The song appears as three verses in Irish minstrelsy, by James Hardiman, 1831, vol 1, pp. 195-196.
1 Nach é an cat marbh chas ann na h-áitesi mé, 'S a líacht cailín deas do fhágassa mo diaigh; Thánic me steach 's an teach raib grádh geal mo chléibh, 'S chuir an chailleach amach air chasadh an t'súgáin mé!
2 Má bhidheamn tu liom, bídh liom do ló a's d'oídhche; Má bhidheamn tu liom, bídh liom ós comhair an t-saoghail; Má bhidheamn tu liom, bídh liom gach órdlach ann do chroídhe; 'S é má leun nach liom trathnóna thú mar mhnaoi!
3 A's shíos a Sligiach chúir mé eólus air mo ghrádh, A's shuas a n-Gaillimh d'ól mé léi mo sháith; Dar brigh mo bhata muna léigfidh dhaihsa mar a táim, Déanfaidh mé cleas a bhainfeas siubhal ar na mnáibh!
"The Twisting of the Rope"
1 What misfortune drove me to this place, There's many a girl I've left behind at home; I came into the house where the bright love of my heart was, And the old woman turned me out while twisting the rope.
2 If you'll be mine, be mine both day and night; If you'll be mine, be mine before the whole world; If you'll be mine, be mine with every inch of your heart; It is with sadness that you aren't mine this evening as my wife.
3 Down in Sligo I first learnt my love of women, And up in Galway I drank my fill with them; But by this hand, if they don’t leave me alone, I’ll play a trick that will have the women running!