Lyr Req: The Limerick Rake

Subject: limerick rake
From: Wullie
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 04:06 PM

does anyone know a version played by the Dubliners. All I know about it is it refers to "Darvy O'Leary" and "The rag and Roskeel" The first verse seemed to be the same as that on the data base. Living in hope. Wullie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: limerick rake
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 06:34 PM

Sounds like "The Galbally Farmer" - which is to the same air as the Limerick Rake. "the Rag and Rosegreen" according to O Lochlainn's "More Irish Street Ballads", incidentally.

Its in the database, if I remember rightly.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: limerick rake
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 06:38 PM

No, in fact it hasn't reached the DT yet. The lyrics are HERE

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: limerick rake
From: Wullie
Date: 28 Jan 00 - 04:10 PM

Thanks Martin but "here" doesn't give me the words thanks again for your help. Wullie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: limerick rake
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 28 Jan 00 - 07:00 PM

The lyrics are at the TOP of that page, Wullie - just scan up to them.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: limerick rake
From: Wullie
Date: 04 Feb 00 - 05:48 PM

Thanks again Martin. Just what I wanted Wullie

Subject: limerick rake
From: The Sandman
Date: 21 Oct 07 - 09:41 AM

Can someone explain the lyrics ,iwill purchase a cow that will never run dry and will milk her by twisting her horns.
I understand the reference,being from the mountains her stockings were white[as being a virgin]

Subject: RE: limerick rake
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Oct 07 - 09:44 AM

Sounds like a beer tap to me.

Subject: RE: limerick rake
From: Bernard
Date: 21 Oct 07 - 10:00 AM

Sounds more like a 'Scarborough Fair' type impossibility to me, Dick... either that, or robotics were already a reality!

Subject: RE: limerick rake
From: GUEST,Jim Carroll
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 03:55 AM

Cow that never runs dry is a Poitín (poteen) still for making illegal whiskey.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: limerick rake
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 Oct 07 - 08:45 AM

As in the Scottish tune/song "The Ewie wi the Crookit Horn". A bootleg whisky still is about the size of a large sheep with the condenser looking like one curly horn.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: limerick rake
From: GUEST,Manus Hand
Date: 15 Mar 08 - 02:14 PM

Wullie --

The Dubliners did Limerick Rake (Ciaron Bourke a capella; the best version ever, if you ask me) and also "Darby O'Leary", which is set to the same tune.

Hope this helps.

Subject: ADD Version: THE LIMERICK RAKE
From: Barry Finn
Date: 16 Mar 08 - 12:16 AM

I just started singing this again after a decade or so.


THE LIMERICK RAKE

I am a young fellow that's easy and bold,
In Castletown conners I'm very well known.
In Newcastle West I spent many a note,
With Kitty and Mollie and Mary.
My father rebuked me for being such a rake,
And spending my time in such frolicsome ways,
But I ne'er could forget the good nature of Jane,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

My parents had reared me to shake and to mow,
To plough and to harrow, to reap and to sow.
But my heart being to airy to drop it so low,
I set out on high speculation.
On paper and parchment they taught me to write,
In Euclid and Grammar they opened my eyes,
But Multiplication in truth I was bright,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

To quarrel for riches I ne'er was inclined,
For the greatest of misers must leave them behind.
I'll purchase a cow that will never run dry,
And I'll milk her by twisting her horn.
John Damer of Shronel had plenty of gold,
And Devonshire's treasure is twenty times more,
But he's laid on his back among nettles and stones,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

If I chance for to go to the market at Croom,
With a cock in my hand and my pipes in full tune,
I am welcome at once and brought up to a room,
Where Bacchus is sporting with Venus.
There's Peggy and Jane from the town of Bruree,
And Biddy from Bruff and we all on the spraoí,
Such a combing of locks as there was about me,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

There's some say I'm foolish and more say I'm wise,
But being fond of the women I think is no crime,
For the son of King David had ten hundred wives,
And his wisdom was highly recorded.
I'll till a good garden and live at my ease,
And each woman and child can partake of the same,
If there's war in the cabin, themselves they may blame,
Agus fágaimíd siúd mar atá sé.

And now for the future I mean to be wise,
And I'll send for the women that acted so king,
And I'll marry them all on the morrow by and by,
If the clergy agree to the bargain.
And when I'm on my back and my soul is at peace,
These women will crowd for to cry at my wake,
And their sons and their daughters will offer their prayer,
To the Lord for the soul of their father.


Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: limerick rake
From: Barry Finn
Date: 16 Mar 08 - 12:23 AM

I should say that there are a few other versions where some of the verses are different but I'm sure you'll find those out too.
One where thers's something about the the girls from the "mountains whose stockings are white"

Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: limerick rake
From: Shaneo
Date: 16 Mar 08 - 03:19 PM

here

is a link to The Pogues singing it with the guitar chords if this helps

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: limerick rake
From: GUEST,Mike O'Leary-Johns
Date: 16 Mar 08 - 11:22 PM

Barry the verse you are referring to.....:-

If I chance for to go to the town of Adare
The girls all around me to flock on the Square
Some bring me a bottle and others sweet cakes
To treat me unknown to their parents
Theres one from Askeaton and one from the Pike
Another from Arda my heart has beguiled
Tho' being from the mountains her stockings are white
             Agus.........

I have to confess that in the first line it should be "Rathkeal";
but I have changed it to Adare as my Great Grandfather came from there.
Also a friend of mine ;a great Fiddle player[Joe Holland from Castleblaney] told me that the Line in Gaelic was used in "polite company".
He gave me the last line as.....
And I'd love to be Twisting her Garter!

    I hope you are keeping well Barry..............Mike.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: limerick rake
From: Barry Finn
Date: 16 Mar 08 - 11:40 PM

Thanks Mike I am, & I hope you're doing the same.

All my best
Someday, we'll have to sing again
Barry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Limerick Rake
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 06:26 PM

I'm sure I've heard a version of The Limerick Rake a line "...and them that don't like me can leave me alone". Does any know the full verse please?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Limerick Rake
From: The Sandman
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 06:39 PM

no,never heard that I am afraid .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Limerick Rake
From: MartinRyan
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 07:12 PM

"I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler, I'm a long way from home.." has that line.

Regards