The Old Cow It was down in Killilock, Oh an Irishman lived there He bought an old cow and he bought her at the fair Oh she had so many bad faults he could never guarantee So he brought her home again, what a sorry man was he. Now when she came home again her fame it went all round She was abused, she was ill used, she was often in the pound She had the picture of Satan printed in her face And she seemed to carry vengeance throughout the human race She was head stalled, leg stalled and a board across her eyes Hot bound head bound that she could hardly rise She was rumpled on the tail and curled on the skull And for nineteen years before that she never saw the bull. Now somehow, the reason is, I mean to let ye hear In the year of 1800 when the fodder it grew dear Nov she ate a stack of corn and a man they called Frank Kane And likewise a stack of corn grass that grew in Lackahane. She ate hair bands, night gowns, and other sorts of gear Crendalans, jennylins, and locks of women's hair Oh she ate the garrabally that was hanging from the stock .- . And she nearly ate the finishings of all in Killilock. It being on one summer's evening she almost lost her legs : When she seized off a beggarman a-begging of his bread And next she saw the policeman a-coming from the town And by his rig of parliament she brought him to the ground. The policeman he laid there a-roaring out for help The cow she demanded his bayonet and his belt Saying oh you saucy policeman I'll have you to repent: The day that you and the sergeant you seized me for the rent. Oh now she's apprehended and she's entered in the law For meddling with a pretty girl that came from Aghara Oh she had a dandy bonnet likewise a dandy shawl And to her sad misfortunes she parted with it all. Oh the maid in the shade was as happy as a queen While crummy all alone lay grazing on the green A-hunting for her prey when a bonnet she a-spied She threw off her headband and up she did rise. She roared and she bawled and she threw it in the air Saying Pat made a vaulter of you are welcome here I'm a long time in search of something made of straw Since I ate the garrabalter I got a pain in me jaw. Traditional From the singing of the Kenny Family from Kitchuses, NFLD TN apr97
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!