The Irish Boy- (Glas) Poet's Box broadside, 1872
[Broadside from Poet's Box 80 London Street, Glasgow.
R. Matteson 2017]
The Irish Boy- Poet's Box 80 London Street, Glasgow, 1872
What a foolish girl was I,
To fall in love with an Irish boy?
An Irish boy I suppose was he,
He spoke good English when he courted me.
He followed me thro' the frost and snow,
He followed me when my apron hung low;
But now my apron's wearing short,
And he passed me by as he knew me not.
I am a rover but that's well known[1]
Ad I'm just going to leave my own,
To leave my own love behind to mourn,
But no one knows, love, when I'll return.
As I was crossing yon rushy moor,
And leaving sight of my darling's door,
I turned around and bade farewell,
And took my journey where no one can tell.
I wish, I wish but it's all in vain
I wish I was a maid again,
A maid again, sure, I'll never be
Till apples grow on yon willow tree.
1. This stanza is obviously sung by Irish Boy