THE GAME PLAYED IN ERIN-GO-BRAGH

In London one day as I walk'd up the street,
An impudent fellow I happen'd to meet;
He looked in my face and he gave me some jaw,
Saying "What brought you over from Erin-go-bragh?"

"I know you're a Paddy by the blink of your eye,
Your crimes and misconduct have forced you to fly;
You left your own country for breaking the law,
And escaped from the gallows in Erin-go-bragh!"

The blackthorn stick that I held in my fist,
Around his big body I gave it a twist;
I silenced his tongue with a whack on the jaw,
And I showed him the game played in Erin-go-bragh.

They all gathered round me like a flock of wild geese -
"Is this Irish Paddy disturbing the peace?
We'll march him to prison for breaking the law,
This quarrelsome villain from Erin-go-bragh."

"To the [Devil] I pitch ye, ye set of Sprissauns,
For here comes Jack Murphy from Blallyknockaun,
With my mother's first cousin, Mick Ryan from Dunlaw,
And big Paddy Kelly from Erin-go-bragh!"

Oh, the scrimmage we had - 'would delight you to see!
Mavrone, how we shook our shillelahs with glee!
We leathered them well, and we laughed at their law,
And we showed them the game played in Erin-go-bragh!

(from Ancient Irish Music, P W Joyce 1873)