Tom Brandon, of Peterborough, Ontario, sang the song for Edith Fowke with the following text. It may be heard sung by him on Folk-Legacy's "custom" cassette - C-10.

THE RAMBLING IRISHMAN

I am a rambling Irishman, I've travelled this country o'er,
I've formed a resolution to leave my native shore.
With a knapsack on my shoulder and a blackthorn in my hand,
I headed for Americay like a rambling Irishman.

Now when I reached Americay the girls all jumped with joy;
Said one unto the other, "Here comes an Irish boy."
They took me into the saloon and taking me by the hand,
The very first toast they all drank 'round was "Good health to an Irishman."

Now I had not been in Americay not more than a week or so,
When I formed a resolution to further lands I'd go.
With a knapsack on me shoulder and a blackthorn in my hand,
I started for Pennsylvania like a rambling Irishman.

Now when I reached Pennsylvania, an inn as I passed by, (sic)
The landlord's lovely daughter to me was no ways shy.
She asked me in to dine with her, and taking me by the hand,
She went home and told her mother she was in love with an Irishman.

"Now, daughter, dearest daughter, oh, what do you mean to do,
For you to marry an Irishman, a man you never knew?"
"Now, hold your tongue, dear mother, and do the best you can,
For there's a friendship and good nature in the heart of an Irishman."

Now my rambling days are over and I mean to take a wife;
I'll work for her and toil for her the dear days of my life.
I'll work for her and toil for her and do the best I can,
And I know she'll never rue the day that she married an Irishman.

Collected by Edith Fowke from Tom Brandon,
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

Baring-Gould has a Devonshire version in Songs of the West; John Meredith recorded an Australian version titled "Denis O'Reilly" which is very like the "Denis O'Reilly" we learned from Shirley Collins in London in 1958 and which Shirley collected from a bus driver there. Caroline sings it frequently. I can provide that text, too, if anyone needs it. It seems to be quite widely known.

Sandy