Lanigan's Ball

In the town of Athy one Jeremy Lanigan

Battered away till he hadn't a pound

His father he died and made him a man again

Left him a farm and ten acres of ground

He threw a great party for friends and relations

Who didn't desert him when come to the wall

And if you'll listen I'll make your eyes glisten

And spin you a tale of Lanigan's Ball

(Chorus)

Six whole months I spent in Dublin

Six whole months doing nothing at all

Six whole months I spent in Dublin

Learning to dance to Lanigan's Ball

I stepped out and he stepped in again

He stepped out and I stepped in again

I stepped out and he stepped in again

Learning to dance to Lanigan's Ball

Myself to be sure got free invitations

For all the nice colleens and boys I might ask

And just in a minute both friends and relations

Were dancing as merry as bees 'round a cask

There were lashings of punch and wine for the ladies

Potatoes and cakes there was bacon and tea

There were the Nolans, the Dolan's, O'Gradys

A courtin' the girls and dancing away

(Chorus)

There were all kinds of nonsensical polkas

Around the room in a whirly-gig

But Julie and I soon banished their nonsense

And gave them a taste of a real Irish jig

Oh how that girl she got mad and we

Danced 'till we thought that the ceiling would fall

For I spent three weeks at Brooks' Academy

Learning to dance to Lanigan's Ball