I Wish (Till Apples Grow)- Ronnie Drew (Dub) 1964 REC
[From the Album The Dubliners (Bonus Track Edition) released January 1, 1964 as a bonus track. The Dubliners later released the song under the title, "Love Is Pleasing". The Dubliners first came together in 1962 during informal sessions at O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin. No source is given, only the first two stanzas are part of "I Wish" songs, Roud 495. This is a highly unusual version.
R. Matteson 2017]
I Wish (Till Apples Grow)- by the Dubliners 1964, sung solo by Ronnie Drew. Transcription R. Matteson 2017.
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain,
I wish, I wish, I was a youth again
But a youth again I can never be
Till the apples grow on an ivy tree.
I left me father, I left me mother
I left all me sisters and brothers too
I left all me friends and me own religion
I left them all for to follow you.
But the sweetest apple is the soonest rotten
And the hottest love is the soonest cold
And what can't be cured love has to be endur-ed love
And now I am bound for Americ-ka.
Oh love is pleasin' and love is teasin'
And love is a pleasure when first it's new
But as it grows older sure the love grows colder
And it fades away like the morning dew.
And love and porter makes a young man older
And love and whiskey makes him old and grey
And what can't be cured love has to be endur-ed love
And now I am bound for Americ-ka.