When Donegan came from the States,
Himself and his daughter were seen
Parading the principal streets
Of beautiful Ballyporeen.
Her cheeks were as red as a rose,
Her hair was a beautiful brown;
And the lads I suppose,
Were as thick now as crows,
All tied to the heel of her gown.
CHORUS:
There were short men and long men,
And weak men and strong men,
And right men and wrong men
Were all to be seen.
But Donegan's daughter
From over the water
She gave them no quarter
In Ballyporeen.
She sang the most beautiful songs,
Of the words we had never a hint,
For her fingers went hammer and tongs
In a running accompaniment.
Like a dog running after a rat,
Such scrimmaging never was heard
Then down went her claws,
like a murdering cat
When it leaps on the back of a bird. (CHO)
CHORUS:
At every party
She sang them all forte,
From "Ah Che la morte"
To "Wearin' the Green."
Oh! Donegan's daughter
From over the water,
'Twas little they taught her
In Ballyporeen.
The Geraghtys gave a grand ball,
The girls were all ribbons and tape.
But Miss Donegan bested them all
With her perfectly wonderful shape;
And when she was taking the floor
With a high-stepping bachelor boy,
The rest of us scowled
In the doorway and growled
That 'twas him we would surely destroy.
CHORUS:
There was kissing and squeezing,
And coaxing and teasing;
And sure there's no reason
Such things should be seen.
But Donegan's daughter
From over the water,
'Twas she made the slaughter
In Ballyporeen.
Coming home we were crossing a stream,
I thought to beleaguer the belle,
A struggle, a kiss, and a scream
And into the water we fell.
To me that can swim like a trout
It was only a trifling reverse,
But when she came out,
'Faith there wasn't, much doubt
She was changed very much for the worse.
CHORUS:
She'd hair like a nigger,
She'd no sort of figure;
Her waist and her wig were
No more to be seen.
Oh! Donegan's daughter
From under the water,
Two pins would have bought her
In Ballyporeen.
