Surprisingly, this song doesn't appear to be on Mudcat or the DT already.


These lyrics are as they appear on the sleeve notes of Kieran Halpin & Ton McConville's "Port of Call" Album.

TAILOR TO MY TRADE
^^
Come all young men where e'er you be and listen to my lamentation
I courted a girl of beauty rare and loved her beyond admiration
Soon in time she became my wife, it wasn't for love it was for riches,
And then in time it caused great strife, to see which one would wear the britches.

Paddy Kane it is my name, my height it is five foot eleven,
My wife she is not very tall, she measures only four feet seven,
How often do we shout and ball with nothing going with rogues and witches,
Her head comes often to the wall, still she says she'll wear the britches.

I am a tailor to my trade, at cutting out I am quite handy,
But all the money that I make, she leaves it out on tea and brandy,
The hedges I have nearly stripped, I've left them free of rods and switches,
Her hide with blows I have left black, still she says she'll wear the britches.

One morning at the tea and eggs, contented sitting by the fire,
She threw the teapot at my legs, it made me leap and then retire,
How often do I shout and moan, as I go hopping on my crutches,
I wished I'd broke my collar bone, the day I let her wear the britches

So come all young men where e'er you be, don't wed a maid if she's enchanting,
For if you do, when she is young, with all young men she'll be gallanting,
Now my advice to any young man, is marry for love and not for riches,
If you can't get a maid with a civil tongue, who'll give you leave to wear the britches.