Irish Rovers: The Rake

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I am a young fellow from the County Tyrone,
In the town of Strabane shur I'm very well known,
For down to the alehouse I'm frequently goin',
With Kitty and Ginny and Mary.

My father rebuked me for being such a rake,
And for spending me money on whiskey and cakes,
But the lassies are sweet and it's all for their sakes,
And it keeps me lighthearted and merry.

Chorus:
I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry,
I will court all the lassies or at least I will try,
And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die,
Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se

If I chance for to wander on down to the fair,
All the lassies all around me do flock on the square,
I'll pull out me fiddle and play an auld air,
And soon we're all off on the spree.

There's Peggy and Jane from the banks of Loch Nee,
There's Kitty and Molly down Dungannon Way,
And there's another one from Cookstown who makes me head sway,
Such a fuss they all make over me.

Chorus:
I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry,
I will court all the lassies or at least I will try,
And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die,
Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se

To quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined,
For the greatest of misers must leave them behind,
So me money I spend with no thought in me mind,
But to kick up our heels and carrouse.

For the rich never spend any gold of their own,
Sure they hold it away like a dog and it's bone,
But they end on their back among nettles and stones,
And I hear there're no pockets in shrouds.

Chorus:
I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry,
I will court all the lassies or at least I will try,
And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die,
Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se

(Instrumental)

Now some say I'm foolish and some say I'm wise,
For loving the women and the whiskey like wives,
But the son of King David had ten hundred wives,
And his wisdom was highly regarded!

So I'll call for the lassies and ask them to wed,
And we'll all be content in the one marriage bed,
While the rich count their gold we'll count children instead,
And we'll raise them up true and stout-hearted.

Chorus:
I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I'm dry,
I will court all the lassies or at least I will try,
And I'll never conform 'til the day that I die,
Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se

Repeat: Agus fagaimid suid mar ata se!

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