Donegan's Daughter
(Percy French)
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
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 have 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
At every party, she sang them all forte
From Ah, Che la Morte
To the wearing of 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 ribbon 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
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
'Twas only a trifling reverse
But when she came out,
Faith there wasn't much doubt
She was changed very much for the worse
For her roses had wilted
Her wig it was tilted
The figure she'd built, it
Was washed away clean
Oh! Donegan's daugter
From under the water
Two pins would have bought her
In Ballyporeen
JC
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!