Another old version, from Songs of Ireland and Other Lands (New York: D & J Sadlier & Co., 1847), page 83:


PURTY MOLLY BRALLAGHAN.
Air—"Groves of Blarney."

1. Ah, then, ma'm dear, did you never hear of purty Molly Brallaghan?
Troth, dear, I've lost her, and I'll never be a man again.
Not a spot on my hide will another summer tan again,
Since Molly she has left me all alone for to die.

2. The place where my heart was, you might easy rowl a turnip in.
It's the size of all Dublin, and from Dublin to the Devil's Glin.
If she chose to take another, sure she might have sent mine back again,
And not to leave me here all alone for to die.

3. Ma'm dear, I remember when the milking time was past and gone,
We went into the meadows, where she swore I was the only man
That ever she could love—yet, oh! the base, the cruel one,
After all that to leave me here alone for to die!

4. Ma'm dear, I remember as we came home the rain began.
I rowl'd her in my frieze coat, tho' devil a waistcoat I had on,
And my shirt was rather fine-drawn; yet oh! the base and cruel one,
After all that, she left me here alone for to die.

5. I went and tould my tale to Father M'Donnell, ma'm,
And thin I went and ax'd advice of Counsellor O'Connell, ma'm.
He towld me promise-breaches had been ever since the world began.
Now, I have only one pair, ma'm, and they are corduroy!

6. Arrah, what could he mean, ma'm? Or what would you advise me to?
Must my corduroys to Molly go? Troth, I'm bother'd what to do!
I can't afford to lose both my heart and my breeches too,
Yet what need I care, when I've only to die!

7. Oh! the left side of my carcass is as weak as water-gruel, ma'm—
The devil a bit upon my bones, since Molly's proved so cruel, ma'm.
I wish I had a carabine. I'd go and fight a duel, ma'm!
Sure, it's better far to kill myself than stay here to die.

8. I'm hot and determined as a live salamander, ma'm!
Won't you come to my wake, when I go my long meander, ma'm?
Oh! I'll feel myself as valiant as the famous Alexander, ma'm,
When I hear yiz crying round me, "Arrah, why did you die?"