1. One evening of late into Bandon I strayed,
And down to Clonakilty I was making my way.
At Ballinascarthy some time I delayed
For to wet me auld whistle with porter.

CHORUS: Tithery-ow-tow, tithery-ow-tow,
Tithery-ow-tow-tom-tom
Tithery-ow-tow, tithery-ow-tow,
Tither-ow-tow-tom-tom
Tithery-ow-tah-den, tithery-ow-tow,
Tithery-ow-tow-tom
Tithery-ow-tah-den, toodle-e-aaro.

2. Well, I scarcely had travelled a mile of the road
When I heard a dispute in a farmer's abode.
The son of the landlord, an ill looking toad,
And the wife of the bold tenant farmer. CHORUS

3. He said, "What the devil's come over you all?
Not one penny of rent at each time that I call,
But by next October, I'll settle you all,
For you'll have the high road for your garden." CHORUS

4. "You robber," the bold tenant's wife she replied.
"You're worse than your daddy on the other side,
But the National Land League will put down your pride,
For they're able to bear every storm. CHORUS

5. "O its branches extend to the country and town
Protecting the tenants, their houses and ground.
I owe you twelve months and I'll give you one pound
If you clear our receipts in the morning." CHORUS

6. When she spoke of the Land League, his lips they grew pale,
Saying, "What good have you done but be stuck into jail?
And the rent that you owe you must be paid by next gale.
And believe me, we'll give you no quarter. CHORUS

7. "Your husband I saw in the town just last night.
He was drinking and shouting for poor tenants' rights.
By the month of October, we'll put you to flight
To follow your friends o'er the water." CHORUS

8. "If my husband was drinking, what has that to you?
I'd rather he'd drink it than give it to you.
Now make up you mind, for you won't get a chew,
For wet marshy land is no bargain. CHORUS

9. "We all joined the Land League on last New Year's Day,
And I think, in my heart, we're not going astray.
While the clergy are with us, we'll carry the day,
Now marshalling all in good order. CHORUS

10. "Here's to Father O'Leary, the pride of our isle.
He's the boy that can title you ruffians in style
John Dillon and Davitt who rank in their file,
Take care you don't tread on their corns." CHORUS

11. Then I stepped out from under the bush where I lay.
And as he passed by me, I heard him to say:
"I wish to my God I was ten miles away
From the wife of the bold tenant farmer". CHORUS

12. Well, I spat on me fingers and I picked up me stick
And up the coach road like a deer I did trip,
And I cared not for bailiff, landlord or auld Nick
And I sang like a lark in the morning. CHORUS

13. I shouted "Hurrah" and she shouted "Huroo".
She showed him her back and like lightning he flew,
Saying, "God save the Land League and old Ireland too.
Agus fagáimead siúd mar atá sé." CHORUS

The landlord in the song was Bence-Jones, one of the major landlords in west Cork. The "wife of the bold tenant farmer" was a Mrs Nyhan from a village called Ballinascarthy, which is halfway between Bandon and Clonakilty in west Cork. Incidentially, Ballinascarthy was the birthplace of Henry Ford's father.