
O what a great surprise to me
Half a woman and half a tree
I can't change her, no matter how I try
But I'll chop her up for firewood in the sweet by and by

When I came home this afternoon the nurse was at the door
She said, You've got another one, which makes you half a score
O she is such a pretty one, I'd like to wish you joy
I wished her to Old Nick, for what I wanted was a boy

But I can't change her, I can't change her
I asked a lot that ought to knw
I asked the nurse and shes said no
I can't change her, no matter how I try
But I hope you'll have a dozen in the sweet by and by

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