THE NIGHT THAT MISS COONEY ELOPED (Percy French)

Oh boys, have you heard of them Cooneys
Their ways would have filled you with dread
They wouldn"t leave cards on the Rooneys
An' cut Patsy Gallagher dead
They even looked down on the polis
And held a militia man cheap
So the family felt that their pride got a welt
When Miss Cooney eloped with a sweep
(Chorus)Ould Cooney was tearin' his hair
An' said he'd not stay in the place
Mrs Cooney she lepp'd off her chair
An said 'twas a dyin' disgrace
Young Cooney said he didn't care
But he sat in the corner an' moped
There was t'under and turf in the air,ye may swear
On the night that Miss Cooney eloped

Says Cooney, "She's none o' me daughter
And I won't have a sweep for me son
If I meet them on land or on water
I'll knock their two heads into one"
Says the son, "Though he's famed as a fighter
His death I will surely effect!"
But in this compact they lost sight of the fact
That the sweep would be sure to object

Now the sweep was a terror to rassle
And as to his fightin' - Oh there!
He always was king o' the castle
At weddin', or wakin', or fair
But, of course, wid the creme-de-la-cramers
He socially wasn't in touch
As a sweep he would go to their houses, you know
But was only admitted as such

While they were abusin' the vill'in
And the daughter, through thick an' through thin
An' swearin' she'd not have a shillin'
The bride an' the bridegroom stepped in
An' he lifted his fist up an' shook it
"I've married your daughter", he said
"So hand out the dower - and if ye look sour
Be gomis! I'll have you for dead"

(Chorus)So ould Cooney cried out, "Lave it there
All we want is contentment an' peace"
Mrs. Cooney sat down on her chair
An' says she, "You've an illigant face!"
Young Cooney said he didn't care
It was better by far than he'd hoped
Oh! the stream of goodwill it would turn a mill
On the night that Miss Cooney eloped!

regards,

wr